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 Cats
can enrich the lives of children. Strong emotional attachments develop
between children and their cats. These attachments provide comfort and
reduce stress, and a cat can promote self-confidence by making the
child feel important. According to a Henry Ford Hospital study that
was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association,
“children who grow up with cats or dogs may be at less risk for
developing pet allergies and less susceptible to ragweed, grass and
dust mite allergies.” It has been found that children exposed to two
or more cats or dogs during their first year of life were half as
likely to develop common allergies. The study indicates that having a
pet around at a very early age may influence the development of the
child’s immune system. This is one more piece of information that
supports the value of pets during childhood. To receive these
benefits, parents must plan ahead to make the environment right for
the growth of a child/feline relationship. With adequate preparation
and realistic expectations, the wonderful bond between cat and child
will flourish.
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Plan Ahead: |
- Have your cat
examined to make sure it is free of parasites, in good health and is up
to date on all inoculations.
- Discuss
normal feline behavior with your veterinarian.
- Introduce the
cat to the baby’s things before the baby arrives, but make the crib
off limits.
- Move in the
baby items gradually. Sudden, major changes make cats uneasy.
- Introduce the
cat to the sight, sound and smell of a baby slowly.
- Have friends
with babies come visit.
- Put baby
lotion or powder on hands and clothes.
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When the Baby
Comes Home: |
- Give the cat
a warm welcome when returning with the new baby.
- Keep visitors
and interruptions to a minimum.
- Try to let
your cat keep to its regular schedule.
- Always calmly
supervise cat/child interactions.
- When you feed
the baby, give the cat a treat.
- When you talk
to the baby, include the cat in the conversation.
- Make some
time for your cat.
- There
is no truth to the old wives’ tale that cats steal a baby’s breath.
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When the Baby
Becomes a Toddler: |
- Create a
feline sanctuary with a baby gate.
- Provide
supervised interaction.
- Always wash
your hands after handling your cat, and teach your children to do so
as well.
- Make sure you
know where the pet is and where the child is (toddlers find cat
food, litter boxes and swishing tails intriguing).
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With planning and
vigilance, cats can enrich a home that has been blessed with a new
baby.
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