[Gathnet] Re: Gail and the cat

[Jonathan Gathman]

P.E.T.A. would probably say it would be better to sell the child.  But 
then, I don't think highly of P.E.T.A.  I agree with my co-worker who 
says P.E.T.A. stands for "People Eating Tasty Animals".

Don't forget, Gail also has this in her genes.  I understand her 
Grossvater had similar issues with a cat called Buttons.  This cat had 
apparently so much loving attention from said Grossvater, that it would 
shred the legs of passers by.

Still, you had better keep Gail, and let the cat fend for him/herself. 
I suggest letting him/her find a Gail-free area to which he/she can escape.


Is that sympathetic enough?

Stuart D. Gathman wrote:
> Gail is causing big problems with the cat.  She is obsessed with the cat 
> and will not leave him alone for 2 seconds.  The cat enjoys playing with
> Gail, but she will not obey when Mother or Daddy says it is time to give it a
> rest.  We have tried a regimen where she is not allowed to touch the cat
> for 1 day.  She has never managed to go more than a few minutes without
> disobeying.  
> 
> I am afraid the punishment will have to escalate from "time-out" to spanking.
> Today she and the neighbor girl were touching the cat, and the neighbor
> girl got scratched on the face.  The cat is very good, and endures a lot
> from Gail without scratching.  I wasn't there to see what was going on
> (I got a call from Julie while trying to concentrate at work) - but I
> can imagine.  No wonder the Pet "adoption" agency was concerned about Gail's
> age.
> 
> Julie is very angry at the cat - noting, justifiably, that much of this
> trouble could be avoided by getting rid of the cat.  However, Gail has
> a similar problem with people.  She is constantly climbing on people,
> jumping on people, hitting people ("I was just playing") at the most
> inappropriate times.  I feel more confident in training the cat to stop
> jumping on the kitchen table (as soon as I find a clean spray bottle
> with water) than I do training Gail to stop jumping on people as they
> walk through the door.  She is like an untrained dog.
> 
> Sympathy and suggestions are welcome.
> 

-- 
Jonathan Gathman
"Think, Speak and Do Well"
Urquhart Family Crest