My relatives suck, pet edition

[protege]

For those who live on farms cats are good to have around because they control the rodent population.

That's why my grandmother eventually got a cat. Kitty had to live outside though. She was in serious auto accident some months prior, and was afraid that if he was inside...she'd trip over him and fall. So his job was to live outside, and deal with the field mice and moles before they did any damage.

I remember one time, that I'd brought Kitty inside. I heard a noise in the kitchen--probably a mouse trying to get in (they'd usually crawl up the water pipes, and up through the floor, behind the cabinets), so I put the cat in the kitchen. He sniffed around...and apparently scared the crap out of the mouse. No more mouse invasions

[Erinesque]

The only times my cats scratch me is when they are walking over me and jump somewhere else, and I get the brunt of those hind claws! Mostly, the only time I see their claws is when I'm either putting caps on them, or they're kneading me.

I've also had cats all my life, one of the first of whom I kept renaming every week, but nicknamed her "Honey Baby", so that became her name, I can't remember how many other names she had. She was my constant companion, and when I was about 6, she had kittens on my bed, with me in it! The mewing actually woke my mom up, and she came and got me up to come sleep with her and dad that night, letting the cat have the bed. Later, I found out what a huge compliment that was from my cat, since she would have been looking for the place she felt safest, which was with me.

[depechemodefan]

When my mom got sick, I finally got a cat inside the house. My mom had a caretaker and one of my uncles would come over a lot. Since my mom was on 'dialysis, her blood was thin. Sometimes the cat would scratch her. The caretaker would latter tell me that my uncle wanted to get rid of it (I forget if this involved killing the cat) because the cat was hurting my mom.

[jedimaster91]

So far my dogs are pretty ambivalent about Minion. Of course, he's only two months old. Once he gets mobile and grabbing at ears and tails, things could get interesting. I'm not terribly worried, though. One dog rolls with everything (the only thing that's ever scared her consistently is the evil vacuum cleaner), and the other came from a family with a lot of kids.

[Kogarashi]

So far my dogs are pretty ambivalent about Minion. Of course, he's only two months old. Once he gets mobile and grabbing at ears and tails, things could get interesting. I'm not terribly worried, though. One dog rolls with everything (the only thing that's ever scared her consistently is the evil vacuum cleaner), and the other came from a family with a lot of kids.

This is why once we do get a cat in May or so, we're going to ask the Humane Society if they know of any of their cats being particularly kid-friendly. Luckily they seem pretty keen on matching pets to families (they even have a "personality quiz" for prospective adopters to take).

[Tama]

Most animals I've had instinctively know that the wrinkly potato thing the humans brought home was a kitten or a puppy and left it alone. Or in my dog's case started LACTATING for it.

When I lived with my husband's family the cat seemed to hover over her a lot and seemed almost to ENJOY being chased by her as she got older. (This is the world's mellowest cat though >_> )

However your mileage may vary. All I can say is don't be in a hurry to rush the animal out of the room when the baby is brought in or they'll start associating the baby with bad stuff.

[Kogarashi]

However your mileage may vary. All I can say is don't be in a hurry to rush the animal out of the room when the baby is brought in or they'll start associating the baby with bad stuff.

I figure, introduce the pet to the baby under supervision, just as you would with older siblings, no?