He can't keep doing this!

adymarie

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Merlin bit Kevin.....again.

Merlin hates my 2 year old. With a passion.

Merlin has always been a loving cat with me and my hubby. He was fine when Kevin was born. Kevin was a bit aggressive with the cats when he started getting mobile, but he has since learnt to be gentle with the cats. All of the other cats are fine with him.

Last night I was sitting with Derek on my lap watching TV when Merlin jumped up for some attention. Merlin doesn't mind Derek, even though he can still be pully with the cats (still learning gentle). Merlin was happy getting head scritches from me and Kevin came up beside him. He was talking to me and Merlin and he asked if he could touch Merl. I said sure - why not - Merl was in a good mood and happy. Well Kevin just reached out his hand to gently pat his back and Merlin struck like a rattler with no warning and no provocation. He got Kevin's arm and even broke the skin.

Kevin started screaming. He has always been a little afraid of Merlin because Merl will swat him if he gets too close. This time however he got bitten. I don't want Kevin to be afraid and I don't want Merlin to bite. Hubby says if he does it again then he has to go, that we can't be worried about him bitting the kids.

I don't know what to do. Merlin is usually a little love bug, except when it comes to Kevin. And it wasn't Kevin's fault - he was being extra gentle with Merlin. I can't keep them separated at all times.

Why is Merl so aggressive with just Kevin? What can I do? I can't get rid of my kid and I don't want to get rid of my cat (he is my baby of all of the kitties). My heart is breaking!
 

larke

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He's jealous, pure and simple, and from now on you'll just have to choose who you have on your lap, or 'pet', because apparently both at the same time don't work. I hope you also at least used some Polysporin on Kevin right away as cat bites can be a problem sometimes - just make sure it doesn't look infected. Merlin isn't going to 'learn' if you punish him or anything, but hopefully Kevin will.
 

white cat lover

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IMO, this sounds to me like Kevin did something to Merlin. You likely will never know what it is. Merlin just does not sound like he trusts Kevin. I mean, Ophelia attacks people she does not trust. That is natural for them.

I would try to supervise Kevin & Merlin's interaction. Can you try Feliway diffusers? Have you spoke to your vet about this behavior? I tried my vet with Ophelia & he had some great advice.
 

green bunny

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Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m very sorry about your situation. That is just awful, and Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m sorry to say that you might have to make a hard decision for the safety of your son. You might have to rehome Merlin, and make sure there are no young children in the new home. It seems that Merlin just doesnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t like your son, and maybe you can try to reintroduce the two, I‘m not sure because I‘ve had no experience with that, and maybe someone else has some suggestions for that. Maybe Kevin played too roughly with him when he was getting mobile, and Merlin hasnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t forgotten it, or maybe Merlin just doesnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t like him for no reason.

When my sister and I were born, our parents had 3 cats, 2 older ones (at least older than 10), and one much younger one. The younger one was fine with us, but the 2 older ones could not stand us, maybe because we were infringing on their territory. When we got older I crawled but my sister didnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t (she never did, one day, later, she just stood up and walked) so she just stayed mostly in one spot. I could crawl away from them, but she was a sitting duck, and they got to her a few times and opened up her face. 24 years later and the scars are still there, but fortunately they werenâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t deforming, and people donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t notice them. In fact my sister and I did not realize till several years ago that they were natural marks on her eyebrow and lip. Nevertheless, they are there, and my sister was lucky. After the second bad attack my mother got rid of all three just to be safe (she took the 2 older ones to the shelter, and rehomed the younger one). She was not taking anymore chances.

Also, about the bite, a family friend of ours has several cats. He had to move about 3 years ago, and of course the cats werenâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t happy. One was upset and hiding and our friend tried to soothe him and pet him, but the poor cat was so upset that he bit our friend on the thumb. Our friend cleaned and bandaged the wound, but it still became infected. Our friend had to be admitted into the hospital where he stayed from a few weeks and at one point came very very close to losing his thumb, but fortunately he fully recovered.

I would talk to you vet first about his behavior, but if it doesnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t change, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m sure you agree that you must put your sonâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s safety first.

Tricia
 
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adymarie

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Originally Posted by Larke

He's jealous, pure and simple, and from now on you'll just have to choose who you have on your lap, or 'pet', because apparently both at the same time don't work. I hope you also at least used some Polysporin on Kevin right away as cat bites can be a problem sometimes - just make sure it doesn't look infected. Merlin isn't going to 'learn' if you punish him or anything, but hopefully Kevin will.
The bite was cleaned with rubbing alcohol and then Polysporin applied. Ever since Merlin started "smacking" Kevin, they never have any unsupervised time together. I tend not to leave my kids unsupervised at all as you never know what type of accident can happen. Other then trying to hug Merlin when Kevin was about 10 months old, Kevin either avoids Merl, or ignores him. Merl on the other hand will go up to Kevin and just smack him. Then I have to deal with screaming child. He is becoming absolutely terrified of Merlin, saying "No Merli, go way Merli". It is very sad.
 

goldenkitty45

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This is a tough decision. Apparently your child did something at one time that the cat doesn't forget. I had a cat that I had to rehome to a place with no children. Not because of biting, but because she was totally unhappy about children. She was fine with adults. She just was very scared when kids were around and she would hide all the time.

Was not fair IMO to let her hide and stay unhappy when she really was a loving cat. My son was very gentle with kittens from day one - he never hurt any of the cats, including Raggy.

We adopted Raggy from the SPCA, so who knows what really happened to her earlier. But she changed from a loving cat to a very scared cat when my son was born. Raggy went to live with an older couple with no kids in the house - much happier.

You might have to make the same decision.
 

kuntrykitty

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I'm sure you must love Merlin very much. But either Kevin did something to Merlin at one time (maybe even as mild as grab his tail) and he hasn't forgotten it. Or maybe he just doesn't like Kevin, that is entirely possible as well... I think the best thing (after checking with a vet to confirm there are no healthy issues involved in your situation) would be to rehome Merlin. Surely you can find a good friend, or nice family, to take him somwhere locally where you can visit Merlin. I bet he'd be much happier somewhere where there wasn't a child he disliked so much.
And then maybe you can adopt a new cat, give it a good home, one that has never met Kevin and therefore the cat and Kevin can have a chance at a good relationship. Good luck, and I'll pray you make the right decision for your family, whatever decision that may be!
 

ping

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Originally Posted by white cat lover

IMO, this sounds to me like Kevin did something to Merlin. You likely will never know what it is. Merlin just does not sound like he trusts Kevin. I mean, Ophelia attacks people she does not trust. That is natural for them.
This is my first impression as well. I have been lucky thus far that this situation has not happened here. Ping was a itty bitty baby when he came here and my youngest was 2 1/2 so they have been raised together.

Others have given great advice on how to handle this.

Other than what they have already said or suggested I have no real advice. But I did wanna say I am sorry you are going through this.
 
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