Purina Cat Chow: Cat Care Center: Emotional: Interaction with Children

Physical. Emotional. Complete.® - That's the Purina® Cat Chow® Way of Life®

Subjects in this section include: how to keep your cat happy when you're away, toys and playtime, bringing a new animal into your home, feline depression, and more.

Click the links below to read articles or Cat Chow mentor responses to actual questions. Or use the library search tool to search by keyword.



	Ask a Mentor



	More about Amy

Author, cat lover, and a big believer in simplifying vet medicalese Specialty: Emotional

Topic: Interaction with Children

There are no articles for this category.

I've always felt that children can learn a great deal from involvement and contact with animals. I wondered, do animals have the same kinds of effects on emotional development that, for instance, Mozart is said to have on intellectual development? Would you recommend any sources of further information on this topic?

The other day my 2-month-old daughter started choking and when my husband went to go get her out of her car seat, my 4-year-old cat bit him. When I tried to help, my cat bit me also. Well now my husband wants me to give my cat away afraid she will bite our daughter. I tried to tell him that she was probably protecting the baby. My cat is not the nicest cat, does not like strangers at all, but I honestly believe she would never hurt my daughter. Every time I try to get my cat to sniff my daughter she just runs away, and really does not want anything to do with her. Whenever my daughter does cry my cat does come to find out what is going on, but like I have said my cat has never hurt her.

I have 2 male cats, 4 yrs. old, who are littermates. One of the cats (Jet) is very loving mostly to me but also sometimes to my 2 sons. The other cat (Milo) is very loving to my sons, but very standoffish to me. If I try to touch him he just bends his back away or moves his head away. He doesn't run away, just doesn't want me to touch him. The only time this changes is when he is hungry and the boys aren't home. He'll meow and rub on me to feed him. Why such a difference in how he treats me, and my boys?

Five months ago, I had a baby boy. Until then, Amelia was "the baby." I try to give her as much attention as before, yet I know I'm not. She is over-grooming herself, has more hairballs than ever, and she seems to want attention but she bites me when I try to give it. Also, she will try to "sit" on my lap while I'm nursing, which means she is trying to lay/step on the baby. I find it weird that she doesn't recognize him. She has NEVER done anything mean towards the baby, although she will sit on his items (car seat, bouncer, boppy, etc.). How do I make her feel included again?

Our female tabby is 2-1/2 years of age. When we first brought her home as a kitten, she was afraid of everything - we had to coax her to eat! She now feels she "rules the roost"; however, the only person who can even touch her is my 12-year-old son. In her eyes, he does nothing wrong. The others in our family can't even touch her without her running away and picking her up is impossible. Help!

We were just given a 3-year-old purebred Himalayan female. She has had three litters and had been with the same owner during that time. She was a gift for our 8-year-old only child, Michele. So far the cat does not show any interest in or tolerance for our daughter---any suggestion????

We have recently taken back one of the kittens from our 3-year-old cat’s litter. She is now 2 years old and seems to be very loving to me, the woman in the house. She follows me around and seems frantic if she can't find me, will cry and meow until I pick her up, cries to get my attention and then purrs while she is next to me - she then hisses and growls at my husband. She will sleep peacefully between us at night, but during the day she will not go near my husband. He feeds both cats and cleans the litter box. He is very loving to her except when she attacks him. We have tried putting her in the pet carrier for a time out when she acts up. She is skittish around my 6-year-old son, but can be very loving to him. My husband now feels like a stranger in his own house and is considering giving her away if she doesn't stop.

I recently moved in with a coworker to save on living expenses. My two cats have mostly adjusted to this situation very well. However, my 3-year-old has developed a strong dislike for my coworker's 10-year-old daughter. She tenses up and hisses if the girl even walks into the room and if the girl comes close to her mother, the cat, or me she goes nuts. She has swatted at the girl but that is the only physical contact. She does not have this reaction to anyone else, including other children. She is usually a very loving, affectionate cat, even with strangers. Also, my 8-year-old cat is beginning to copy her behavior on a smaller level. Why is she doing this and what can I do to help her be less agitated?

Library Main Page

Emotional Index Page



	Mentor Steffen Runquist shares her years of experience in this video series

Did you know that having a cat can be good for your health? Studies have shown that petting a cat decreases blood pressure and heart rate, while increasing one's sense of well-being.

Home

All trademarks and other intellectual property on this site are owned by Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., Vevey, Switzerland