Can a Three Year Old Cat Baby Called
By Cheryl Lock
If you've ever heard anyone say, "Cats are then much easier than dogs…" I would take to respectfully disagree.
In the almost three years that I've had my own cat, Penny, I've spent thousands of dollars on vet bills (generally due to the fact that she was recently diagnosed with asthma), countless hours grooming her, cutting her nails and cleaning out her cat litter box … and trust me, she tin be merely as needy as any dog is, if not more.
So when the topic comes up well-nigh getting a pet cat for little kids, it'south obvious there's a lot to consider. While it's true that every kid matures at different rates, in general, you lot can take a pretty good thought of when your child might exist ready to take on the responsibility of handling certain duties that are necessary to take care of a feline friend. Kay Cox, known every bit The Pet Counselor, is an animal psychologist and teacher. "I think it's extremely important to teach and train both children and animals how to interact with each other," she says. "That's what I've been helping people do for years."
We asked Cox to interruption down some of the different responsibilities that come with owning a cat into the historic period groups when some kids might be prepare to take them on. Here's what she had to say. Continue in mind, of course, that cats who aren't de-clawed can easily scratch and hurt immature children, particularly if they call up they're playing. That's why it'due south essential that an developed always exist present when young kids are effectually cats, and any animals, for that matter.
Babies: If y'all accept a new baby, evidently your infant won't be in charge of taking care of an fauna—only that doesn't mean there isn't piece of work to be done. "Your cat will need to experience like she is still role of this big change in your family unit," said Cox. She suggests a 5-pace process including:
Before the baby arrives, begin setting aside what will exist "babe fourth dimension" so that your cat becomes used to it and won't feel pushed out. Once the baby arrives, introduce your catto the baby advisedly. Excited or jealous animals tin can become hostile, and then it's super important to apply caution, be at-home and soothing. When your true cat reacts positively with the baby, use lots of praise. Don't forget to still spend time with your true cat. They're your "fur" kids, says Cox, and they still demand attention, as well. When people come up to visit you lot and the baby, Cox suggests keeping small-scale cat treats at the door for the true cat so she feels like she's office of the celebration.
Toddlers: Think that young children do not take command of their arms, easily and anxiety, so yous must control their movements to ensure they are gentle with the true cat. It will also be important to teach your cat to let little ones to attain into their food bowls and water or to touch their toys. "No thing how hard you try to go along immature children away from these things, children volition always venture to check them out," says Cox. To do and so, train your cat with your own actions. Get him used to the words 'gentle,' and never leave a child unattended in the same room with a cat unattended. Even the most docile of cats need to accept their beliefs monitored around small-scale children.
Three- to six-twelvemonth-olds: By the time your child is iii, if you've been working with your true cat and your child all along, they will probably have built a stiff bond by now. This means your child can probably start helping out with your cat'due south care at around this time. Young kids can assist feed, water, brush and play, with supervision of course. Don't expect children this immature to remember that your true cat needs to be fed and given water or played with every day, but assuasive safe pet care training helps foster responsibleness, even at this young age.
By 6-years-old, specifically, virtually parents start to consider giving their children chores, and taking intendance of the family cat can be function of that. "Chores such as giving treats for tricks, feeding one of the meals, cleaning the water or food bowls are all relatively easy, and good commencement pet chores for children," says Cox. "Make it a happy interaction and both the child and the pet will love it."
While information technology's truthful that it takes a niggling fourth dimension and attempt in the early years of any child'southward life to help get them used to and prepared to take care of an animal, at the terminate of the twenty-four hour period it'll exist one of the all-time things yous can do for both your kid and your cat – and yous'll know that when you meet how shut the two of them abound to become.
Source: https://www.petmd.com/cat/care/kids-and-cats-responsibility-age
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