Having a cat in the family can help a child develop a sense of responsibility at an early age. Children who have had a pet growing up tend to be more social as adults, both with people and animals.
Their communication skills are also more developed. And they are mostly free of allergies to pet fur and dander. However, children can be over-enthusiastic about trying to make friends with an animal, so there can be a lot of parenting involved on both sides.
Newborns
When it comes to newborns, an individual cat’s reaction depends on genes, personality and experience.
To minimise any risk, make sure your cat’s bed, food and water bowls, toys, litter box etc. remain or are moved to a separate location away from the full action.
Once the baby starts walking, your cat will want to eat, rest and sleep in higher, out-of-reach places. Ideally, this should be a place isolated from the baby. Cat sanctuary It can also be a bearing hut (igloo) placed on a table or sturdy shelf. A litter box is not a sandpit or a playground, so it should be covered or placed somewhere high up where the child cannot reach it.
The arrival of a baby may change the usual smells that the cat is already used to in the area, which may cause a disturbance in the cat’s mood. Some cats become frightened, some become anxious and some try to understand the new smells by marking them.
They do this either by rubbing secretions from their facial glands or, more worryingly, by marking objects such as a pram, a child’s high chair or a child’s cot. Pheromone preparations, which help cats to calm down and are available from the vet, can be sprayed on new items before bringing home a baby.
Treats and increased attention are also good tactics to help associate the baby’s presence with pleasant things. When a cat becomes anxious about the presence of a baby, it should not be stroked or soothed. Wait until she is calm down or start playing, and then wave to her in the other room.
It is important for cats to anticipate events, so it is important to keep the routine as consistent as possible. If the routine needs to be changed, try to do it as early as possible. And if you feel that you won’t have enough time to care for both the baby and the cat, perhaps you should consider finding another home for the cat before the baby is born.
Older children
Cats tend to like newborns because it means more visitors and more attention for them! But once the child becomes independently mobile, these new residents can become tiresome for the cat. A child who is crawling or learning to walk can catch a cat unawares, and his or her screams and shrieks can frighten them. Finding a place of refuge for the cat is then particularly important. Cats do not like to be chased, so sudden uncoordinated but stubborn chasing can be alarming.
Parents should always supervise the interaction between the child and the cat until they are sure that theThe child is old enough to understand the need to be calm and gentle with the cat, and to understand the signs she gives to indicate whether she will accept his attention positively. A young child should not be allowed to pick up a cat until it is strong enough to hold it properly.
Health concerns
The most common health concerns caused by cats affect young children and occur when the child comes into contact with the animal’s faeces in any way. Trying and tasting anything can expose them to roundworms, so it is recommended that the child should not be allowed to play near or clean the litter box. Sandboxes or rubbish heaps are also places where cat faeces may be present. It is therefore a good idea to cover the sandpit with something.
The most common health concerns caused by cats affect young children and occur when a child comes into contact with animal faeces in any way. He or she may become infected with roundworms by trying and tasting everythingIt is therefore recommended that the child should not be allowed to play near or clean the litter box. Sandboxes or rubbish heaps are also places where cat faeces may be present. It is therefore a good idea to cover the sandpit with something.
Proper and timely rabies vaccination is essential, as well as occasional parasite checks or prophylactic deworming medication. Some cats carry fungal infections that can infect a child. Although ringworm is annoying, it is not a complicated disease in healthy children and is easily treated with antifungal cream. If you suspect that your cat or child may be infected with fungus, you should contact your vet or doctor.
Bites or scratches are common when a cat is at home. Because of the risk of catching an infection, mainly due to the Bartonella henselae bacterium, which causes a serious infection known as cat scratch fever, scratches and bites should always be treated seriously. Clean and disinfect all scratches and bites thoroughly, and seek medical attention immediately if you develop signs of infection, pain or fever.
Teach your child how to hold and handle the cat correctly and, if a bite or scratch threatens, intervene to stop it yourself. If your cat is intolerant or aggressive with children, consult your vet or have your cat trained.
A few tips:
- Teach your child not to chase the cat.
- Demonstrate how to gently stroke the cat. Children usually stroke roughly, which cats are not very happy about.
- Show your child that it is best to stroke the cat’s head and along the back. Although the kitten’s tummy is also adorable when it is playing and playing, this area is often very sensitive for the cat and it may attack when defending itself. And of course, you should not pull the cat by the tail.
The cat should be left alone when eating, going to the toilet or sleeping