Cat has hurt the postman - help!

[rainbowsweets]

Apologies as I have already posted this to the litter tray but I need quick advice as in a bit of a state right now.

I heard a bit of a commotion when the post was delivered this morning. I found the cat hanging on to the letterbox, and looked outside to see the postman with a bloody hand. So the cat scratched/attacked him when he was putting the letter through.

I couldn't go out as I was on a work call, but I feel very guilty and worried. I feel bad for him, but I don't know what to do - do I call RM and apologise?

Could I be in trouble for the cat's actions? Or can the cat be in trouble or PTS for being vicious?

I will have to lock him away from the door every morning I suppose (if they don't cancel the delivery) as I don't think a cage will fit on the door to shield the letters.

Advice appreciated.

@rainbowsweets As you have a different post-person every day, I would not attempt to contact RM nor acknowledge this further. Just prevent the cat from doing it again. Perhaps, in addition to the velcro bag, you could install a warning sign to not put hand in flap due to “playful cat”.

What about one of them cages that go over your letter box or an outdoor letterbox? We've just had to get an outdoor letter box as our cat likes to rip up the letters and grab the postman's hand.

' Always up for a cat pic. The blood…not so much!'

Here's the culprit! I don't have a picture of the blood splattered bathroom!

If the postman's hand enters your property it's classed as trespass I know because my grandparents dog bit postman and he tried to sue and get dog destroyed and they said he wouldn't of got bit if his hand didn't come through letter box so nothing came of it.

Exactly this! They have whole courses about dog bites and avoiding them as it happens so often. If the postman reports it there will be a procedure to follow like the letter a PP received but probably nothing more unless it happens again.

Yes, OP should’ve gone out but it was a split second decision and she could’ve just as easily not been home so no point going back over it now.

Not sure where this myth comes from about trespassing! Posties are not allowed to leave mail sticking out of letterboxes and must therefore use hands or postal stick to get mail into the house if letterbox is stiff. If they do not know there is a hazard then using fingers is acceptable.

Case in point : Royal Mail wins appeal over Ipswich postman dog bite www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-58010953

"A postal worker in the position... is not a trespasser as a result of putting their fingers through a letterbox."

Article relates to a dog but point is it's not trespassing. You are very much in the wrong. The man was just doing his job, nobody should be harmed doing so.

I just wanted to come on and say I'm amazed and cross by the bashing you are being given, when you've explained so many times what happened and that you regret it. Please ignore all these nasty comments.

If he'd had a real problem he would have rung the doorbell. And despite the IV antibiotics, cellulitis et al., in the real world people are scratched and bitten all the time by their cats and are perfectly fine. I remember getting puncture wounds both sides of my wrist one time my cat got really eggy with me... nothing that some well rubbed in Savlon couldn't handle.

It's possible they carry a rudimentary first aid kit to cover incidents like this, anyway.

What I'd do now - wait for the post person the next day and explain to them and apologise/ ask their advice. Once you have a name, go to the local place you pick up missed parcels etc. with an apology note and chocs or something.

You have no care or regard for people being hurt in the course of their job? Shameful.

It will have been reported to the health and safety officer at the DO, you may have a visit from them or a letter. I would suggest a postbox on the wall or even attached to the front of the door. Everyone that delivers to you will be made aware of the situation from now on to avoid this happening again

Too bad it’s a different person every time. Otherwise you could have offered the postie a pair of these.

I think people are being unfairly critical of @rainbowsweets

I don't think there was any obligation to open the door or apologise - she could have been out at the time and totally oblivious to the incident. Cats can be left alone obviously.

There is no need for any postal worker to put their hands through a letter box. The letters go through, fingers stay outside.

No harm in putting up a "beware of the cat" sign but any delivery worker who is not a total noob learned not to put fingers through doors in their first week on the job. Fingers in doors where dogs live get much worse than this.

He could. Cat owners have a duty of care under common law.

Cases are rare but still possible.

The UK uses civil law not common law.

Postman needs to get antibiotics as cat bites are awful. My Dn had to have an operation following random cat attacking her in the street. I'd get insurance op and maybe get a postbox so poor postman doesnt have to use your letterbox

England has used common law since the Normans. It's the basis of our legal system.

An explanation for those at the back - many European countries have a civil code, which is basically a set of written laws. Started in Napoleonic times.

The UK has never had a big revolution etc followed by rewriting laws and constitution. We have criminal law (offences against the crown, burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt) and civil law (causing damage or loss to other individuals, burden of proof reasonable doubt).

Common law is where a legal finding made in one case needs to be followed by other cases. So it's not a law made by parliament but it does form part of the law. It evolves slowly as new cases come along eg if we get driverless cars there will be legislation that covers liability, and then common law will clarify how that is applied as time goes on.

It's a real bugbear of mine that people don't understand the legal system they live under!

So eg in a car crash you could commit a criminal offence of dangerous driving but also face civil lawsuits to pay compensation to other people who have been injured.

Oh the irony.

No explanation needed as I'm a lawyer of many years standing.

Nothing in your post negates the fact that cat owners have a duty of care under common law.

Perhaps this will help you

Obviously op will declare herself a freeman of the land & refuse to consent to the laws.

God some of these comments are bonkers.

Cats are cats and don’t require liability insurance like dogs if you have taken reasonable precautions.

Im sure the postie is fine after the scratch

I think you have decided on a sensible course of action and don't need to do any more. I expect the postman or postwoman is OK.

I think the Royal Mail are more concerned with and justifiably so with dog attacks, and it is long overdue that the few breeds or cross-breeds of dog whose attacks cause most of the injuries were banned or restricted.

They hate you too.

I was reading some of the comments about the cat....from some of the comments you would think it was a huge wild animal let loose.....and some of the posts remind me of people waiting to pounce on their "victim" and definitely are engaging in verbal bullying... Some people have just lost a sense of proportion over this. I'm sure it wasn't fun for the postie but your cat won't be the only one to have done this An indoor cat sees something dangling thinks "wriggling moving prey item" and responds to instinct.... Some people make the mistake of waggling their hand at a small kitten to play with it forgetting they grow up with sharper claws and teeth. Perhaps you shouldve gone after the postie but some of these replies in my opinion go well over the top....we are not all paragons of virtue with a fully stocked first aid box.who automatically do "the right thing". It seems as if you have taken action to do something to prevent further problems and as you say can't turn back time or rewrite history. Yes cellulitis/sepsis are nasty...anyone like to add cat scratch fever .to complete the list?! Do your best to apologise to the person concerned.....as for getting in touch with the local delivery office until very recently ours was only open one day a week for a couple of hours.....so that may not be easy. And then perhaps try and make sure your cat has enough stimulation at home so it doesn't need to attack a suddenly appearing hand....lots of ideas from Cats Protection and other cat organisations online.

Did you know in this case the cat will want your attention even more, to sit on your knee and generally love you😹

1. I can't believe you just ignored him and continued on your work call.

1. If a cage won't fit you can get a bag that hangs off the letterbox.

@greengrassed

cats don’t love you. They don’t love humans… as much as humans like to pretend they do - they don’t. They only care about you feeding them.