Question: I am ashamed and despetate for help with my 17 month old, who is a typical, healthy boy. He follows directions and listens when we tell him no no for correction and we use positive reinforcement to encourage his continued good behavior; praise, clapping, stickers, etc. There's one alarming behavioral problem: he hits and/or kicks our cat almost daily, sometimes several times day. The cat is not particularly well but is XXXXXXX eats, etc and is at end of life for chronic disease.. the cat's offspring died from 3 months ago and before.he started mistreating this cat, it was the now deceased cat prior. When he died, our son just switched his behavior to another sick cat.

Initially we tried just no no for either hitting or kicking the cats but he disturbingly looks right at me and repeats the behavior again- either slapping my cat upside the head or kicking her. Eventually I realized after telling him no no, he just wasn't going to listen and would just hurt the cat a giant so I began removing him to another room immediately after he slaps/kicks her, I tell him no no and remove him from the same room. Today I wanted to see if just firm no no, and not having to remove him would work. When I saw him kick her, I said no no and he looked at me and turned back and kicked her again. I used a much firmer voice than I've ever had to use the second time, hoping the firmness would deter him. Again, he turned around and looked at me, then leaned forward and was going to slap the cat but kicked her instead. Not sure why I was shocked buy I used my hand for one spank on his diapered bottom and said no no as he looked at me. Before I was able to pick him up to remove him from room cat in, he'd already again kicked the cat for a total of 4x in under a minute. I don't tolerate animal abuse but before this cat, it was another old, dying with chronic disease. He looks right at me with this determined,spiteful look on his face that I only realized today is a signal for he's going to slap, hit, or kick the cat again.

What's kicked this up notch into wondering omg what is wrong with my son? was I saw that same spiteful, determined look on his face as he tried to take a blanket from his 6 month old cousin who was laying on it. My son didn't realize he wouldn't be able to take it since baby weight prevented him doing so. Initially I didn't realize what he doing but saw his face and watched him trying repeatedly take the baby's blanket. I have a picture of my son sitting about a foot away from baby and the blanket in between him and baby is a crumply mess, from where he'd been pulling on it, but the section of blanket behind my son perfectly laid out flat still on floor. It's upsetting to see the evidence he was trying to pick on this little baby.

My son is big boy, not fat, but very tall abt size of 3 year old his pediatrician said. He could hurt a small baby easily or my runt cat. I've been too ashamed of my son's seemingly cruel behavior to ask his pediatrician for advice. He targets dying cats and small babies and is intentionally spitefully cruel to them (it appears to them)

Why does my son target them and treat them so badly? It's certainly not learned behavior as I do not tolerate animal abuse. There's something not right. Why does he listen to me when I say no no regarding most everything else but get that vindictive look on his face and kick my cat? Trying to take baby's blanket from him? It was first time seeing his baby cousin but as far as cat, she's been member of family since day baby came home. I can't imagine jealousy suddenly an issue after previous cat he abusing died.

It's bringing me to tears picturing that disturbing look on his face and kicking my cat in the head. That's not normal behavior. I'm so very worried. Please help me. What do I say to my son when I witnessed this cruel behavior, or what action do I take? We rescue cats and this one he's mistreating was a rescue. It's upsetting to see my son behave in such a way and also seeing my son kick my old, dying cat in the head. He's only 17 months old. If it matters, he is extremely behind in speech and recently began going to a speech pathologist. He started talking a few words several times but suddenly quit talking each time. There are no other issues that I'm aware of. Please help me help my him.

of entertainment but as I wrote above, he does watch a bit of Disney Channel but tires of it once whatever caught his attention only minutes prior is over. He has never played any video games.

The picture included with the cat was taken 30 minutes ago because I had no others with my son and the cat. He has on black socks and can see his foot kicking the cat. In the other picture from Thanksgiving day, I forgot until Iust now seeing it and was reminded- there's a small pink ball to the right of my son. He was throwing that ball in the general direction of the baby, but never actually hit him, and was as if my son was taunting the baby. This happened after he tried to take the baby's blanket from him.

Again thank you, Dr. Amperayani and if needed, I'd be happy to answer any further questions or clarify if needed. This messy blanket he created is the closest thing I have to showing how very determined he is when he sets out to target the cat and I'd just happened to realize he was in that determined mode targeting the baby. I can best describe that determination as a "one track mind" when he's trying to be mean. The look on his face I could only best describe as if he were verbally replying to my no no by saying: "Hmph. Watch me kick this cat again! I don't care if you spank me because, watch me, I'm

Yes, Dr Amperayani, you describe his daily behavior perfectly and although I hadn't considered his misbehavior as possibly being related to ADHD, I do anticipate he will be diagnosed with that at some point in the future. You're an excellent physician- you've described my son's daily "busy body" as if you'd seen him in your office- not even his own pediatrician has picked up on that hyper behavior you describe that he has. I didn't know his misbehavior could possibly be connected to ADHD, so I appreciate you taking the time to educate me on what may be going on and as I said, I agree with you.

ADHD isn't as bad as if you'd told me I'm possibly raising future sociopath picking on the weak already! So my fears are actually erased and I so much appreciate the piece of mind you've given me after reading your opinion, Dr. Amperayani. If I need a professional opinion of a pediatrician again in the future, I would feel extremely comfortable in seeking you out for advice.

Thank you.