WWYD, DH wants to get rid of our cat

[Three Graces]

There's something that you can put on their claws, so that they're not so sharp. The resident cat at our old vet had them - hot pink, soft plastic covers that stayed on, as this cat used to sit on the reception desk and swipe at dogs and owners too. I'm sure you can choose a different colour. Much better option than de-clawing or getting rid of your pet of 10 years. Which would only teach your children than pets are dispensable when you get sick of them, rather than teaching them to treat them gently, with respect etc.

[krysalyss]

So your DD was pushing your cat down and screaming at it? And your cat only scratched her? I would say give the cat a medal.

Any animal (including humans) will only take so much antagonism before they will defend themselves. In all probability the cat was giving lots of warning signals before lashing out. Many cats would have bitten in that situation. Children need to be taught about pet safety and it is absolutely unfair to expect a cat or dog to just take whatever it is given by children. This is a very predictable outcome to the situation and can easily be managed by giving the cat areas it can go to get away from the kids, and by training the children what is and isn't appropriate behaviour around animals. And if you find your children just aren't old enough to know what is and isn't appropriate behaviour then to only allow access to the pets when supervised. Good luck with your DH!

[Phteven]

It might be easier to re-home your DH than the cat especially if he doesn't bite and always uses the litter box.

[Dansta]

It might be easier to re-home your DH than the cat especially if he doesn't bite and always uses the litter box.

^^^^
my thoughts exactly.

we have cats who came into the picture after the kids
Vics been clawed alot. star takes it. elle, eh not so much but he's gotta learn that cats/dogs/chickens ect are animals and that they need to be treated "gental" not roughly. your DH needs a slap upside the head. she "may lose an eye" yep and he might get hit by a bus too -.-"

[TaRhLi.]

We will see how DH is when he gets home from work today but DD will say when asked that the cat scratched her but she will also tell you why the cat scratched her, so she knows it's because of her behaviour that it happened.

This morning when I asked how her scratch was, she told me "It's all better now mummy". I then discussed that because she hurt the cat and he scratched her daddy has said that the cat needs to go and live somewhere else and not be able to come back to our house, DD's response "No Mummy, Apollo (that's the cat) is our cat and he has to stay at our house". So that's from a 3yr old who has now fear towards the cat, just DH has overreacted severely.

Oh, and I agree in DD's life so many other things could happen to her. It is all what if's....

If DH keeps pushing it, I'll tell him he is NOT taking the cat to the pound where he will fret and then more than likely be put to sleep - which is just downright cruel to make him stress to then be killed - he can take him to the vet and explain to the vet that he is paying to have a perfectly healthy cat put to sleep because he scratched to defend himself. Easy to tell me what he plans to do but go tell someone who's profession it is to help sick and injured animals is a completely different matter.

[Novella]

If it becomes an ongoing problem I would consider getting claw tips (google soft paws) so your DH would have no reason to get rid of the cat. They are like false nails in that you trim the cats claw and then apply glue to the cap then slide the cap over the claw. They are meant to last 4-6 weeks Three scratches in as many years is a pretty good record though, particularly when you consider the cat was certainly provoked in this instance

good luck

[Mel_B1981]

Personally I'd get rid of the husband not the cat.

But then my husband was told when we met that if he had a problem with my then cat, sleeping IN the bed with us, he's not the man for me and he should carry on walking.

You can't blame the cat when it was provoked. It was only doing what comes naturally to it and defending itself.