Not sure whether to keep cats

[floppops]

We adopted two young cats one 7 months and one 10 months from a rescue centre on Saturday. I was really adamant that the main thing was they could tolerate my two year old being a two year old! So they said they were showing us only the cats that would suit us.
Anyway since then one has been hiding under the oven and swipes at me as soon as she sees me- just runs from toddler but the other one has being scratching my two year old really badly drawing blood with long scratches down her arms.
She is provoked in as much as my toddler screams with excitement and touches her too quickly- nothing to bad though-honestly.
I now think maybe this has been a bad idea. Will the cats stop scratching? My two year old can't stop going up to them she can't help it right now however much I restrain her and reason or discipline her.
I am going to separate them tomorrow.
Should I return them? I wanted to get a cat to solve our mouse problem- which it has. Had tried everything previously.
Would another age/ type of cat be better for us?
Really worried about what to do for the best.

You've only had them 2 days- they are in an entirely new environment. What are you doing to settle them in?

Do you actually want cats at all, or are you thinking of them as some sort of organic mousetrap? If you do, there area lots of things you can do to help them feel safe and secure, but being prodded by A 2 year old isn't one of them!

And, actually, 2 year olds can learn to deal with animals properly- but until she does you need to keep them firmly separated- it's not fair on her or the cats.

Tbh I would think they are just scared and unsettled. Can you imagine being in a rescue centre, only then to be put into a new home with strange noises/sounds/people etc?

You've only had them a few days either give the poor things a proper chance or take them back and think again. Do you really want them or are they just their because of your mouse problem,(which would not be solved in 2 days of them being there)

I don't know what you expect really from cats that are not adjusted to children. It takes along time for both the child and cats to understand boundaries and accept each other. You need to give the cats somewhere 'safe' to go and like wise get your dc to understand that they are not toys and to be quiet and gentle around them. Once they have had a quiet stroke then it will not take either of them long to realise they both get something otu of it.

The cat's are terrified. Give the poor things a chance!

Put them in the spare bedroom your 2yo must not have access with food water and litter facilities. Toys and scratching post are good extras.

Spend 5-10 minutes every couple of (daytime) hours in there quietly, maybe encourage them with fishing rod toys and treats like tuna and plain cooked chicken. Allow them to come to you initially, get them used to being stroked and brushed.

After a couple of days, take your dc with you under very strict rules - no loud noises, no touching. Any rule breaking, come straight out.

They'll probably be curious by now so leave the door ajar. dc may not go into that room, but cats may come out. If you want a cat to like you, ignore it. Direct approaches, loud noises, making yourself bigger (eg arms outstretched for a cuddle) and bared teeth are all aggressive in Cat Language, so your 2yo is basically telling your cats that they're about to be torn limb from limb

The rescue Centre should also be able to advise you, but give it a couple of weeks in their safe territory before you write them off.

Oh, and a cat can get over a baby gate easily enough - It's how I keep my bunny out of my living room. Cat is next to me on the sofa!

The thing is the one that scratches her comes and sits with us all the time. She even wants to sit on our laps. She does let my dc touch her and doesn't always run away but lashes out instead. She's not cornered, she could run off to a safe place dc can't follow.
I am looking really for reassurance that the cats won't always scratch so much and it isn't just their temperament.
The cat also bit her dad whilst she was purring on his lap- totally freaked him out.

Have you ever had cats before?

No one can reassure you, we can't see the cats iyswim.

If its any help, my dm had a kitten who used to scratch. One minute he was all soppy, next he'd go mad. My db (5 att) got the brunt. He is a soppy lap cat now but it didn't stop till he hit 2 ish.

Not myself as an adult. We had a cat growing up from a kitten when I was a baby and my mother says she never scratched us. I certainly don't remember her scratching us.

If the kitten scratches, scoop him up, say No straight into his face, and put him on the floor away from you.

Cats are predators and learn fast. Mine were/are recall trained and respond to simple, relevant commands. Even the bunny knows Oi and Bunny

@ "Oi Bunny"

Give them a bit of time to settle. they might surprise you!

What everyone else has said and also consider that they'll be able to go out soon. At the moment they are in a strange environment, and they can't really get away.

I would be giving them a good while longer to settle down.

He chews stuff (electric cables, shoes, carpet). Shout "oi" and he stops and flollops away

If my rabbit can do it, a cat will have no problem. To recall train, call their names (use the same intonation each time: MillieMillieMillieMillie with the first three a third higher than the last is my current cat's) before you give them any food. She responds to her name in normal conversation, too

Bunny tends to be more of a warning tone, because he's only one and often naughty!

Some cats get a bit overstimulated with a "big" session of on the lap stroking. Until the cats get more used to living in your house, continue to let the one you referred to sit on the lap of their choice, but really careful with the amount of stroking you do. A little tickle or 2/3 strokes then leave it a few minutes, then some more, etc.

It may well be the case that this particular cat has quite a low stroke threshold, and will always be the same. We had one like that a few years ago (he was poisoned by an especially horrible neighbour), and he was delightful unless you got a bit enthusiastic with the stroking.

Consider that you have only had them since Saturday. The rescue centre will know these cats as well as they possibly can, lots of home suitability tests will have been done, but even so you can't expect them to fully settle in the space of TWO DAYS.

As for your DD vs Scratchy Cat, well either DD will learn that being scratched all the time is no fun or the cat will settle enough to leave your DD be soon. Children - even 2yo's - aren't stupid. She's old enough, after the first couple of incidents to realise that the reason she's got sore arms is because she goes hell for leather towards the cat.