Ok, first off, I know that there are several of you here who have children, small ones, older ones and in between ones. I also know that you have cats around those children. I will make the assumption that having both, especially small (year old approximately) that you start teaching them early on to respect the kitty, how to/not to hold it and such - I know my mom did (remember, please, that I don't have any kids myself). As cat people and mothers, if your child mishandled one of your cats, and the cat scratched him/her? My thought would be to treat the scratch (watch for infection) and use this as a lesson on how not to treat kitty. Sooooo.....to my vent from here.
Mind you, last night when this happened, I ran the full gamut of human emotions in about ten minutes or so....from VERY angry, to sad, to just unhappy, to pleased, and finally to "ok, this might be good". Several years ago, we gave my SIL and her family two of our Himalayan kittens, one was a seal point, and one was a Flame. We stopped breeding in 2001, so both are around ten years old. I found out last night that in the past six months they took my flame baby to the pound because he had developed crystals and they didn't have the money to treat him (although I got perturbed, the upside is that they know the folks who adopted him and he's in a good home, probably better than the one he left). But last night, my SIL called, and because at some point her granddaughter who just turned one, and is allowed to do just about whatever she wants was scratched by the cat (probably in self-defense IMO) she wants to know do we want him back or should she take HIM to the pound too?
To say the least, when Charlie told me what she wanted after he got off the phone, I went totally ballistic about it! I cannot believe that someone would get rid of a cat just because it scratched a small child. As I calmed down though, I got to thinking that he'd be better off back home with me anyway, he's got room to run, and wouldn't have to hide like he has ever since the baby has gotten mobile- she hunts him up. I was preparing to integrate Samcat into my household when Charlie closes the bakery, but looks like I'm gonna have to put on my "introduction pants" a lot sooner than I intended
In a lot of ways, I'm still very angry about the situation, I guess partially because I feel that once you make a commitment to an animal like this, you should honor it, unless circumstances beyond your control force you to.......but to me, this is not one of those things, y'know? Now, if the cat had a reputation for being crabby, surly, ill-tempered, etc, I could see it a little better, but he's a sweet, gentle giant who just hates to be harassed by small hands that haven't been taught to leave him alone.
Ah well, vent over.....and on the plus side, I get a Himmy back in my life!
Mind you, last night when this happened, I ran the full gamut of human emotions in about ten minutes or so....from VERY angry, to sad, to just unhappy, to pleased, and finally to "ok, this might be good". Several years ago, we gave my SIL and her family two of our Himalayan kittens, one was a seal point, and one was a Flame. We stopped breeding in 2001, so both are around ten years old. I found out last night that in the past six months they took my flame baby to the pound because he had developed crystals and they didn't have the money to treat him (although I got perturbed, the upside is that they know the folks who adopted him and he's in a good home, probably better than the one he left). But last night, my SIL called, and because at some point her granddaughter who just turned one, and is allowed to do just about whatever she wants was scratched by the cat (probably in self-defense IMO) she wants to know do we want him back or should she take HIM to the pound too?
Ah well, vent over.....and on the plus side, I get a Himmy back in my life!