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Cats and Kids
Are Toddlers and Cats a Good Mix?
By Shel Franco
Dr. Brunt says that you can help promote a healthy relationship between your cat and toddler by following these steps:
-Trim the cat's nails every week or two.
-Teach your child how to pet the cat. Cats generally prefer to have their head and cheeks rubbed, rather than prolonged stroking of the back.
-Teach your child how to play with the cat through toys. Avoid the use of people's feet and fingers so the cat doesn't mistake you for "prey."
Schoettle adds that there should be a no-tolerance rule in the house. "If the cat ever showed any aggression toward the child, the cat would have been gone," she says.
Schoettle feels her family was a bit lucky to have such a smooth transition, but she also thinks it was important to teach her child how to interact with the animal. "I also believe that a child should learn how to treat an animal with some respect," she says.
Your cat may live as many as 20 years, so this isn't a relationship to be taken lightly. When entered into thoughtfully and deliberately, you are presenting your child with the opportunity to build a loving relationship that can carry him into his college years. Few relationships in your child's life will last longer or provide as much joy.
