Educating children about cats protects both

By Dr. Beth Leermakers

“All you gotta do is hold him, and kiss him and squeeze him and love him /And show him that you care.” 

That’s the way to get into a man’s heart, according to Dusty Springfield. But that approach doesn’t work well for cats — especially when children are involved. Many cats hate being held and hugged. If you’re planning to adopt a cat, it’s crucial to properly introduce your new kitty to your children — and teach them how to interact appropriately with cats. Doing so will help you establish a harmonious, safe relationship. 

Teach your child:

Where and how to pet a cat. Demonstrate the right way to pet a cat by gently stroking your child’s arm. Encourage children to mainly touch a cat around her chin, cheeks and in between her ears. Children (and adults) should NOT touch the cat’s belly or tail. 

To speak quietly. Loud noises startle cats and stress them out. 

How to pick up a cat. Adult cats should never be picked up by the scruff of the neck. Cats need to be picked up using two hands, supporting the cat under the chest and hindquarters. Children shouldn’t hold the cat if they can’t carry her weight. 

Feline body language. Instruct your child to watch these body parts for signs that the cat is fearful or stressed/anxious:

• Ears: tucked tightly toward the head or neck or lowered and turned out to the side (“airplane ears”). Twitching ears signal anxiety. 

• Tail: tightly curled around the body, or held low to the ground, flicking back and forth. When a cat wags her tail, she’s annoyed or irritable — not happy like a dog. 

• Whiskers: flat against her head. 

• Back: arched back, with the tail up and the ears back, like a Halloween cat pose. 

• Eyes. wide, with pupils dilated. This may be too subtle for children to detect, but parents should watch the cat’s eyes. Hypervigilant scanning of the room and increased blinking and squinting are signs of stress. 

Not to put his face too close to a cat. Scratches and bites of the head and neck are common and can be dangerous.

Not to touch the cat when she’s eating, sleeping or using the litter box. 

Not to play roughly. Rough housing encourages the cat to use her claws and teeth. Instead, use wand toys to play with the cat from a safe distance. 

Not to chase the cat. Make it clear that chasing the cat is not acceptable. If the cat runs away, your child needs to let her go. 

How to Introduce a New Cat to Your Children

Give the cat space. Give your new cat a week or two to settle in before meeting your children. Put the cat in a room with everything she needs: food, water, litter box, scratching post, cat tree or perch, and places to hide. Don’t let your children enter the cat’s room. 

When your cat has settled in, it’s time to slowly meet the kids.

Have the children sit quietly in a room that the cat is familiar with (but isn’t her “settling room.”). Let the cat into the room and ask the kids to ignore her.

Let the cat approach the children — not the other way around. Any interaction should be initiated by the cat. 

Ask the children not to touch the cat initially. The children shouldn’t touch the cat for the first week or two. Instead, the kids can use a wand toy to play with the cat while giving her space. 

Be sure the cat has an escape hatch (cat tree or her own room) so she can retreat when she needs a break. 

Gradually increase the amount of time your children spend with the cat, letting the cat control the interactions. Slow and steady is the key to safe, successful interactions between your two- and four-legged children. 

Try Before You Adopt

Not sure if a cat is a good match for your family? Foster a cat before you make a life-long commitment. Check petfinder.com for local cat rescue groups. Dallas Animal Services and other DFW-area shelters may need foster homes for young kittens.