Need insight from any cat owners who have young children.

[menley33]

Wasn't sure whether to go to a parenting board or a kitty board for this one!

Maybe I'm being too overprotective of our new cat and expecting too much from my child (who is 5)...but I'm going crazy! I'm worried about my child getting overly excited and hurting the cat...and I'm worried about the cat scratching my child...as kittens sometimes will when playing.

I suppose I'm hoping there are some cat owners here who are also parents of young children who can offer advice or at least can relate.

My son has been around cats his entire life...but not his own..but his grandparent's cats and his friend's cats. With those cats, he has always been great..but around his new kitten, he goes crazy. I feel like I've been bickering at him all week and I'm trying to give him lots of extra attention so he does not get jealous of the cat! Ugh! Anyone understand what I'm going through?

Menley

[Lori & Ashley & Gilbert]

Hi! We just adopted our first kitten on July 2 and we have a 2 year old daughter. The kitty-Gilbert-is our only pet and Ashley is our only child. So far, so good with us. Ashley has also gotten a little too excited and tried to pick him up incorrectly, almost sat on his head, things like that. But I am always telling her to "be easy with the kitty, don't hurt the kitty, love the kitty gently." I feel like a broken record, I say it so much. But it seems to be working, because she is getting more gentle with him and treating him like a living creature, not just another toy. We also had to teach her to leave the litter box alone, which was really hard because she loves her sand box and she sees me scooping the litter box and to her it looks like I am playing in a sand box! I told her it was Gilbert's potty and if she ever touched it, she would get a spanking. I don't even spank her but she knows what it means.

So as far as advice goes, all I can say is, be consistent and patient. Constant reminding that the kitty has feelings and can get hurt. Things will get better soon. Gilbert has not scratched Ashley but he did scratch me while I was giving him a bath. I don't blame him! Otherwise, I have to say that Gilbert is very tolerant of everything Ashley does and if he doesn't like it, he runs to me or hides from her. But he also loves her and follows her around a lot, so I know he isn't always scared. Good luck!

[Mona]

I just wanted to ad that I have a 5 year old female DSH and a 12 week old kitten Tuxie named Chloe, and a teenager who is 14.

When we adopted the first one my daughter was 8 years old, and I supervised her playtime with the new kitten.

My advice would be to be present during playtime with your new kitten and your children to ensure the kitten's safety and there safety and happiness until they are able to take responsibility.

Mona, Honeybun and Chloe

[Menely]

Thank you for your insight and suggestions. A friend of mine shared with me last night that her daughter was very excited for several days after they got their puppy. It was a constant effort to make sure they were playing "nice". And within a month, their daughter barely paid any attention to the puppy and their lives settled down. So, I think the initial excitment needs to wear off. This morning my son said to me that he wanted to be a "good cat owner" ..after hearing me talk about it so much for last few days. So, I think we're on the right track.

Thank you!

M