My Cat Scratched My Baby...I Need Advice

AlongCame_Molly
AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
in Chit-Chat
My cat scratched my 14-month old toddler in the face last night, narrowly missing his EYE. She has never liked children, and we knew that, but last night the door to where she hides from our boy when he tries to play with her was closed. This can never happen again. One half of an inch higher, and my son would be in the hospital right now, being fitted with an eye patch. His life would be ruined forever.

My options as I see them:

*Give her away. I don't know of anyone who would want a cranky old brat cat that hates children, so that would probably mean a no-kill shelter for her. That would break my heart.

*Make her an outdoor cat. SHe has little to NO outdoor skills, and between her yowling outside the door to get back in, and joining the pack of wild cats that infests our apartment complex, this option seems pretty irresponsible. Plus, it wouldn't solve the problem; what if she just went and scratched somebody ELSE'S kid and blinded them? :noway:

*Declawing her. I've always been sort of against this procedure, as I feel it's inhumane and usually unnecessary, and putting my six-year old adult cat through a painful and whoppingly traumatic surgery (that is usually only done on small babies) that could very well depress her and alter her personalty for the rest of her life, well, that also breaks my heart.

If we get rid of her, we will get a replacement baby kitten, that we will raise to be comfortable around small children. The cost of vaccinating spaying/neutering it will be probably more than what we'll be charged for declawing Elphaba. So cost isn't really a factor in our decision.

Has anyone been in a similar situation, and had to make this decision? What did you do? Your thoughts? (Please no douche or smart-alec comments, like "I'll taker her, my snake needs food" or "just get a dog". I have enough on my plate right now without dealing with internet jerks. I'm not in the mood. Serious advice, only please.) Thanks!
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Replies

  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
    Declawing is sick.

    You can file your cats claws down and have those soft paws put on. They are rubber claw caps. You will need to it once a month but it works and doesn't bother the cat.
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
    Here's the claw caps. We just do this to front paws but you can do all four. If you just do the front this contains enough to do it 4 times.

    http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4033287&f=PAD/psNotAvailInUS/No
  • sbbhbm
    sbbhbm Posts: 1,312 Member
    I had a four year old cat that I had to get declawed in order to move into an apartment. She handled it okay- but every now and then when she was cleaning her feet, she'd just stare at them with a bewildered look in her eyes. It didn't really change her personality or temperament at all, but if you're worried about that with your cat- it almost sounds like she could use an attitude adjustment anyway.
  • lisapisa81
    lisapisa81 Posts: 68 Member
    i'm not really a cat person so maybe i'm suggesting something impossible, but could another option be to talk to a vet or some kind of animal trainer, to determine if there's a way you could gradually get your cat to warm up to your little boy? or maybe this suggestion is even crazier, but i think they do have medication now that you can get for your pets for anxiety (through the vet)...maybe that would make her a little less scared of him.
  • NancyStree
    NancyStree Posts: 89 Member
    would your cat abject to a kitten in the house? You might give that a try and maybe your son will leave the cranky cat alone. I watch my 3yr old granddaughter and I have 4 cats and one is cranky and she scratched her in the face also. So now she knows to stay away but she can play with the other cats...
  • weliveaswedream
    weliveaswedream Posts: 56 Member
    Have you tried clipping her claws? I do this with my cat. I just make sure to do it pretty routinely, every 3 - 4 weeks.

    There are also claw caps. http://www.softpaws.com/ I have friends who use and highly recommend them. The caps only last a couple weeks so you have to keep your eye on when they need to be replaced but it's a great alternative to clipping.
  • Lone_Wolf70
    Lone_Wolf70 Posts: 2,820 Member
    declaw the cat. I am an animal lover and have rescued stray dogs and cats just in case ppl start flaming me.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    declaw the cat. I am an animal lover and have rescued stray dogs and cats just in case ppl start flaming me.

    I would do this.
  • Lisa1971
    Lisa1971 Posts: 3,069 Member
    Declawing is sick.

    You can file your cats claws down and have those soft paws put on. They are rubber claw caps. You will need to it once a month but it works and doesn't bother the cat.

    Agreed!!!!!!!!!:drinker:
  • darkguardian419
    darkguardian419 Posts: 1,302 Member
    If our cat ever did that, he would be dinner.
  • elleru
    elleru Posts: 12 Member
    I'd install a cat door to your cat's hidey hole. That way, closed or not, your cat has an escape route from the toddler. Also, keep in mind, you won't have a toddler forever. This too shall pass.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    declaw the cat. I am an animal lover and have rescued stray dogs and cats just in case ppl start flaming me.

    I would do this.

    I would also suggest monitoring both more closely and having separate spaces that each can go to. Baby gates work wonders. We have a puppy and even though I know he would not intentionally do anything I don't leave him alone with my 3 year old because he could easily accidentally scratch/bite her.
  • Alex_is_Hawks
    Alex_is_Hawks Posts: 3,499 Member
    between declawing or putting her down...

    declaw....

    while I love animals and I rescue (I have a rescued pitty currently), I feel that our first responsibility is to our human children's safety, then the animals.
  • iulia_maddie
    iulia_maddie Posts: 2,780 Member
    I clip my cat’s claws regularly so he doesn’t scratch me when we play. Try that. Teach your kid not to be rough with the cat, if the cat was hiding, she was probably scared. I find declawing cruel.

    All that being said, as much as I love cats, your kid comes first. If you really can’t find a solution to keep this from happening until the cat warms up to him.. the cat needs to go.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    Declawing is sick.

