Cats and Small Children

There’s no reason a well-adjusted cat can’t get along with small children. At this very moment, throughout the world, there are hundreds of untouched babies with a fistful of cat fur.

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Cats will be curious about this new person, cautious about their noises, and will quickly make themselves scarce if things get out of hand. Most cats will know the child doesn’t know any better, and will give them the benefit of the doubt.

I’ll never forget the visiting two year old who came down the hall with her arms clasped around Smidget, who was a street cat when we took him in as a tiny kitten. His background made him assertive about other cats, but obviously he had allowed himself to be caught by this small person. His only protest was to give me a pleading look. I explained he wasn’t big on hugging, but he loved toys, and soon the little girl was playing with him in a way they could both enjoy.

The more the baby and the cat get to know each other, the more consideration and interaction they will be able to show. Parents should show the child the right way to pet the cat, to learn to leave the cat alone if that is what they want, and the best ways to play with them.

If we have a cat who is still learning to be secure and comfortable about people, it is likely they will solve the problem themselves by not being around when the baby is. In any case, we should be monitoring small children’s interaction with all our pets, for everyone’s benefit. This is how the child learns to treat them well, and enjoy their company.

Because if there’s anything children love, it’s animals. They learn the names of animals with gleeful enthusiasm, they are drawn to their pictures and their presence, and most toys, clothes, and furniture aimed at children have some kind of animal decorating them. I’m a big proponent of children having pets, if only because so many of them want one. They are a way for children to learn empathy, responsibility, and compassion, and will regard their pets as close friends.

Often, a family who is expecting will be bombarded with useless and incorrect advice about the dangers of their cat. It’s true that pregnant women who have not been previously exposed to toxoplasmosis can contract it with possible consequences for their baby, but rare meat, unwashed vegetables, and gardening are also ways of being exposed to this organism. No one advises a pregnant woman to pave over her flower bed.

Simple precautions, such as letting someone else take care of the litter box, cooking meat and vegetables thoroughly, and wearing gloves while gardening, are considered to be sensible precautions for what is also a rare disease. If the cat does not go out, where they can catch and eat an infected rodent, the already small chance of infection shrinks even more.

Some people will repeat the myth that “cats steal baby’s breath” or smother them in their sleep. There has been never been a case of this occurring, and it’s a foolish accusation in the first place. Affectionate cats often enjoy cuddling near the baby, especially when they are asleep. It’s a sad example of cat prejudice that such a sweet act would be so badly misinterpreted.

I have friends who have acquired their liking for cats by growing up with them, encouraged by parents who were cat appreciators, and had no trouble having cats and babies. Many parents, knowing the dog’s higher maintenance needs, and the unlikelihood of small children being able to fill them, are discovering that kittens and cats make wonderful pets for children.

I’ve had people tell me they “got rid of the cat” when they started their family, and I can’t help but feel that it’s a sad thing that part of the celebration of welcoming new life into the family was the betrayal of trust involved in ejecting a previous member. They never seem to have a sensible reason for it. It’s always a mishmash of superstition, vague fears, or even a fervent urge to “make everything clean” for the baby.

There’s a growing body of evidence that too much hygiene is actually not good for babies. Lack of exposure to normal bacteria or toxins can distort the development of the baby’s immune system, leading to it “over-reacting,” and the child being more prone to develop allergies.

Ironic, isn’t it?

So feel confident about new additions to the family, be they human or feline. There’s nothing wrong with cats and babies. With proper care, they quickly learn to love each other.

With love, there’s no such thing as too much.

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