Children can cause stress in cats
As a child, having the opportunity to grow up with a pet may sound like a dream to many! Cats are great pets and having a cat in the family can teach children about responsibility and caring for animals. But did you know that some cats can be stressed by children? Therefore, it is very important for you as a parent to teach your child or children how to behave around the cat. Everyone in the family needs to know what's okay and what's not.
The most important thing you can do to help your cat not to get stressed is to make sure it has a free zone where it can be left alone. You need to teach the children who live around the cat that if the cat is in its free zone, it should be left alone and not disturbed, no matter how much the children want to play or cuddle with the cat.
It is best to place the free zone in a raised area. This is because cats often like to have an elevated place where they can look around the room and some cats also like to have a confined space to be in. It is important that both you and the children respect this free zone, never disturb the cat if it is lying here.
Of course, there are many other things that are important to consider to ensure that the cat is happy in the family. Here are some more important things for both you and your children to remember to keep your cat happy:
Never pull the cat's tail
The cat must not be lifted by grabbing under the front legs
Do not disturb a sleeping cat
The cat should be handled with care and respect
Do not disturb the cat when it is eating, drinking or walking on the box
