• cynar@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    As a parent, if my kid did that, I’d likely side with the neighbour. I would put it (very loosely) in the category of “natural consequence” punishments.

    It fits the crime, it discourages the crime, it forces empathy with the cat, and it does no real harm.

    • Remember_the_tooth@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      This is my favorite answer. I’d argue that he got less than the natural consequences of his actions. In nature, when one assaults another, even with something as harmless as water, it’s usually reasonable to interpret it as a threat, the response to which is usually violence. That kid is lucky he didn’t get a face full of claws. I’ve gotten a lot worse from gently touching cats that, as it turned out, didn’t want to be touched. Boundaries are important.

  • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    My neighbors daughter had one of those water guns. I told her if she shoots at me, I’ll get the hose and retaliate. She grinned, shot at me, and ran away laughing.

    I talked to her dad, he nodded, and when she came back for more mischief, she got wet.

  • Surp@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    You can tell the people in here thinking it’s ok to retaliate like that are people that live alone with cats or in their parents basement with cats. I have cats and children. Y’all this isn’t the way to go about this.

  • piecat@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    ESH. Kid shouldn’t have done it, but also the lady shouldn’t let the cat outside

  • robador51@lemmy.ml
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    4 months ago

    We’ve a lot of cats coming through the garden. I wouldn’t mind if not for my dog, who does and goes insane when she spots a cat. So I’ve been thinking about getting a super soaker to chase them away. I think that’s pretty harmless, and perhaps they learn to skip our garden after a while… What do you lot think?

    • hessenjunge@discuss.tchncs.de
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      4 months ago

      As a cat owner I approve using a a super soaker. I use a mini-soaker on my own cats in rare cases (being bengals they love water but despise being sprayed) - they probably catch on quickly and should bolt when they see you reaching for it soon.

      That being said throwing a whole cup at a cat or making it soaking wet is not ok.

      • robador51@lemmy.ml
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        4 months ago

        Thanks 🙂 I don’t intend to use one of those canon sized ones, I was thinking a mini like you said. Just a little squirt should do the trick 😇