Pets Information

Ensure a Good Relationship Between Your Cat and Your Kids


Many parents know that the best way for children to learn compassion and the importance of keeping commitments is by helping to care for a pet. Children learn from watching the adults in their lives. If a child can learn to treat an animal with respect they can take that lesson into later life. A cat can be a marvellous, loving companion for a child, but it is up to the adults in the family to ensure the cat and the kids live together happily ever after.

When you first bring a cat home, explain to your child that they will need to be patient, quiet and gentle to help the cat feel safe. Sit on the floor with your child and help him practice patience as the cat gets up the courage to come close. Let your child feed the cat a piece of food from his hand. If the cat is reluctant to come close, have your child gently toss a piece of food close to the cat. Once the cat realizes what your child is offering, the ice will melt.

Very young children can easily overwhelm a cat or kitten with their exuberance. Children under the age of five years should always be supervised when playing with or handling a cat. Children over 12 years can usually be trusted to be gentle, but be sure to occasionally check up on kids under 12 years when they spend concentrated time with the family cat.

You should remind children that they should not disturb a sleeping cat, or a cat that is using its litter tray.

Kittens appear to be amazingly flexible, and children often think nothing of draping a weeks-old cat over the crook of the arm and carrying it around like a toy, or picking up a kitten by the scruffof its neck. In this position, it is easy for the kitten to be dropped and seriously injured. Also, being carried like this leaves the cat feeling unsupported with it's hind legs swinging in space.

The best way to carry a kitten or cat is to place one hand or arm under its front legs, and support its hind legs with the other hand or arm. This gives the cat a secure feeling. Teach your children not to carry the cat from one place to another. Explain that for the cat's safety, they should always sit when they want to hold the cat, and should have their friends do the same.

Cats often have a mind of their own. Your child might feel like snuggling quietly at a time when your cat wants to play pounce. Impress on your children that if the cat ever struggles to get away, they should respect her wishes and let her go. A cornered cat will scratch and bite.

Encourage your children to exercise the cat by playing with appropriate toys. It is always tempting to play "catch my hand" with a kitten, because it is so amusing how fascinated they are with fingers. You should ensure that your children know the difference between playing and teasing your cat. If you teach a kitten that it is acceptable to swat and bite fingers, you'll wind up with an adult cat that regularly attacks you. Not exactly the kind of cuddly cat parents want for their children.

Pet Medication Supplies http://www.pet-medication-supplies.net can help you get the best possible supplies for your pet. Advantix, Arthramine, Cosequin, Frontline, Heartgard - find the best deals in pet medication for flea and tick control, arthritis and lyme disease. Upto 50% discount everyday on brand names.


MORE RESOURCES:

AFP

Ex-NFL player Vick allowed dogs to savage family pets: report
AFP - 5 hours ago
RICHMOND, Virginia (AFP) — Jailed ex-National Football League star Michael Vick allowed his fighting dogs to savage family pets, a federal government agency ...
Michael Vick thought watching dogs kill other dogs was funny Chicago Sun-Times
More details of Michael Vick's abuse of dogs revealed as he faces ... ESPN
USDA report details more involvement for Vick cbs4qc.com
FanHouse - The Associated Press
all 223 news articles


Mortgage meltdown results in pets going to pound
CNN - 18 hours ago
With foreclosures disrupting life, from the family house down to the dog house, and as Americans toil through a tough economic landscape, some of their pets ...
Pet of the Week: Calie Tampa Bay's 10
Humane Society of St Lucie County established fund to save special ... Fort Pierce Tribune
all 4 news articles


Homeless Pets Finding Families at Petland Stores Nationwide
MarketWatch - 14 hours ago
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio, Nov 21, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The results of Petland's Adopt-A-PetSM survey mean good news for homeless pets at Petland stores ...


San Francisco Chronicle

Would you choose your pet over your partner?
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 16 hours ago
In a study of 900 pet parents by BizRate Research, women said they had a deeper emotional connection with their pets than men did. ...


Ask Vet: Holidays can be stressful for pets
Knoxville News Sentinel, TN - 7 hours ago
However, our time of celebration can sometimes be stressful for our pets. Thanksgiving is the holiday with the highest travel rate; the highways and airways ...
A Recommended Sales and Use Tax Proposed by Governor ... MarketWatch
all 6 news articles


Soldier's home burns; pets saved (8:28 am)
Las Cruces Sun-News, NM - 9 hours ago
Collazo said his son was at school when the fire broke out, and the family's 20 pets -- including two ferrets, two dogs and several turtles, mice and fish ...


More Choosing Cremation for Pets
Hartford Courant, United States - 9 hours ago
A clipping of the pet's hair is optional. "If you lost a special member of your family, you would want a special fond farewell to them," says LeBoyer. ...


ABC News

Store Accused Of Selling 'Puppy Mill' Pets
WYFF, SC - Nov 20, 2008
GREENVILLE, SC -- A national pet store chain is under fire tonight accused of selling puppies that come from "puppy mills." The Humane Society of the United ...
Video: AP Top Stories AssociatedPress
Investigation reveals Petland Inc. is biggest retailer of puppy ... Examiner.com
Petland Pet Stores Linked to Inhumane Puppy Mills Associated Content
Consumer Affairs - Los Angeles Times
all 248 news articles


'First Dogs: American Presidents and Their Pets' Opens at the Newseum
MarketWatch - 22 hours ago
"First Dogs: American Presidents and Their Pets" features photographs and anecdotes about more than two dozen dogs and their owners, from George Washington ...
Newseum to Host Inaugural Special Opening MarketWatch
all 14 news articles


Times Online

Presidential Pets
The Santa Barbara Independent, CA - 21 hours ago
Of those pets, 3 million-4 million are euthanized. If the Obamas decide to choose a shelter dog, it will send the right message to the country. ...
Video: Raw Video: Obama Girls in Washington AssociatedPress
The FABULOUS First PETS! Deccan Herald
Presidential Pooch Pick Offers Peek Into Policy Bloomberg
Tampa Bay Newspapers - Norwich Bulletin
all 299 news articles

Pets - Google News

home | site map
© 2006