The coexistence between children and cats is not always viewed favorably. The fear that the animal might hurt the child often speaks louder, and contact between them is avoided. This can even lead to extreme behaviors of abandoning the feline.
Obviously, some precautions will have to be taken to ensure the well-being of both, and for their coexistence to be peaceful, but it is not a difficult or impossible task.
As a rule, domestic cats are social animals and fully capable of forming bonds with children or adults, but we must not forget that they are insecure and easily frightened by instinct, therefore attention should be given to situations of stress for felines.
Often a child’s play can be highly energetic and provoke stressful situations for the cat, but remember that the cat has the instinct to flee, and will only attack if it is completely cornered and has no way to escape.
The act of trying to grab the cat is intrinsic to children, as they tend to confuse small felines with toys; it is up to you to teach them that a cat is not a toy, and that they should not try to grab it or treat it badly.
Teaching the child to call the cat calmly, possibly trying to attract its attention with a treat or a toy that the animal particularly likes, is one of the most arduous tasks, but once achieved, the coexistence between them will be enjoyable.
Do not forget that cats have sharp claws and teeth. A cat’s play often involves sinking its teeth into someone else’s hand or trying to “hunt” a bare foot, which could cause some uncomfortable scratches.
One way to avoid these mishaps is to find games for the child and the cat that do not involve a lot of direct contact. For example, balls that bounce or other objects that the cat can chase are good toys to entertain children and cats.
The more they are entertained with these games, the less likely it is that the child will try to grab the cat by force, or that the cat will try to hunt an unprotected leg.
The coexistence between children and cats is possible and easy; it is up to you to provide a good environment so that they can relate.
