Bloody cat scratched DD.

[winnybella]

We've got 2, both black, one is really chilled out and loves DD, the other is a bit neurotic and gives her a wide berth.

Yesterday we were in the kitchen with DP and heard DD crying. She must have attempted to pet it (both cats were laying on the bed, the room was dark)but she has mistaken one for the other. She does't touch the neurotic one, ever.

She has a vertical scratch above her eyebrow and on her cheek underneath her eye. She's lucky the claw didn't reach her eye. Hopefully it'll heal well.

I can't keep them separated, we live in a flat, can't keep the cat in one room all the time. Can't be with DD non-stop, either.

It was a first incident like that with her. He does scratch DP once in a while (although he loves him and comes to him all the time to be petted).

Not sure what to do. Write it off as an accident? I don't want to give the cat away as at 11yo it's unlikely he'll find a home.

DD's very good with the other cat, just petting him gently, no shrieking or pulling his tail etc.

Nasty scratch, but I don't think I'd give the cat away on the strength of it. Is your DD old enough to have learned to be extra-careful next time?

She's just 21mo. She never touches that cat, as we've told her not to many times plus he did attempt to scratch her once before (not properly, just waved his paw, not really close enough to her to do any damage) so she is wary of him.

But they are both similar size and black all over, so it's a mistake that can happen again.

DP just said that if we trim his claws, they won't be sharp enough to scratch her- but I'm not sure- seems like then they might make the scratch wider iyswim.

Another thing would be to declaw him, but that's really cruel, isn't it? He would be totally traumatised by it.

I'm not panicking, but he did scratch her across her eye, thank God, the eye is ok, but it could have serious consequences.

*it could have had serious consequences

You cant declaw - you either need to separate them somehow or give the scratchy one away if you think it will happen again - its not fair really on either dd or cat.

I can't think of anyone who will take an 11 yo neurotic cat, tbh.

Cat's got a lovely life here, DD doesn't bother him at all (except yesterday when she has mistaken him for the other one and attempted to pet it).

BeerTricks- good idea about the collar. Will look into that.

No, the cats sleep everywhere, I tried making them a lovely basket with a pillow, they couldn't care less. Obviously the pile of washed clothes waiting to be put away is the best. No, white sheets are even better.

The neurotic one always comes with us to bed and lays down on the sheet, under duvet, between me and DP.Impossible to get him off.

She's a bit young for 'be sure which cat it is' advice then. Would she get 'don't touch either cat when Mummy's not with you'?

Can you stick a bright collar on one of them?

Barrel-scraping for you - it'd be a shame to part with the cat, but of course you need to keep DD safe.

x-posted.

CAn you collar them up with distinctly different colours? Or just collar up the scratcher,possibly with a reflective collar, then it's easy to pick him out in the dark or if you can't see alll of him?

Declawing would be awful whatever age.

It's bad luck your DD got swiped, but her eye must have shut automatically (like you do) so he just hit the prominences on her face. Still painful.

Would be very harsh to rehome him as well, as he seems a loving cat just anxious about yr DD. I'm sure your DD will be able to 100% avoid if she has an extra visual clue.

You can get fluorescent collars which show up really well on black cats. Collar the No Touch cat on one of these.

Thanks all, the collar seems a great idea. I can just see the cat's face when I'll put it on him