WWYD, DH wants to get rid of our cat

[misty]

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.

Yep that. I'd be telling your DH to take a Long walk off a short pier., and not to overreact to something so insignificant. It's a cat. Your Child needs to learn to be gentle if only for self preservation. It sounds like he just doesn't like the cat in general and this is as good excuse as any to get rid of it.

BTW - I've heard of lots of kids dying in dog attacks, when is the last time you heard the same of a cat attack.

ETA - sorry for typos, iPhone autocorrect. Gggrrr.

[Cass72]

Um, how bad was the scratch?

Just a thought, but if your DH's not particularly fond of kitty anyway it (the scratching) may seem to be a little more sinister than it is....

What if you re-homed the kids and DH?

[blessedatlast]

Lol, as a cat lover I am with everyone else. I'd rehome the husband

I agree with many points made above. Rehoming a 10 year old cat would be extremely distressing.

[Rouge]

Declawing in Australia is illegal. It is an act of animal cruelty. The only time a cat will be declawed in Aus is if it's deemed medically necessary.

And yes I wouldn't be getting rid of my cat. I've got a 15 year old cat who has survived two children. Not without a few "mind your p's & q's tap" from the cat to a child once or twice. Kids should be taught to respect animals. Getting rid of the animal doesn't teach anybody anything. And at 10 the chances of the cat being rehoused is very unlikely, more than anything the cat would most likely be put to sleep. And that's IMO a little drastic due to a few scratches.