- Joined
- Oct 30, 2021
- Messages
- 48
- Purraise
- 57
Our older son just moved back home for the summer. He normally lives at school. We've gotten three cats while he's been away. We used to be a no pets family, and over the past year I decided to adopt 3 cats, because they give me so much happiness and I wanted to be able to give my love to some innocent creatures.
One thing that surprised me to see yesterday, was that our son (21 years old) did things on purpose to agitate one of the cats. She's a princess and loves to be treated very gently. He was grabbing her tail repeatedly. He was kind of shoving his arm into her face. She eventually lashed out and tried to bite him.
I explained that that kind of behaviour is unkind, and we want to make sure the animals all have comfortable, calm lives, where they can rely on all the humans in their family to treat them with only kindness.
He basically said to stop calling him an animal abuser and told me that I've taken the care of the cats too far. I should be OK with his behaviour.
How do I basically explain to him that cats, like people, have emotions and feelings and also have the right to live without being agitated? My husband tried to talk to him as well, but my son just got really upset and kept telling us he isn't abusing her so we should back off.
Any tips? He just doesn't seem to get it. I'm worried it will not stop and I'll have to be the bad guy and tell him he can't live at home, if he can't be kind. Obviously, I'd like to avoid that.
Thanks!
One thing that surprised me to see yesterday, was that our son (21 years old) did things on purpose to agitate one of the cats. She's a princess and loves to be treated very gently. He was grabbing her tail repeatedly. He was kind of shoving his arm into her face. She eventually lashed out and tried to bite him.
I explained that that kind of behaviour is unkind, and we want to make sure the animals all have comfortable, calm lives, where they can rely on all the humans in their family to treat them with only kindness.
He basically said to stop calling him an animal abuser and told me that I've taken the care of the cats too far. I should be OK with his behaviour.
How do I basically explain to him that cats, like people, have emotions and feelings and also have the right to live without being agitated? My husband tried to talk to him as well, but my son just got really upset and kept telling us he isn't abusing her so we should back off.
Any tips? He just doesn't seem to get it. I'm worried it will not stop and I'll have to be the bad guy and tell him he can't live at home, if he can't be kind. Obviously, I'd like to avoid that.
Thanks!