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2nd Trimester
What would you do-- pet people?
So a few months ago we rescued our Egyptian Mau, Cairo and ever since I have been in love. He is our only pet and the agency we got him from had rescued him off the streets of Philly... he looks like he's been in a scrap or two. Anyways, he is super playful all the time which is fine... but the other night he scratched DH in the face while DH was playing with him. Now I am super worried how he will be with our LO. I mean, I love our cat and don't want to get rid of him at all (although the agency would take him back and find him a new home) but I don't want to risk LO getting hurt either. Would you give the cat a chance or just chock his DH attack as his chance? TIA.
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Re: What would you do-- pet people?
One scratch does not make him a psycho cat. Keep his claws clipped short (this does not mean declawed) and don't let LO antagonize him when he get old enough to do so. Cats don't usually scratch unless you do something to piss them off. Give him toys to play with - this is a great one that kitty can get aggressive with if he needs to - https://www.thecatconnection.com/cat/Bucko-Catnip-Toy.html .
was it a vicious attack or were they playing around and your DH got scratched?
I don't have cats so I don't really know if there is training that can be done like with a dog but your best bet is just to keep a watchful eye on the cat and your LO when your LO is still too small to fend for his or herself, don't leave your LO alone in a room with the cat, things like that. Once your baby becomes a toddler though that gets a little harder to control but honestly... kids (not babies but toddlers) are going to get hurt. Its a part of life. Its not going to be the end of the world if you LO ends up with a little scratch from the cat. As long as the cat is not viciously attacking him and its just playful then I woudln't really worry about it other then keeping any eye on both.
We used to have a dog, beagle. Can't have cats cause DH is HIGHLY allergic to them and I don't like them. But, anyway....
When we brought our first son home and introduced him to the dog, they both seemed fine about it. Of course DS was a tiny baby and couldn't do much, so I don't think the dog thought it was a big deal. But, as DS got more demanding, the dog seemed to not like that to much. He would growl at DS, and just behave the complete opposite then he would normally. This was over a few months, not overnight or anything.
Well, DH and I decided that the dog was not working and we were able to find him a better home. He went to a home with older kids who can play with him the way we would before DS came home. It wasn't an easy decision, but it was necessary.
I would give the car some time when the LO gets here and see what happens. I'm sure the cat just needs to get used to it. Most animals adapted better to new additions. Ours just didn't seem to get it.
He scratches our lazy chair (despite us buying him a post) but he has NEVER gone after anyone. He is a little over a year. He gets feisty but only when you are playing with him.
I don't believe in declawing cats. I would rather him have another home then lose his claws.
do NOT do this. Declawing is a horrible, horrible surgery and causes them an obscene amount of pain.
If your DH was playing with him, and this wasn't an attack, there is no need to rehome him, especially before you even see how he reacts to a baby.
We had all of our cat's front claws taken. I know it is not the best thing to do, but no one gets scratched to pieces anymore and playtime with them is better that way. I'd have a super hard time giving up our cats so this seems like a good alternative.
I would say just clip the nails. That's what we are going to do with our kitties with claws. The oldest one is declawed, but I don't want to declaw my other 2.
Give your kitty lots of lovin
He sounds adorable! Thanks for being a rescue mom! I am too.
This. Cats usually do not go around searching to attack people. It is usually once a child comes along and pulls their tail or gets rough that they do that. Coupled with the fact that your cat is still young and in his feisty stage, I would say it's more to do with that. I would think after one scratch your LO would learn to stay away from your cat, and vice versa, which may help things too.
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You could also try those cat pheremones that plug into the wall. They also make a collar that comes with the pheremones in it. That might make him more chill. It worked really well for us when one of our kitties went through a phase of hating and beating up the other one. It was almost instant - within 2 hours of plugging it in they were friends again.
... So... If your baby scratches your husband, will you said that to a new home? News flash. Cats scratch when they play. They don't mean to, it's just how they play. I mean, seriously. If you shouldn't have gotten a cat (especially a previously feral one at that) in the first place if you didn't want to deal with claws.
