For thinking nephew is showing pyscho tendancies?

[WastedYouth]

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?

I am wondering what your nephew is like all the rest of the time when he's not getting over excited about the cat. You've known him for 11 years so you must have some idea about his - his general personality/disposition. Is he getting on at school OK, does he have friends, is he interested in the normal 11 year old things. Has his developmental progress been normal. Are his parents concerned about him. I think if there are no other concerns you just have to accept he gets a bit over excited about the cat!

Think it's a bit wierd posters are saying he needs to be assessed by a paediatrician on the strength of a few lines of this post related to specific behaviours about a cat!

I wouldnt attempt to diagnose someone on the internet (or in RL for that matter) but it does sound like this boy has Aspergers doesnt it?

He is very clever but social inept and exhibits wildly innapropriate behaviour. The majority of 11 year olds wouldnt act like this. They may do it once if they are particularly attention seeking but it sounds as if he is obsessed with your cat.

I agree with pag that you need to be very clear that he shouldnt be doing this and why. It sounds like he hasnt a clue that its unacceptable and you cant rely on his mum to tell him.

You must not shout at or chase the cat.
The cat is frightened of you.
When you punch my furniture you damage it and it upsets me.
If you do it again I will not let you see the cat.

It may be all he needs. My DS has SN and does the most outrageous things sometimes. He is absolutly amazed when he eventually realises how upset he has made me. He just doesnt get it unless it is spelled out to him.

this is very odd behaviour for an 11 year old. DD1 laughs at silly daft things and does hit herself if excited or stressed but she is 7 and has ASD. She is also G&T
Have you spoken to your sister about this? Is he ok the rest of the time?

poor cat

He is 11!!!!!!! I change my answer. That is very odd.

Perhaps you need to have a word with your sister, he probably does it because she finds it funny.

To behave like this at 11 is just not right, I think your sister might like to make an appointment with Child And Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and when he comes to visit you lock the poor cats in a room he can not get in to and tell him they are out

I would not hesitate to tell any child in my house that they cannot behave like this, even if they were only 3. I would tell a very young child gently and point out that they are frightening the cat, but an 11 yo? Very sharp no-nonsense firm attitude, regardless of whether the parent was there, was a relative, no matter who/what/why.

Before they next come around you can tell your sister that her kid has to behave, but definitely tell the kid when/if they do it again, and every time after that.

Agree that you should say something.... at age 11 this is not "typical" is it? Do you think he's trying to wind you up?

Psycho is when someone... like my little "foster brother" at age 8 puts a rubber band tightly onto a cat's back leg and lets this go on for days, saying nothing. Cat nearly lost circulation and the leg. Then the boy tried to blame me, aged 17. Yes, as if I enjoy rubber-banding animals.

I would keep an eye on the situation, if you think he's going to harm the animal (further). I expect the poor creature is terrified of him already.

He doesn't sound "odd", he sounds like he has Asperger's/ASD.

That is odd behaviour for an 11 year old, I would just ask him to calm down and stop. It's yur house and your cat.

Not comfortable with a child being described as "psycho" or a loon.

This does sound very unusual. I agree with che

Forgot :

I second jamie about agreeing with che. (too lazy to write own post emoticon)

Is this the only thing he does or are there any more subtle behaviours that might not have been picked up on

Thank God for Pag and Chegirl and anyone else who thinks this thread makes them uncomfortable!
This child clearly ahs issues, he is also clearly a child

He ahs not actually harmed the cat

It sopunds as ifd he has an obsessivedisorder or a possible ASD (both of which can run alongside being G&T).

Normal potpouuri?Ah a lovely phrase.

According to WHo (ICD-10) psychosis relates to'F28 Other nonorganic psychotic disorders
Delusional or hallucinatory disorders that do not justify a diagnosis of schizophrenia (F20.-), persistent delusional disorders (F22.-), acute and transient psychotic disorders (F23.-), psychotic types of manic episode (F30.2), or severe depressive episode (F32.3).
Chronic hallucinatory psychosis

F29 Unspecified nonorganic psychosis
Psychosis NOS

Excludes: mental disorder NOS ( F99 )
organic or symptomatic psychosis NOS
'

and if that'sthe case then he needs help immediately. However I suspect you've never actuall;y read that paragraph and think Psycho is a term to be bandied about. Cheers, on behalf of all kids who have MH and SN related disorders.

I have an 11 year old with Aspergers, and this does sound VERY much like how he behaves. He is G&T, like an adult in some situations but like a toddler in others. He also has a 'thing' about cats!!! Of course most children without AS behave strangely from time to time too!

bit nasty to describe the child as "psycho" and then have it out there on tinternet for a load of armchair pyschologists to dissect

Psycho is the little boy who SET FIRE to his sisters pet cat because he didnt get what he wanted for xmas.

im not saying that the posters with experience of ASD are armchair psychs. I just think that there is a worrying trend to put inappropriate behaviour down to ASD lately.

Nobody on here can dx ASD but its sensible to mention when there is a risk as often parents dont know and really could do with an assessment.

I certainly consider myself well trained enough to point out when that is the case.

A look at history / stats /research would suggest that rather than too much behaviour being put down to ASD now, rather too little was in the past. Recent research released by the NAS showed that there are as many adults with an ASD as children therefore suggesting increased incidence is not an actual rise, but a rise in DX; and therefore again that many people (those that are being given the many late diagnoses today) have had to battle without one, and often with misery and isolation, all their lives.

I would much rather give a child too much leeway (whilst advocating assessment by a Psych or Paed) than ignore a PDD such as ASD and have that child remain undiagnosed for longer than necessary, that way eating disorders, depressiona nd self harm lies.

Me? 2 children with ASD, yes. And an AQ of 40 myself. And some study of ASD,aswellaswork in the field.

I agree peachy, but the OP didnt sound overly sympathetic

Damn right- hopefullyshe willhave noticed my annoyance at that in my last post though (she'd have to be blind not to )

Whether the young boy has a diagnosis of ASD or not, the sister shouldnt be finding his behaviour funny and encouraging it.

yeah, poor lad doesn't stand a chance really!