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23 May Introducing A New Cat To Your Children
Introducing a new cat to your children might seem like an easy thing to do but you must have your children’s safety in mind.
Introducing a new cat to children under 16 years who are not always gentle with animals, is why when introducing a new cat, you must not leave them alone with the new cat or kitten.
Especially if the new cat is rescued from a shelter and it might have been traumatised by past experiences.
Even if the child is trying to play with the new kitten or cat, it may be a bit rough and the cat might react in a negative way, like scratching or biting.
This is why before introducing a new cat to your children, have a nice talk and explain to them that cats are fragile creatures and that you will only bring a new cat home if they promise to behave.
It’s also a good idea to teach them some responsibility, like feeding the cat, grooming it, cleaning the litter box. Whatever you want, just make sure that your children understand that the cat is not a toy, it’s a living creature that has feelings.
You must do this mostly for your child’s safety. If your child understands that the cat is not a toy and it’s a very fragile creature, it’s less likely for the child to get scratched or bitten for playing to rough with the cat.
Even after all goes well when introducing a new cat, make sure you don’t leave the child alone with the cat, at least for the first few weeks so the cat accommodates to your house and the people living in it.
It may take longer if the cat had a rough past so please be patient.
When introducing a new cat it’s very important to set boundaries for the cat but also for the children. For example, if you don’t want the cat to jump on the table, the children must not put the cat on the table.
This way the cat learns that it’s not allowed on the table and the child learns that he’s not supposed to put the cat there. Of course this was just an example.
After introducing a new cat, make sure you take it to the vet regularly.
Children are much more vulnerable to parasites a cat can carry so it’s very important to keep the cat healthy and clean.
Also groom your cat as often as you can and bath the cat about once a month or more, especially if you have small children. Bathing a cat often is not really recommended because they are usually clean animals but when you have a small child or a baby, the child’s health and safety must be a priority.
This covers introducing a new cat to your child, it’s not really complicated, just keep in mind not to leave them alone for the first few weeks, especially if you introduce a rescued mature cat!