Cats have been living in close association to the human race for a long time now. In many of our families, they’ve been an intrinsic member of the household. Their roles have been increasing with time. In ancient times, they were used to keep rodents away from households. Nowadays, they are actually petted. They are daily companions to many children out there. To some of them, they are friends. But before you bring your first kitten home to your child, you have to know how to handle them. You have to know what to do with a cat when it is in your house, especially if it’s the first kitten you are petting. Here are a few tips:
Introduce Your Kitten to One Room At a Time
In the course of a kitten`s early development, a phase more or less like toilet training is mandatory. The good thing is that at young ages, they tend to have a sharper memory and learning ability with regards to this. So when you bring them to your house, confine them to a room probably with a bed that they will be able to play around in, feed in and most importantly, do their business. If you leave them to wander to other rooms, they could secretly mess up in other corners and create an environment which could have health hazards on your kids.
Avoid Too Much Care and Attention
This opinion might be despised and disputed by many since the main reason for adopting a new kitten is for the children to play with. What you, however, need to take into consideration is the fact that they are mammals of the feline species, and they have a ‘temper’. They are known to get defensive and dangerous when dragged out of their comfort zone. So whenever the babies and kitties are playing, it is good to let the kids on a heads-up that the cat has limits. Disturbing it in its sleep or while using the litter tray may be provoking it.
Train Your Kids How to Interact With Kittens While They’re Still young
As with every other animal, training is an integral part of learning to interact with the kitten. It is better achieved if done early in their development. For instance, most cute kitten breeds need grooming. You will need to brush their fur daily. If this is not induced while they are young, they are most likely not able to adjust to that in their adult life. You can effectively teach your kids to groom kittens by taking advantage of their playfulness or even brushing them while they take a nap on their laps.
They Get Scratchy; Beware
This is the main reason why almost all visitors to your house will be asking; are cats bad for babies, don’t they scratch the babies and many more similar questions. The truth is that cats are scratchy; their claws are their number one defense weapon. They will scratch your sofa sets, your couch cushions among other things. This is, however, a maneuver to sharpen their claws. They will not scratch your kids unless they are provoked. The best way to tame their scratchy behavior especially when they are around your kids is by getting them suitable scratch posts.
Claw Trimming
In most natural settings, the claws of the cats are trimmed naturally while interacting with the environment. However, in a situation whereby the cat resides within the house and rarely gets to stroll outside, the claws may grow extremely sharp and dangerous. For this particular case, you may need to maintain the claws at a safe size. Claw trimming is best trained while the kitten is still new. Using a pair of feline claw clippers, you have to get them done after fairly frequent durations. It is great for the kids as it will reduce the risks and dangers of feline attacks.
Get Your New Kitten Used to the Carrier
Your kids will want to travel with the pet at certain times in their childhood. It is therefore imperative that you get them used to the carrier right away. The carrier should always be around so that the cat may perceive it as part of the environment. Remember, you are dealing with its psychology here. Let it get used to the carrier from the beginning.
Getting the best cats for children may be a superbly surprising gift to your playful kids. But even if you don’t get the best, you can make the one you get the best of them all. You only need to create an environment for them to start off their life and all will sail perfectly. Try following the above points and see how succinctly your cat will fit into your household.
What’s your experience with introducing a new kitten home? How do you make kids and kittens get along? What’s the best age to adopt a cat? Share with us!
Author’s Bio: Rachel Burns is an animal lover and journalist based in Dallas. She’s currently an editor of AllPetsExpert.com, a website that helps pet owners learn more about animal behaviors, their training, health, food, etc. Read and take over her useful insights!
