Postmen threaten to boycott house after attack by kitten

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ShadesOfMe
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20 Jul 2009, 10:41 pm

:lol: :lol:


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Swiping playfully at the camera, it's hard to imagine she could be a danger to anything - except, perhaps, her favourite toy mouse.

But to postmen, Illy the kitten might as well be a snarling rottweiler.

They say that the six-month-old moggie once jumped up at the letterbox and delivered a painful scratch to a postwoman's hand.

So fearful are they of a repeat performance that they have sent a strongly worded letter to Illy's owners - warning them to discipline her or face a delivery ban.

Kenneth Ridge, 65, and his son Bradley, 30, yesterday spoke of their shock at receiving the note describing Illy's 'attack'.

'Reading this letter you'd think I had a rottweiler at home, it really was ridiculous', Mr Ridge Snr said.

'Illy is a kitten, she's very small and friendly and was just playing.

'We weren't here, but it seems some mail was put through the letterbox and the postwoman's hand was scratched.

'I would say Illy stands up for herself, but she's never bitten me, and if she did, really could not do much damage.

'I can't believe I could have my post suspended for this. If that happens I will be making a very strong complaint.'

Illy, who weighs in at a mere 7lb, spends most of her time playing with balls of wool, chasing her tail or exploring the neighbourhood.

Mr Ridge, who runs a greengrocer's in Clapham, South-West London, first heard about her snappy side when he received the warning letter from an office manager at Royal Mail.

It read: 'I am writing to let you know that, on the 6th of June , our postman was attacked by your animal in your premises while delivering mail to your address.

'Animal attacks are a major cause of injury to Royal Mail staff and so I am writing to seek your co-operation in preventing a repeat of this unfortunate incident.

'I must advise you that, if any further incidents of this nature are allowed to take place, I shall have no alternative other than to consider suspending the delivery of mail to your home.'

Mr Ridge, who receives many important letters and packages related to his business, urged Royal Mail not to over-react.
graphic

How the Royal Mail warned about Illy's 'threatening behaviour'
Enlarge Elly the kitten with owner Ken Ridge
Enlarge Elly the kitten

Who me? Illy looks as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth as she sits in the arms of owner Ken Ridge. She looks expectantly at the letter box, ready to swipe

'Everyone I tell finds it so amusing that our little kitten has been mistaken for some savage beast,' he said.

'But, on a serious note, this is a very strong letter and if it was sent to an old lady with a cat I think it could be very upsetting. I think it's over the top, and I'd like to know what treatment to the postwoman was required.'

A Royal Mail spokesman said it always treats animal attacks on postmen seriously, however minor they might appear.

'We record about 5,000 animal attacks on our postmen and women each year with the vast majority being dogs,' he said.

'The member of staff suffered a very bad cut to her hand while delivering mail through the letterbox of the address.'

He said the injury was serious enough to 'require treatment'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z0LrUM1kOH



phil777
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20 Jul 2009, 11:34 pm

-sigh- Silly brits...



RainSong
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20 Jul 2009, 11:39 pm

I don't know if you can really discipline a kitten. And thanks for the rottewiller reference, homeowners. Glad to see stereotypes never die.

Anyway though, I could understand some concern. Without proper vaccinations, they could be dangerous. However, records of her shots should be enough.


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exhausted
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20 Jul 2009, 11:40 pm

she looks fierce. fierce, i tell you.


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Roxas_XIII
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20 Jul 2009, 11:49 pm

Sounds like my girlfriend's cat... cute looking, but don't turn your back on it for a second.


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DolcetTones
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21 Jul 2009, 3:49 am

I've never understood those stupid British letter slots - no wonder a pet protective of its territory would have a go at a stranger's appendage being thrust through one. Maybe some sort of basket or cage over the slot to protect the offending hand from the moggy's wrath next-time.



Confused-Fish
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21 Jul 2009, 3:54 am

phil777 wrote:
-sigh- Silly brits...


dammit, it had to be the one post woman who just happens to represent every other single person in the kingdom didn't it :roll:



pensieve
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21 Jul 2009, 6:37 am

Discipline a kitten? Good luck.
I've had my fair of cat scratches, it's nothing to get your nickers in a twist about.
Now if my dog bit that post woman then she'd be in real trouble.


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CRD
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21 Jul 2009, 8:54 am

Why is she sticking her hands in the mail slot if she'd just push the mail in no way the cat could get her. Ethier she's not very bright or was looking for some time off to "recover".



Last edited by CRD on 21 Jul 2009, 11:39 am, edited 1 time in total.

phil777
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21 Jul 2009, 10:44 am

Hrmph, confused-fish, i just like to tease brits :p they're the oddest culture of the West. <.< (imo)



0_equals_true
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21 Jul 2009, 11:50 am

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zey8567bcg[/youtube]



Confused-Fish
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21 Jul 2009, 6:49 pm

phil777 wrote:
Hrmph, confused-fish, i just like to tease brits :p they're the oddest culture of the West. <.< (imo)


lol, tis a pretty odd island at times.. :D



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22 Jul 2009, 6:17 am

Hey, I have a suggestion, I bring my 100 kg (220 pound) Mastiff and let him "scratch" the postman, I bet you there'll never be any complaints again. :lol:
People tend to develope a very sudden and craving need to relive themselves (or equaly sudden lose the feeling. :lol:) when he looks pissed in their direction. :twisted:

I wonder if I claim to own the mosquitos in my back yard, the'll complain about ~3000 animal attacks on their postmens everyday. :D This might be worth exploring. 8)

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He said the injury was serious enough to 'require treatment'

All skinbreaking "require treatment", most often just a quick clean, but why not be picky. ^^


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xalepax
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22 Jul 2009, 6:27 am

If the postwoman had a cat on her own she would never made a fuss about this knowing that it could be just a pure coincidence the cat was there this exact time and happened to scratch her when playing....

Poor owners, the kitty is really cute!


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DolcetTones
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23 Jul 2009, 5:37 am

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Poor owners, the kitty is really cute!


She's quite a fine beast. She even has vestigial wildcat spots. I bet her ancestors on the serengetti never allowed a hand through the letter-slot go unchallenged!



RainSong
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23 Jul 2009, 9:17 am

Silvervarg wrote:
Hey, I have a suggestion, I bring my 100 kg (220 pound) Mastiff and let him "scratch" the postman, I bet you there'll never be any complaints again. :lol:


What kind of Mastiff do you have? They're gorgeous dogs.

And xalepax - I have six cats, and I don't think I've ever been scratched by one out of coincidence. I've been scratched multiple times for multiple reasons, from old cats to kittens, but they always knew I was there. It's not always a spiteful thing (one very, very young kitten did scratch me while playing, but she was chasing my fingers (which I let her do)), but it's still done knowingly.


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