Introducing Cats and Kids

Many people want their children to know the joy of loving a pet. However there can be some challenges to having cats and kids in the same home. Whether you have a baby on the way or young children already in the home, there are steps you can take to help everyone be safe and happy. The best plan is to start early, before problems arise, and be prepared for things to change over time. Your cat may need a little help dealing with each new phase of your child’s life.

Safety  
Both the safety of children and pets should be the number one priority. Young children can’t be expected to interact gently with pets 100% of the time and any cat can react to fear, pain, or irritation by scratching or biting. To prevent incidents, an adult should  actively supervise  all interactions between cats and babies, toddlers, or young children.

A Cat's Point of View    
When cats have trouble accepting a new baby or child in their life it is typically because of the change to their routine or territory. New smells can make a cat feel like they are living in a new home. Changes in where their things are (like moving a litter box out of a spare room to make it a nursery) can further confuse and stress them. Finally, busy, tired adults may struggle to keep up with litter box cleaning and normal play or attention. As cats tend to love routine, they may be stressed by all of this.

To make life easier on your cat (and thus prevent behavior problems) when your family grows, you can do a few things:

  • Make Changes Slowly: As much as possible, introduce new furniture a little at a time and move your cat’s things to new areas slowly. Let your cat investigate new items and smells at their own pace while pairing these with good things like treats and play. 
  • Consider Smell: Cats are more sensitive to scents than we are. Help your cat by introducing new smells, like baby lotion or powder, in small amounts. Place familiar smelling blankets and beds on new furniture to help your cat recognize it. Pheromone products like Feliway, while not scents, can further help a cat feel secure in their space.
  • Introduce Easy Play Options: Since you are busier, help your cat entertain themselves by using food puzzles for meal time and distractions. 
  • A Little Bit Goes A Long Way: Find just 5 minutes to scoop the litter box and give your cat a cuddle. It will help prevent bigger issues. 

Sharing Space
When it comes to living peacefully together, both cats and kids need to learn some boundaries. 

Kitty Stations: Your cat can be a part of your child’s life in a safe way by learning to stay in a chosen area when they are together. Set up a raised perch near where your baby or toddler eats or plays and reward your cat for staying there using treats, toys, and food puzzles. This way your cat can see what’s going on but be distracted and out of the way. 

Safe Zones: Along with having their place near the action, your cat should have places where they feel safe and can’t be approached or touched by children. Raised perches that children can’t reach or areas behind a baby gate can serve as safe zones for cats. If your cat doesn’t walk away on their own and needs enforced breaks (like very playful cats) or if they need an even quieter area, a room with a door that can be closed is best. 

Although safety is important, don’t keep your cat away from your new baby all the time. Use food, treats, and play to help your cat feel safe and happy when they are around the baby to prevent stress and fear.

Teach Respect
As children grow up, they should be taught to be respectful of the cats in their home. Every cat is different in what they will tolerate and what they enjoy but kids that learn to understand and interact with animals in the way that the animals enjoy are safer in the long run. Some recommended rules, especially for young children include:

  • Touch the cat gently. No grabbing, poking, pulling, teasing, etc. 
  • Get down on the ground with the cat. Don’t pick them up.
  • Play in a way that the cat enjoys. While some cats don’t seem to mind playing dress up, most would rather chase a toy. Show kids how to play so everyone has fun. 
  • Give them a break. Let cats stop playing when they want to. If the cat tries to leave, let them.

Young children need adults to help them follow these rules. Be realistic about what your child can handle. If they need help, enforce play breaks by giving the cat their own safe space where they can’t be followed. 

Too Much Fun
Some cats aren’t concerned by kids at all. In fact, they see them as fun toys to chase and play with. The more erratic movement of toddlers and the excited play of running, yelling kids can get these cats overexcited. A cat might chase, pounce, or bite at the kids. If this is the case, your cat may do better in a separate area when things get wild. You might also distract them with their own game, such as a food puzzle. Or put a toy in the kid’s hands and give your cat something appropriate to chase.  ​​

Responsibility
Kids that grow up with pets learn about respect and responsibility and connect deeply with another living creature. They can help with feeding, cleaning up, play time, and training. Ultimately though, an adult must be the cat’s primary caregiver. Cats are masters at hiding illness so eating and litter box habits may be your first sign of trouble. Don’t rely on children to catch important changes. 

This material was written in collaboration with cat behavior consultant Jessica Char.
Learn more at  www.FelineEngineering.com