If your cat doesn't like the scratching post, try getting some news ones. We ended up buying my two cats three different posts before they found one they liked (turned out to be a cheap cardboard one that sat on the floor from Walmart). That, and you have to train them to use it rather than the furniture. Cover it with some catnip and make it the ONLY place he can get the catnip. And give him a treat or two for being a good boy. Use a water botttle on him when he scratches the furniture. By doing this, both of my boys were using their post within two weeks.
Keep the cat's nail trimmed short. Chances are the cat won't even have any sort of interest in the baby until it gets older. Then you have to teach your kid not to pull on the kitty's tail. It's not brain surgery.
Declawing causes behaviorial issues, and the surgery is seriously like cutting the tips of your fingers off at theknuckle. Sorry, but that's an awful suggestion! My parents have had two indoor kitties who were declawed, and they were both mean if you touched them wrong, and would bite and claw with their back feet instead.
It doesn't sound like your kitty was being vicious. Honestly, your LO will probably get scratched at some point. As long as your cat isn't lunging at him and biting, a scratch here and there isn't a big deal to me. That's just the cat's defense saying they have had enough, now back off. I think my cats will be more afraid than anything. I wouldn't stress over it at this point!
Give the cat a chance. It was one time.
Your cat will likely ignore the baby altogether in the beginning. Babies are loud, smell different, and aren't all that appealing to a cat. Once they get mobile, your cat will likely run away at the first shriek from the quickly moving little thing.
Deal with it if it's ever a problem, there's no way to predict anything now.
FWIW, we thought one of our cats would be an issue. He ignored DS completely for the first 9 months or so, and is now his best buddy. Lets him climb on him, pull his tail, poke his nose, and has never, ever even taken a swat at him. (And calm down, some of you panties-in-a-bunch ladies...he's always supervised with the cat, and I'm well aware that he could put out the claws at any moment)
i adopted a 10 year old cat 3 years ago. i'm pretty sure he hated me. i learned to watch his facial expressions (yes, i know this sounds weird) to know when he was about to swat. like i said, i've had him for 3 years now. i know him better and know what bothers him, but i also think he trusts me more. but i have no idea what he's going to be like with a kid. he'll probably swat. and if a toddler grabs his tail, it'll be an all out attack. my plan is to keep his nails short.
i have another cat (2 or 3 years old now). i actually get him groomed because he has long hair and it's a nightmare to clip his claws. he's big, strong, and just bad. i don't know how the groomers do it, but they clip his claws low and smooth. it's amazing! he can't climb my curtains or screens after getting them done at the groomer. like i said, i dont' know how they do it, but if any of my 3 cats get swatty with my LO, they're all going to the groomer to get their nails clipped.
declawing is always an option. personally, i would never do it. but that's me. it's cruel...blah blah blah. not lecturing on that. they have claw cover thingys. too.
and some pets just aren't kid friendly. i wouldn't make that determination from 1 stratch though.
Have you thought of those rubber claw covers if it continiues to be a problem? They sell them at any pet store and they are fairly inexpensive. They dont work for all cats. I used them years ago and one of my cats didnt mind them and the other pulled them all off. It is an alternative to declawing. They glue on to their nails with glue much like having your own nails done. They fall off eventually as the nails grow.
Just an option.
I agree with the majority. Keep his nails trimmed (do it yourself or take him to the vet), get a scratch pad or post and try rubbing catnip on it if he's not interested at first. I have a very active and loving 3 year old cat who has her front claws and I keep her nails trimmed (every other week). Sophie loves her laser mouse and the life like mouse toys that rattle.
Also, was DH up close to your cat or did your cat run and attack his face? It sounds like maybe DH just got a little to close to a very playful cat.
I was raised around dogs and cats and learned early on to be gentle with them. I plan to do the same with my LO.
I'm not a cat person, but I wouldn't think that's a concern based on your description. We have 2 doxies that have done very well around babies so far (friends stayed with us for several days/dinner parties with children).
That said, if DH or I were wrestling/playing with them, it's very possible to get snagged by a rogue claw or tooth. It's clearly rough playing though- and not something they'd be doing (or we'd allow) with a baby or small child. A cat or dog snapping at a kid is one thing... an accidental small injury while playing/wrestling wouldn't worry me- I'd just tone it down in the future.
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LOL!