Whether through
serendipity, regular visits to shelters or cat breeders, or simply the
persistent child who attracts all stray cats within a 10-mile radius, parents
may find themselves in a home with a new cat in one corner and an eager child
in the other. If you find yourself in this situation, you may also wonder about
the challenges that arise after the wonder of the new arrival has worn off.
Here are some suggestions to help you maintain harmony between your child and
the new feline member of the family.
First, get the whole family together and make a
list of the cat's needs. Then use this list to assign responsibilities. Even
allowing for individual interests and abilities, children should be at least
eight to 10 years old before becoming primary caretakers for any pet. However,
there are a number of responsibilities children can handle at a younger age, as
long as they are overseen by parents.
Cats must be fed regularly, and their dishes
washed. Water bowls should also be washed every day, and rinsed and refilled
several times a day. The litter box (or, ideally, litter boxes)--no one's favourite
chore--should be scooped daily and periodically washed and refilled. The floor
surrounding the box will need sweeping or vacuuming every day. Cats also
enjoy--and benefit from--regular grooming. This includes brushing and nail
clipping. The coats of longhaired cats will require more attention than
shorthaired cats. Any procedure that may potentially cause pain, such as
combing through knotted hair or trimming nails, should be performed by an
adult.
Next, consider your new pet's tolerance for
physical contact. While some cats seem to enjoy being cuddled for long periods,
others simply do not. A forcibly restrained cat will naturally push against the
holder with her claws, scratching as she jumps away. Even young kittens may
bite when stressed. Timid kittens or cats react to physical attention by hiding
for long periods. To keep children safe and cats content, the family can
discuss these issues--and their possible solutions--together. Nails can be
trimmed and kept relatively dull. Most important, children may need to
understand that cats have individual needs, and for some that includes not
being picked up. Instead of carrying a kitten everywhere, children can be
enlisted to play with her, perhaps even making new toys for the cat. Homemade
toys can include stuffed animals or dangling fishing pole creations using
feathers and bells. Give the cat a little box or bed in each room that's a
"safe haven," and then make sure the children understand the cat must
be left alone whenever she's in her safe haven.
Finally, no matter how much your kids promise
and no matter how much they love the cat, it is ultimately your responsibility
to care for any pet. Check every single day to make sure all the cat's needs
have been met. You owe it to the cat. It's OK to leave the dirty dishes piled
up in the sink for a week to make a point about responsibility. But it's unfair
to the cat to leave her unfed, unbrushed, unloved, or her box unscooped, just
to teach your kids a lesson. Caring for a pet helps children develop empathy
for another living creature. With the help of parents, that relationship can
lead to lifelong benefits for everyone.
Kids and cats can have a beautiful relationship, if you start by making sure the kids understand wha...
4/24/2013