Stand your ground. The cat is fine. I'm too tired to go more into detail.... but your DH doesn't have the right to make you feel as if it's your fault the cat scratched. Where was HE at the time it happened hmm?? How come it's not his fault?
2014 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.
Stand your ground. The cat is fine. I'm too tired to go more into detail.... but your DH doesn't have the right to make you feel as if it's your fault the cat scratched. Where was HE at the time it happened hmm?? How come it's not his fault?
Moderator
No way would I get rid of one my cats for the odd scratch and certainly would not be getting a dog instead. My girls carry on more about our dog scratching them, which happens almost daily when she jumps up in excitement.
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
It sounds like your DH doesnt know or love cats. Is he more of a dog person?
i agree with you completely, btw. It would break my heart to give my furbaby away. At 10 years old, being put in a pound or being rehomed would be incredibly distressing for him. Tbh, I wonder if it wouldnt be kinder to put him to sleep rather thsn do that to him.
You were RAK'ed in 2015.
Although I would love to get rid of one of our cats (she has many crimes against her going a long way back and both cats are 12yrs now) I never will. They are ours and its our duty to take care of them.
There are so many other ways that this issue could be dealt with. Talk to your kids, let them only play with the cats whilst you are supervising etc. But getting rid of a kid for a scratch which the cat probably didnt actually mean to hurt her, is not right.
At 10yrs of age if you put the cat up for adoption or pound it is more than likely going to be killed. Sorry but the kill rate with cats that are in those places is upwards of 80%, if not more. Most people will not adopt a cat, they only want kittens, and a 10yr old cat is very unlikely of having a happy future.
Registered User
Thanks for your replies.
DD hurts her brothers she almost broke DS2 nose the other week and DS1 is a biter but he doesn't talk about rehoming them, so because the cat has done this 3 times in 3 years - which I think shows a very tolerant cat in my opinion - he needs to be rehomed.
Oh and it's my fault because he is my cat, I had him from a kitten and met DH when he was 1 so even though he has been part of my life for 10yrs and DH's for 9yr's the risk is too high. I'll just have to tell him that I will do a weekly ritual of clipping his claws and he has to help with teaching DD about being more gentle or to leave the cat alone.
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
Just an observation so don't shoot me....
When we were in Canada years ago many of the cats were declawed as they were inside all the time due to the weather. The people we were staying with said it was common and the cat was quite happy so not sure if it's a bad thing or not.
Registered User
I've read up on declawing and it seems to be very painful for the cats as the claw is actually attached to bone so basically they are breaking the bone to remove the claw, and for the sake of me keeping his claws clipped and teaching DD to be more gentle I wouldn't want to put him through that.
You were RAK'ed in 2015.
I have friends who clip their nails, they use a animal nail clipper and their cats never seem to even notice that they are been clipped. I know that you only cut to a particular point, like with humans, but their cats dont seem to mind it. Actually our boy was clipped when he had to have a visit with the vet for a few days. He went crazy on them, so when they knocked him out they clipped his claws so he was less likely to harm them when getting him out of the cage, which they were never able to do, they had to call us for that job.
edit, whoops I thought you meant clipping not declawing.. Declawing sounds harsh. Wonder if they meant clipping but called it declawing, cause that sounds like the equilavent to docking tails. imo
Registered User
I have two cats that we got before having kids. They have scratched the kids a few times but nothing serious. I certainly wouldn't be getting rid of the cat, it teaches kids that they aren't toys - they will retaliate when they have had enough of toddler treatment.
My kids hurt each other more than the cats do but I'm not looking to rehome them
Registered User
The others have pretty much said it but please don't get rid of your cat. Pets should be members of the family and there are always other options than getting rid of them. As you said you wouldn't get rid of one of the kids!
I don't see how it's your fault though, just because it's your cat.
Registered User
Nope, I'm with you, I wouldn't get rid of the cat. Ok, the cat scratched her and it was unfortunate it was near her eye but it was just scratching after being pushed and wasn't deliberately thinking 'I'll scratch her eyes out, that will have the most impact' ROFL.
If it was a dog that bit your child or a cat that was going psycho and attacking them every day then yeah, get rid of it. But 3 scratches in 3 years is no big deal IMO. Every time we visit my Aunty my kids get cat scratches because they are annoying the cat, I assume they will learn soon, we still visit.
Registered User
I think it's totally unreasonable to get rid of the cat (who has been in the household for much longer than the child) because it scratched when provoked. It's an animal and that's it's natural instinct to protect itself. It would be very unkind to try and rehome a cat of that age (or any age really), part of having pets is learning responsibility about caring for them well and treating them kindly which your DD will eventually learn.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks