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If you find yourself asking “Are cats dangerous for small children?” you are probably worried that your pet and your kid would end up hurting each other. You should not be excessively anxious since these two can coexist and even have a lot of fun in each other’s company. Before you get too excited though, you need to take certain precautions to avoid dangerous situations between your baby and your kitty.
The kind of preparation you need to make will depend on the situation. Are you planning to adopt a cat or do you have one at home? Are you an expectant mother who is worried that your pet will not welcome the new addition to the family?
Here are some important details about cats and kids that you should consider if you are worried about your child’s safety.
1. Adult Cats are Recommended for Homes With Kids Aged 6 Years Old and Below
If you have a big heart for cats and you think kids would be more responsible if they have pets at a young age, then do not let anything stop you. However, there are some things you need to take note of. If you plan on getting a cat, go for adult ones.
Raising a kitty and a child at the same time might sound fantastic. Unfortunately, there are more disadvantages than advantages in this arrangement.
Adult cats are less likely to injure kids when they are taken aback and this is one good reason why American Humane encourages people with kids to take in adult cats into their homes. It would be better to have a two or three-year-old cat especially when your child is six years old or younger.
2. Keep an Eye on Kitty’s Hygiene
In many ways, having an adult cat is easier especially when the cat has already been potty trained. It takes time to train kitties to use the litter box and how to act around kids. Kitties are just little kids too and just like your baby, they are more likely to misbehave than adult cats.
Scooping the litter box twice a day would be ideal. This keeps the odor in check and would make it less likely for parasites to be transmitted from your cat to your baby.
Another issue that you need to address is flea infestation. You need to deworm kitties regularly and make sure they do not have fleas. When kitties and kids play, fleas can bite your child and hygiene can be a major issue too.
3. Adult Supervision is a Must When Kids and Cats Interact
Just to emphasize the point made above, it would be better to have adult cats rather than kitties. Small children love rough play and they could injure kittens. Aside from that, your kittens happen to have sharp claws which could hurt the kids.
Of course, you still need to keep an eye on kids when they play with your cats, but it would be less worrisome when you have an adult cat.
Give Cats Time To Adjust and Their Own Space
Your cat is just like an older sibling, they need time to get along with your child. One way to avert disastrous encounter between animal and child is to give your cat their own playing area. This space should be inaccessible to your baby, so your cats can have fun on their own.
Giving your cat a playroom which is furnished with a tree and a sleeping area would be nice. In a similar manner, make your cats realize that there are areas in the house where they are not welcome, particularly, the nursery.
Teach Your Child to Be Gentle to Cats
Small children may be rowdy and energetic but getting a lesson on how to treat pets is something they can learn even at a young age. Make your child realize that they should not play rough with the family pet. This is a vital lesson that could be useful when you want to keep kids safe around cats.
While teaching kids about kindness to animals, remind your children not to befriend random cats. House pets are alright but random felines on the neighborhood can be dangerous.
Wrapping It Up
Hopefully, you have a better idea on what to do if you want cats and kids to live in one home. As noted above, it is possible to raise kitties and kiddies side by side. Just be sure to always keep an eye on the kids while they are playing with your cats.
At the end of the day, necessary precautions will prevent accidents from happening. Don’t hesitate to share what you think in the comments section below. Are cats dangerous for small children?
My name is Diana Hutchinson. I am the founder of Tinpaw.com.
I am a pet lover, especially dogs and cats. “A home without a pet is just a house”.
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La Shell
July 20, 2017 at 9:45 amI love this article. It dispels lots of rumors and myths. In my house growing up we never had cats for due to some of these same rumors.
Krystle
July 21, 2017 at 2:40 pmIt has always made me sad that these rumors are spread so easily. A pet in general can be a wonderful companion for children.
dailymomtivity
July 20, 2017 at 1:14 pmThis is great info for anyone that has a cat and small children. I have just added a new puppy and have small kids so we are watching both like hawks, especially the being gentle part!
Krystle
July 21, 2017 at 2:50 pmAwww, it sounds like your house might be full of fun then! Oh yes, the being gentle aspect between a puppy and young child can be a handful to start out with.
Jane Davidson
July 20, 2017 at 1:40 pmThese are great tips for new parent cat owners. I think teaching to be gentle is so important for any pet owners with young kids.
Krystle
July 21, 2017 at 2:49 pmI think teaching children to be gentle in general without pets is important but having a pet teaches them WHY it’s important.
MyYellowApron
July 20, 2017 at 4:30 pmYes, I really think that cats and dogs are dangerous for babies unless of course you are really careful and watchful of the pets and the baby.
Krystle
July 21, 2017 at 2:48 pmBoth cats and dogs can sense, for the most part, when they need to be more gentle and reserved. For the detailed parts, they have to be taught just like the baby does, to have appropriate behavior during certain situations. They’re only dangerous if we let them be! 🙂
Jeanine
July 20, 2017 at 4:55 pmI love cats and they have been great with my children. Definitely teaching your children to be gentle and the cat as well can help.
Krystle
July 21, 2017 at 2:47 pmYes, it helps a lot. Honestly, it’s not too hard to accomplish that either. It’s well worth the work.
Cassie Liz
July 20, 2017 at 5:05 pmI have never owned a cat so I haven’t heard that they can be dangerous for small children. I think with either cats or dogs you have to allow them some time to get comfortable and as you said, treat the animals gently
Krystle
July 21, 2017 at 2:46 pmYes, pets can be wonderful for children but they are just like humans in that they need time to adjust and not be forced into something.
Jessica Joachim
July 20, 2017 at 5:39 pmI don’t have cats, but I have a dog and I feel a lot of this is very similar to having dogs and kids. You have to supervise them and make sure to teach the kids to be gentle.
Krystle
July 21, 2017 at 2:46 pmYou’re very right. These guidelines pretty much go for any average pet.
Terri Steffes
July 20, 2017 at 10:08 pmWe had cats growing up and they were always loving and kind to the family but none of them were friendly to strangers.
Krystle
July 21, 2017 at 2:45 pmI don’t think many cats are comfortable right off the bat with strangers. Just like humans, they just need a bit to gather themselves. 🙂
Rhian Westbury
July 21, 2017 at 4:13 amI wouldn’t have thought about having cats with small children. Most people I know with kids have had cats before so they’re a bit more grown up when the kids arrive x
Krystle
July 21, 2017 at 2:44 pmThat always makes it a tad easier since the cat will be in its element and already comfortable with pretty much everything.
Nancy M Horn
July 21, 2017 at 9:44 amI grew up with cats and while we did have to be careful, it was wonderful to have such loving pets. I do have a few scars from scratches, but I got those in my teens and adulthood from cats, not from childhood.
Krystle
July 21, 2017 at 2:43 pmI have a few remnants from random scratches and such as well. Most of the time, it was just from the kitty wanting to play and it was never anything serious.
courteneynoonan
July 22, 2017 at 8:01 amI always worry when I see cats around small children but it’s just important to be careful and also teach children to be gentle to them like you said
Krystle
July 28, 2017 at 2:17 pmYes, it’s definitely important to teach both child AND animal. Unless the animal is just unteachable, it shouldn’t be an issue.
Journa Liz Servito Ramirez
July 22, 2017 at 8:31 amOur family wants to have a pet but I think it’s not yet the right time. Thank you so much for these helpful tips!
Krystle
July 28, 2017 at 2:16 pmTiming is everything! Glad they were helpful and thanks for stopping by.
Amber Nelson
July 22, 2017 at 2:09 pmI think it is important when it comes to having any animal in the house. Great article!
Krystle
July 28, 2017 at 2:16 pmI couldn’t agree more! A lot of these tips can cover most animals.
reesann723
July 22, 2017 at 4:34 pmI am not really a cat person but this is such important info. My brother has a cat and it scratched my daughter once since she handled it wrong.
Krystle
July 28, 2017 at 2:15 pmIt can be scary when that happens! That’s why it’s so important for both animals and children to be taught.
Heather Riccobono (@BrieBrieBlooms)
July 22, 2017 at 6:48 pmWe have two cats and both have been awesome with our daughters. One has been around since before our oldest daughter was born. She’s not the most friendly cat but has always been very tolerant. Our other cat is very friendly and loves cuddles and attention from them. Every cat is different so it’s tough to really tell before your family gets to know the pet.
Krystle
July 28, 2017 at 2:14 pmI definitely agree. No decisions should be made final until the animals and children are given a chance to interact.
Sara
July 23, 2017 at 4:28 pmIt’s interesting to read this article because I didn’t think parents had that fear at al. I grew up surrounded by cats and dogs and there was never any worry
Krystle
July 28, 2017 at 2:14 pmI think a lot of people grow up that way. I think it’s become more of a concern in recent years due to the internet, honestly.
Courtney
July 24, 2017 at 7:20 amI’m a total cat lady!!!! We had 3 cats when my daughter was born. Two of them were 100% fine with her, but one of them… ughh!!!! That stereotype cat with a baby -_- Thankfully my hubby had a bestie that took my furbaby from us so we at least knew the kitty was going somewhere safe. Broke my heart. Cat and baby’s just depend on the cat.
Krystle
July 28, 2017 at 2:13 pmI definitely agree that some cats can just not be inclined to like a child. I’m glad it went to a nice home!