Beware of the, er... kitten: Terrified postmen threaten to boycott house after attack by baby cat

Going postal: Elly the kitten is accused of attacking a postwoman

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.

How the Royal Mail warned about Illy's 'threatening behaviour'

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'.

Prr0fect position: Postal workers are refusing to deliver to a house after an attack by a cat