    You can file your cats claws down and have those soft paws put on. They are rubber claw caps. You will need to it once a month but it works and doesn't bother the cat.

    I have 3 cats......they are all indoor cats......they are all declawed. It does not bother them. They still "sharpen their claws" on furniture and everything.
  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member
    declaw the cat. I am an animal lover and have rescued stray dogs and cats just in case ppl start flaming me.

    I would do this.

    thirded. Every cat I've ever owned has been declawed & spayed. They were indoor cats.
  • TigressPat
    TigressPat Posts: 722
    you can teach an old cat new tricks.
  • vtmoon
    vtmoon Posts: 3,436 Member
    If it's a territory issue isn't it a risk to have her around the baby, declawed or not?
  • lorcart
    lorcart Posts: 406 Member
    They sell the claw caps at Petco and Petsmart as well. I personally would never declaw a cat,but my cat is a rescue and he was already declawed. Just so you know, when you declaw, they use their next defense, which is biting. I always thought he was playing, but learned from a trainer that since he doesn't have claws that the next defense is biting and he's not breaking skin or hurting us, but he's saying "back off, don't pet me there...or I'm not in the mood, so back the hell off". I don't think declawing is going to be an answer as a small child wouldn't understand the "back off" nibble and the cat would then proceed to actually breaking the skin.
    I would try the claw caps as suggested and the doggie door to the hiding spot to let the cat know he's always got a way out.
  • DEgal99
    DEgal99 Posts: 100 Member
    Declawing is sick.

    You can file your cats claws down and have those soft paws put on. They are rubber claw caps. You will need to it once a month but it works and doesn't bother the cat.

    Agreed!!!!!!!!!:drinker:

    Yep, this!
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    I'd install a cat door to your cat's hidey hole. That way, closed or not, your cat has an escape route from the toddler. Also, keep in mind, you won't have a toddler forever. This too shall pass.

    Actually, we plan on having more kids. So there will pretty much always be small kids in our home for the next 10 years or so. I also have lots of small nieces and nephews that come to our house.
  • lkweber21
    lkweber21 Posts: 27 Member
    What about shutting the door for the room that your son sleeps in so the cat can't get in by him?? I have 2 cats and they were both declawed when they were a baby. I don't think it would be good to declaw a cat who is as old as yours is.
  • jporte
    jporte Posts: 164 Member
    I had a similar situation with my first child....I had 2 cats at the time, one was fine with my son the other one was not and I ended up taking him to a no kill shelter....generally they have insanely long waiting lists but I gave them $ to buy another cage and they took him. I would wait on getting another kitten when your child is older.

    Edited to add that declawed cats especially when declawed later in their years will want to protect themselves in other ways and may start biting. If this cat does not like your child then I don't think there are that many options.
  • sunsnstatheart
    sunsnstatheart Posts: 2,544 Member
    declaw the cat. I am an animal lover and have rescued stray dogs and cats just in case ppl start flaming me.

    I would do this.

    thirded. Every cat I've ever owned has been declawed & spayed. They were indoor cats.

    ^ This. If you really find it difficult to choose between declawing a temperamental cat that has already hurt your child, and your child, then I think a little contemplation of priorities is in order.
  • jessilyn76
    jessilyn76 Posts: 532 Member
    We don't have a cat, but a dog, and I can tell you that if there was any indication that our dog would hurt ours, or anyone elses kids, as much as we love her, she would be finding a new home........the kiddos come first!!!

    And keep an eye on that scratch........cat scratch fever isn't just a song!
  • janessanessa
    janessanessa Posts: 299 Member
    I am a veterinarian, and declawing is not sick! I don't agree with it 100% of the time, but if it is a means to keep a cat in the home instead of turning it loose outside, giving it away, or relinquishing it to a shelter, I am for it. But, you must take into consideration, cats have teeth too, and even if you declaw, a cat that does not like a child may still find other ways to express this behavior.

    I don't think it is fair to replace your cat with another kitten. You're just perpetuating the idea that pets are disposable if they do something you don't like or agree with. I understand the risk to your baby, but think of the emotional trauma it may have to your cat.

    Declawing is an option, there are pain medications, and if done properly, all cats heal and do just fine.

    Consider this, the new kitten you get may in the end decide it does not like your baby either.

    I would accept responsibility for the one you have, or find a loving home for it elsewhere.
  • bethvandenberg
    bethvandenberg Posts: 1,496 Member
    I had a mean cat and she started biting. I had to take her in to the shelter. I like to think that some nice person took that fat mean grey cat home. She was a PIA. I too have kids and always had kid friends over. Not a risk we were willing to take. Best of luck.
  • TigressPat
    TigressPat Posts: 722
    If it's a territory issue isn't it a risk to have her around the baby, declawed or not?

    yes, and no.
    if you declaw a cat, and it feels threatened, it will bite.

    but cats can be trained.
  • dczebiniak
    dczebiniak Posts: 14 Member
    declaw the cat. I am an animal lover and have rescued stray dogs and cats just in case ppl start flaming me.

    I agree...The front claws are only distructive claws they use the back ones for defense and climing. So leave the back ones in case the cat gets outside.
  • coe28
    coe28 Posts: 715 Member
    I would declaw the cat. Your toddlers safety should trump the comfort of your cat. Then you get to keep the cat without worrying about this or something worse happening. Especially if you plan to have more kids.
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