Winnipeg posties won't deliver mail due to 'scary cat'

[Jayems]

Haha... this is on CNN.com... A little embarrassing...

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) -- Canada's postal system has stopped delivering mail to a home in Winnipeg, Manitoba, after a mail carrier was scared away by a "very threatening cat," the Winnipeg Free Press said Friday.
A Canada Post spokeswoman said the agency was concerned about the safety of its carriers, although it hoped for an amicable solution to its dispute with cat-owner John Samborski.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americ...eut/index.html

[PowerPlayoffs06]

Personally, I find a pissed off cat a hell of a lot more frightening than a dog. Im not gonna ignore a dog that obviously doesn't want me there, but man, a cranky cat can do some damage with those claws and bites that infect your wounds. The thing was declawed apparently, but I would guess the mail guy had no way of knowing at the time.

When I volunteered at the SPCA, I hated having to deal with the red-tagged cats that attack people. Way more of a handful than any dog.

[RedHot25]

Ok feel free to laugh at me, whole-heartedly. But...without knowing any additional details about this case, I could potentially understand to an extent. For example, we have friends who are lucky they live in an appt and are not near their mailboxes. Their cat is horrendous - random swats, bites, etc. Go ahead and call me a whimp, but when at one time another friend had to go to the hospital .

Ok, yeah I;'m a wimp.

[FireFly]

The article says that the cat has been declawed. So what exactly is the guy scared it'll do? Hiss?

[Staypuft]

Cats creep me out so much.
A "meow" is the creepiest thing ever.
I'd rather deal with a pet alligator frankly.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

I'd battle it with molotov c0cktails.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Well, I share the same job so maybe I can shed a little more light on this.

We encounter animals constantly. The main worry is dogs. Personally, I give most dogs the benefit of the doubt. I've used my dog spray 3 times in 3 years...and I work in a BAD neighborhood. Pit bulls around every corner.

I have come across a few cats in my time that worried me. I had one attack me through a mail slot. She was declawed so it kind of tickled, but she was one pissed off cat. Fortunately she didn't decide to bite. We have had carriers bitten by cats in the time I've been carrying mail. Again, that's 3 years so it can't be THAT rare. We cut off their mail until they did away with the slot and put up a regular mail box.

I'd be curious to know if this guy has a mail slot because in my experience, this is where the cats get a little testy. I did encounter one cat that made me nervous as I approached the box but it didn't do anything.

It's not the cakewalk most people think it is though, being a mailman. Right Josef?

I think there are some letter carriers who are too eager to:

A. Use animals as an excuse not to do their job
B. Whip out the weapons and inflict some pain on the animals.

So I would tend to believe the owner here, but I wouldn't say it is out of the realm of possibility either.

I've been bitten by dogs twice myself and it's not much fun. Some would argue that me giving the benefit of the doubt is why I was bitten. I disagree.

[4X4]

[Flames09]

Cats are creepy.

[Ford Prefect]

I'm curious about what some people find creepy about cats. I don't mean to dispute their views. It's just that I like cats and can't for the life of me understand what it is about cats the some people hate. I accept they don't like them ... I'd just like to know why for interest's sake. I'd be grateful for any illumination on this.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by FireFly

The article says that the cat has been declawed. So what exactly is the guy scared it'll do? Hiss?

Bite. Cat bites hurt like hell. I had a friend years ago who had a cat. Poor thing was abused as a kitten and was a little messed up - loved her owner but would attack anyone else...and bite. Not little nips either. Ouch.

That being said...this seems like an appropriate time to bust out the Cats in Sinks website

http://www.catsinsinks.com/


What is Cats in Sinks? It's obvious. It's about cats. And kittens. Who like sinks. And basins.

[JiriHrdina]

And an equally cool cat website: The Infitine Cat Project: http://www.infinitecat.com/infinite/cat1.html

[FireFly]

It's a shame my cats don't like sinks. I don't think the bathtub counts. Only the one likes to hang out in the tub though.

[burnin_vernon]

I'm a postie myself and while I can't see myself ever being scared of a cat, I've heard many stories of their attacks being just as menacing as those of a dog. More than one has told of them getting airborne and attacking from above! The thing is, no matter how "friendly" your pet is, we have no idea about that when a barking dog comes running up to you, or a quiet cat sits there and stares at you.

I'm more afraid of the sketchies waiting for their welfare checks than I am any animal though.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by burnin_vernon

I'm more afraid of the sketchies waiting for their welfare checks than I am any animal though.

Amen to that!

Firefly...you should start your won website....Cats In Tubs!

[OutOfTheCube]

My girlfriends cat is the greatest cat ever. Whenever I come in he'll run up to me and start meowing and trying to climb up me until I pick him up.Then he just sits in my arms/clings to my shoulder and purrs like crazy.

And this will happen several more times during my time there. That cat loves EVERYBODY and wouldn't hurt a fly.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

The thing with cats is that if you get them out of their element they can get crazier then Ed Belfour after a case of beer. Dogs are pretty open about when they don't like you and they don't hide. A cat can hide under something and if it is angry the next thing you know you'll have front and hind claws dug into your skin while it's biting away.