Reviewed by Dr Abbie Lam DVM
Having a pet can be a wonderful way to teach your child about caring and responsibility. These tips will ensure your cat and child form a safe and strong bond.
Introducing cats to children
The bond between a child and their pet cat can enrich their lives and teach them important lessons about empathy and responsibility. However, when introducing a cat or kitten to a child, it’s important to ensure everyone’s safety and take steps to strengthen their bond from the start. The following tips will help your child enjoy a safe and positive relationship with their new cat.
Safe play
Interactions between your child and your pet should always be supervised by an adult. Appropriate interactions will depend on the age of your child.
Teaching suitable cat care for kids and how to play properly with your cat is a great way of helping them to bond. Hands or feet should never be used in play and toys on poles should be used instead. Try and exercise your new cat at least three times per day.
Bonding tips
Your child should also feed your cat, as this is a highly positive bonding experience and it teaches responsibility.
Your child should learn what affection your cat enjoys, such as cheek rubs, chin scratches or being stroked along its back. It’s also important that your child gets to know when the cat has had enough by learning to read their body language. If your cat displays aggression that appears to be unprovoked, then the cat should be assessed by a veterinarian.
It’s also important to teach your child not to be too boisterous around the cat – cats are always on alert for danger. If your cat hides and takes a long time to come out, they may be suffering from anxiety and need a behavioural assessment.
Training your cat
Teach your child to train your cat through clicker training. It is a myth that cats can’t be trained – in fact, they learn in the same ways as other animals do and can be motivated to follow cues for small amounts of food. Using a clicker makes the communication clear and consistent, which is why it’s a safe and productive way for your child to create a special bond with your cat.
Use positive language
It’s important to use positive language with your child to help create a bond between them and the cat – for example, a reminder such as “Gentle hands!” is far more productive than a negative command like, “Don’t touch the cat!”
Young children and toddlers can be taught to stand or sit to one side of the cat, rather than approaching them from the top or the front, and to then stroke them softly using open hands. If you have older children, you can teach them to look out for certain poses and expressions that mean the cat is afraid or upset.
You should always lead by example – handle the cat gently yourself, and give your cat space when they’ve had enough. This way, your child will learn to emulate your behaviour.
Another thing to remember is that children will generally feel more bonded if they are involved in taking care of the cat. Let your child (when age appropriate) help to feed and groom the cat or involve the younger children in assisting you to care for the cat. Most cats thrive on routine, and most of them require mental stimulation, so it’s also important to involve the children in engaging the cat in active play with the cat’s favourite toys.
Create empathy
Owning a cat is a big responsibility, but it also has many benefits for your child, as it will teach them about empathy, compassion, friendship and maturity. It is important to involve your child in the care of the cat to create a strong bond between them.
This can be enhanced by talking to your child about the cat’s feelings while they are helping to care for it, so your child can understand the impact that they have on the cat’s wellbeing. Let your child know when they are doing something positive that the cat obviously enjoys, such as, “Kitty loves it when you brush her hair like that”.
The benefits for children
Cats can be highly beneficial for children’s mental health, as research shows that having pets can promote self-esteem in children, increase their social skills and improve their ability to make connections. In some instances, pets have been shown to assist children with developmental conditions such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), by helping them to interact with family members and participate more in the life of the household. It is important to take your family’s individual circumstances into account before committing to a cat, but in general, pets are hugely beneficial for both children and adults.
Having a pet while growing up can be a lot of fun for children, in addition to teaching them to be more caring, patient and understanding. By teaching your child the correct ways to interact with and care for your cat, you can help them create a strong and lasting bond that will continue to benefit them in many ways throughout their lives. Following these tips will help to ensure your cat has a harmonious and happy life in the home with your child.
References
Carlisle GK, Johnson RA, Wang Z, Bibbo J, Cheak-Zamora N, Lyons LA. Exploratory study of cat adoption in families of children with autism: impact on children's social skills and anxiety. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021 May 1;58:28-35.
