Cats and Kids: How to Maintain Harmony

Growing up with a pet is a fulfilling experience. But when you have a cat in the house, bringing home a new baby can be an ordeal for everyone. Cats are territorial and reclusive. Loud noises that your children make can be profoundly disturbing for your cat. Your cat can end up lashing out at your kids. Even with prescription cat medicine, your cat can end up getting injured or injuring your child. As a parent and pet parent here are a few things, you can do to ensure peace at home.

Cats and Kids

Keep Your Cat Healthy

A healthy cat is a happy cat. If your cat is randomly lashing out, they may be feeling sick. You need to ensure that your cat is both mentally and physically healthy. Prescription cat medicine can take care of any ailments that your cat can be suffering from. You also need to understand that your cat might be feeling insecure due to all the changes in the surrounding. Talk to your vet or an animal behaviourist to understand what your cat might be feeling. By talking to an expert, you can get an idea of how to help your cat feel more secure in their new surroundings.

Give Your Cat Space

You do not need to talk to an expert to know that cats need their own space. While dogs seek companionship constantly, cats like having their own space. When your children are running around in the house, they might end up running into your cat. In the process, your cat can get injured or can nip at your children. A nice tall cat tree in a secluded corner can be the privacy that your cats need. During playtime, your cat can seek refuge in their cat tree.

Teach Your Child to Play Nice

If your child gets smacked by your cat, because they held them too hard, then blame on you. As the parent, you need to teach your child how to play nice with the cat. Your child will not know how to play with the cat. Keep an eye on your child when they are first getting to know the cat. Correct your child if you see that your cat is running away from them. Do not allow your child to restrain your cat. With your guidance, your child will learn how to behave with your cat.

Keep Nails Trimmed

You do not have to worry about your child getting scratched by your cat if their nails are out of the picture. Prescription cat medicine can make the pain of declawing physically manageable, but it might make your cat more aggressive. If you think of declawing your cat, you need to think of how scarring the experience can be for your cat. Instead of declawing your cat, you can trim their nails using a nail clipper at home. You can be sure that your cat does not scratch your children or your furniture with trimmed nails.

Teach your child how to behave around animals and give your cat a safe space to ensure harmony between kid and cat at home.

4 thoughts on “Cats and Kids: How to Maintain Harmony”

  1. Honestly, I think my childhood cat is the reason I play nice with others ^-^ Cats aren’t as overflowing with friendship as dogs, and you need to give them space and respect them a little more. We have 3 cats now and my kids are certainly better for it!
    – Lilly <3

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