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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

For thinking nephew is showing pyscho tendancies?

53 replies

WastedYouth · 07/01/2010 13:48

We have two cats. One is old, thin and grumpy ... the other is young, chubby and sweet natured.

My nephew is OBSESSED with the youngest cat and everytime he comes in he starts squealing at the top of his lungs and darts off to find the cat. If he does find the poor thing, he screams, shouts, dives on the sofa, kicks the door and punches the wall all whilst shouting out the cats name.

He's never actually hurt the cat but she's scared stiff of him!! sister thinks its really funny how he goes crazy but I think its a bit wierd and would rather he didn't! it's just a bit mad!

AIBU to ask her to make him stop doing it?

OP posts:
paulaplumpbottom · 07/01/2010 13:50

Because he is frightening your cat and I think its fair to ask her to make him stop.

I don't think he sounds psycho. He sounds like he is just really excited to see your cat.

wearthefoxhat · 07/01/2010 13:51

How old is he?
(please don't say 17!)

EcoMouse · 07/01/2010 13:53

Sounds a bit zany! How old is he?

If it bothers cat and his mum isn't prepared to do anything, make sure he can't get to cat

knicknack · 07/01/2010 13:54

yes how old is he? it sounds quite funny but i can see why you'd find it strange!

QandA · 07/01/2010 13:54

TBH, if it was my nephew I would have no qualms about telling him myself.

YANBU

Original poster
WastedYouth · 07/01/2010 13:58

he's 11! Its just the way he goes on:

"MEDUSA!!! OH!!! LOOK!!! LOOK AT YOUR LITTLE GREEN EYES!!!! WOW!!! LOOK!!!" (at this point he'll start punching the sofa about 5 times! ... ) and then "LOOK HOW CUTE YOU ARE!! LOOK HOW CUTE YOU ARE!!! LOOK HOW ... " (he'll attack the door now) etc!!

OP posts:
TequilaMockinBird · 07/01/2010 13:59

11?

EcoMouse · 07/01/2010 14:03

Echo - 11!!

His behaviour needs to be quelled, not least because he could do some serious damage to himself, the cat or your house.

If he were my nephew I'd put my foot down with him. It can only be a positive to learn appropriate behaviour around animals (not to mention, whilst in other peoples homes).

YANBU!

Intergalactic · 07/01/2010 14:04

That sounds totally crazy! Although my DS is only 1 so perhaps it is normal and I'm just naive. Does he get like that about other things? Does he do it at home too? Surely if he was to carry on like that at a friend's house they'd be flabbergasted?

Sorry I have not been helpful at all, just mystified by this boy's odd behaviour!

ShinyAndNew · 07/01/2010 14:07

11? is that a typo and you meant 1? My very young, not even 3yo nephew behaves in a similar way over my cat. Squealing and chasing him and trying to grab him by his tail. There is no thumping of anything though.

If he is 11 and still behaving like that, there is something very wrong going on. Does he have any other difficult behaviors.

Intergalactic · 07/01/2010 14:07

Aren't you worried about him damaging your home? That would be reason enough for you to ask him to stop yourself - if your sister is offended then that's her problem.

GetOrfMoiLand · 07/01/2010 14:07

11?

Heavens. TBH I think you should tell him to put a sock in it ypourself, your sister clearly thinks it is funny. I would be giving a very succint 'oi!!' in your shoes.

Not fair for the cat to be frightened by his silly behaviour and he is old enough to reliase that it is inappropriate.

EcoMouse · 07/01/2010 14:09

If you did mean 1, just hide the cat. At this stage, most attempts at damage limitation will be fairly futile!

diddl · 07/01/2010 14:11

That is odd.
Ours were much younger when we got our cat & they never behaved like that!

Can you put the cat somewhere safe when he visits?

drloves8 · 07/01/2010 14:12

tell your sis to get him seen by a behaviour phycologist type. he sounds like hes got some issues that need sorting . poor wee boy. does he have any asd /adhd/ sn?

wearthefoxhat · 07/01/2010 14:15

I was expecting you to say 1 or 2
That is quite weird.
Agree with some of the others, hide the cat - poor thing must be terrified of him!

ILoveGregoryHouse · 07/01/2010 14:15

Errrr, my 18 month old loves our cat and likes to squish him. 11 year olds behaving like this is just plain weird. Tell him to stop it yourselfhe is also old enough to be told that his behaviour is odd as well, I think. Does he have any other issues?

MadamDeathstare · 07/01/2010 14:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JackBauerisreadyforDay8 · 07/01/2010 14:17

Christ, I thought you were going to say 3!

At 11 tell him to calm down or leave the room, he is old enough to understand he is freaking teh cat out, and also big enough to cause damage to your house.

duchesse · 07/01/2010 14:17

He sounds like a total loon. Ask his mother to reign him in or get help for him.

Original poster
WastedYouth · 07/01/2010 14:19

He is quite odd in general. He's part of the gifted and talented thing at school but in other ways, he acts like a toddler!

One time he was sat there in absolute hysterics ... and I mean, bent over, barely catching breath, tears rolling down face ... I couldn't understand what he was laughing at until he pointed towards the corner of the room (as he couldn't speak!) and turns out he was laughing at a mug that had been knocked over and a bit of tea had spilt out he still goes on about it now and it was months ago!

OP posts:
PotPourri · 07/01/2010 14:25

Definately sounds weird. But not really your issue to pick up on. I ave afriend whose son I think might be autistic or something. He is definately not 'normal'. But she would not hear of it. I have talked about my niece who is on the scale to her as many of the behaviours are similar. She was really interested but never at any point related it to her son. Not my problem to sort though. Why be shot as the messenger?

Regarding the behaviour with your cat. Either lock the cat away, or tell the boy off yourself. He needs to learn respect for the cat - it is a living creature and if his mum is not looking after his behaviour towards the cat, then you need to.

kinnies · 07/01/2010 14:27

I really want to meet him.
Sounds like me when pissed
But you do have to put your foot down about the cat. Not fair on poor thing.

drloves8 · 07/01/2010 14:28

he sounds like my friends wee boy whos 14 and has aspergers . SUPERBRIGHT , but really random in his social development .
often goes into "the zone" as wee call it ,
obbsesses about the oddest things , ( bit like the spilt tea ). has he been assesed ? might be an idea to get him seen by a peadi before he gets to secondary school if possible.
thing is you should still tell him that its not good to frighten your cat .

pagwatch · 07/01/2010 14:38

actually I am a bit uncomfortable about the thread. He is 11 and he seems to be exhibiting some really unusual behaviours.
I think you should explain to him very clearlythat his behaviour is frighteningthe cat and it is not acceptable.
Don't be waffly but don't be mean. Just be very clear and make sure he understands the consequences