Our new 9-week-old kitten likes to play by jumping out at our feet and hands and using his nails on us. I realize he's just being a kitten, but how can we keep him from doing it to our 1-year-old son? I don't want to keep them apart, since they seem to like each other and I want them to grow up to be good friends. Any suggestions?
2006-09-19 07:26:04 · 21 answers · asked by Chickgeek 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Kittens will be kittens. There's not much you can do to prevent your kitten from doing this. But what you can do it buy a little squirt bottle or squirt gun and put water in it, and then whenever you see the kitten attack your son, you can squirt the kitten. Of course, this won't hurt the kitten, but it will get it to leave your son alone.
Buy a scratching post for your kitten, and lots of cat toys so the kitten will be distracted by the toys.
Just make sure to supervise your son at at all times when kitty is around.
If you do decide to get to kitten declawed, make sure that it will NEVER go outside. Claws are a cat's only real self defense, and it you get your kitten declawed and let it outside, it become as vulnerable as a newborn baby.
You could also try ringing a bell insted of using a squirt gun, but I don't know if that will work as well. Good luck!
2006-09-19 07:29:18 · answer #1 · answered by NecropolisXR 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Supervise their interaction really closely. Pull the kitten back when he gets too rough. Create a special activity for them to do together. Have the baby hold a toy for the kitten to play with like a long piece of yarn with a small stuffed mouse tied to the end. They will both get fun out of that, and the kitten will learn that the baby is a playmate not a plaything.
2006-09-19 14:34:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do not declaw or get rid of your kitten. You can clip her claws with pet nail clippers. If you start with them when they are kittens, they get used to it and it will be much easier when they are older. Talk to your vet about the best way to clip them(they have blood vessels that extend out part of the way. I'd be more worried about your baby hurting your kitten than the other way around. We have six cats and 1 seven month old baby and have never had any problems with the cats.
2006-09-19 15:27:33 · answer #3 · answered by 14Words 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
separation is the only answer ( but understand that 1. the kitten is unable to do real injury 2. getting scratched is a learning process for your son 3. this is something that has played out millions of times 4. QUIT being so over protective ! )
BELOW there is a mention of eye injury - if this EVER happened it would be a CNN special - have you EVER read a news story about a CAT hurting a BABY much less a child ? As i said over protective !!!
2006-09-19 14:27:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Whatever you do,do not declaw him. If hes already fiesty, he may become a biter. Kitten is only 9 weeks old, start getting him used to having his nails trimmed and cut them about once a month or when they start to get sharp. Go to your local grooming salon and they can show you how to do it at home, its not difficult to do. Also, you should never leave the cat and baby alone together. Kitten will learn quickly whats appropriate and what isnt.
2006-09-20 01:33:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Living with a cat can be beneficial to children. Cats can enhance children's self-esteem, teach them responsibility and help them to learn empathy. However, children and cats may not always automatically have a wonderful relationship. Parents must be willing to teach the cat and the child acceptable limits of behavior in order to make their interactions pleasant and safe.
Safety
Kittens, because they're babies, are fragile creatures. A kitten may become frightened or even injured by a well-meaning, curious child who wants to constantly pick him up, hug him or explore his body by pulling on his tail or ears.
Rough play
Kittens have sharp teeth and claws with which they may inadvertently injure a small child. Kittens also tend to climb up on small children and accidentally scratch. All interactions between your child and kitten will need to be closely supervised to minimize the chances of either being injured.
2006-09-19 14:37:21 · answer #6 · answered by SweetPea 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
All the squirt bottle ideas are great - luckily this is just a stage that the kitten is going through.
Maybe if you got him a friend or some toys he'd be less inclined to exercise his clawing on you and your family. maybe you can get a stick and tie a string and a feather onto the end of it and give it to your son that way the cat will attack the string and feather instead of your boy :D
2006-09-19 14:36:19 · answer #7 · answered by Kitty 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
HE is not going to stop doing that b/c kits would be kits. The only thing you probably can do is to keep the kid and kit away from each other. I'am very surprise the kid havent beat on the kit b/c at his age they normally do. I had a kitten before and there was nothing i can do for her to stop scarthing me but as she got older she learned how to control her self
2006-09-19 14:37:35 · answer #8 · answered by yaya t 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your not supposed to cut a cats claws, so don't do that. The kitten doesn't know its hurting your baby...I'm afraid separation is the only way..At least until the baby is old enough to avoid the scratching.
2006-09-19 14:31:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Some people think it is cruel to declaw a cat but I do not agree with them provided you NEVER let them outdoors and they live indoors where you protect them. Therefore I would suggest you talk to your vet about the best time to declaw the kitten, get shots for it and keep it for a nice long time indoors.
2006-09-19 14:28:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