Afraid of Cats

[SilverSabre25]

My new daycare girls are all afraid of cats.

I have 4.

Advice on dealing with the fear...I'm catering a little bit to it right now and trying to put the cats outside, but it's chilly and they don't want to be outside.

[MotherNature]

No advice, but it's weird that ALL of them are..

[countrymom]

thats weird, all mine love my cat way too much !

[Scout]

maybe show them funny youtube videos of cats playing?? My DH's aunt is so afraid that she once broke someone's door trying to get out!::

[MyAngels]

Is this a new fear for them, or just something that started when they began care with you? I used to have two dogs and every now and again I would start a child who was not too fond of them. I would just limit exposure to the dogs at first, gradually increasing as the kids got used to both our routines and the dogs.

[SilverSabre25]

Today is their first day with me. Sisters, one 4.5 and twin 2.5 year olds. They've been afraid of cats since the first time they interviewed almost 9 months ago.

[sly red cid]

fear of cats

Maybe like all say on here about dogs they should be separated from daycare kids to prevent any liability issues. I learned from here to keep our very well behaved dog behind a gate and crated when kids are here. The kids were the problem NOT the dog....they would not leave her alone and still try to provoke her by being close to the gate even though her crate is far enough away from the gate they can't reach the dog, they still throw things and otherwise annoy the poor animal.

[SilverSabre25]

Maybe like all say on here about dogs they should be separated from daycare kids to prevent any liability issues. I learned from here to keep our very well behaved dog behind a gate and crated when kids are here. The kids were the problem NOT the dog....they would not leave her alone and still try to provoke her by being close to the gate even though her crate is far enough away from the gate they can't reach the dog, they still throw things and otherwise annoy the poor animal.

Heh, yeah....confining my cats is not something that works. Hence why they aren't? You can't crate a cat

[Willow]

My cats stay in the lower level of our house during the day. They are gated off from the upstairs and respect the boundary. All I had to do was clap when they'd hop over the first day. Now they stay on the other side until the gate comes down at the end of the day are day.

That said, I wouldn't cater to or coddle their fear. They're getting attention for it and will likely continue with that sort of reward and validation. I'd tell them to settle down, remind them they're fine, and redirect. Rinse and repeat ignoring all dramatics until their response washes out. Once they see the cats aren't going to hurt them and they're not going to get any attention for the dramatics they'll learn to largely ignore them, if not completely.

[sly red cid]

fear of cats

Hope you have good insurance....one swipe of a clawed paw....

[Meyou]

Silver, I've had a couple of kids afraid of my cat and I normally just treat it like it's a silly thing. I say things like....kitty is part of my family...OF COURSE she is in my house, it's her house too. Please don't cry at my kitty...that scares her....etc etc.

[SilverSabre25]

Hope you have good insurance....one swipe of a clawed paw....

Wow. That's really judgmental.

[SilverSabre25]

My cats stay in the lower level of our house during the day. They are gated off from the upstairs and respect the boundary. All I had to do was clap when they'd hop over the first day. Now they stay on the other side until the gate comes down at the end of the day are day.

That said, I wouldn't cater to or coddle their fear. They're getting attention for it and will likely continue with that sort of reward and validation. I'd tell them to settle down, remind them they're fine, and redirect. Rinse and repeat ignoring all dramatics until their response washes out. Once they see the cats aren't going to hurt them and they're not going to get any attention for the dramatics they'll learn to largely ignore them, if not completely.

Silver, I've had a couple of kids afraid of my cat and I normally just treat it like it's a silly thing. I say things like....kitty is part of my family...OF COURSE she is in my house, it's her house too. Please don't cry at my kitty...that scares her....etc etc.

maybe show them funny youtube videos of cats playing?? My DH's aunt is so afraid that she once broke someone's door trying to get out!::

Thank you! These are all helpful suggestions. Pretty much what I've been doing so I'm glad my instincts were right. One of the twins is already warming up to the kitties and has been willing to pet him when he's nearby. I *think* the fear originated with the 4 year old sister and has trickled down to the twins. That's my impression anyway. They seem to think the cats are going to chase them.

[Willow]

Wow. That's really judgmental.

I don't like the way it was worded to you but they're kind of right.

Cat scratches are well known to have phenomenally high (and potentially serious) infection rates. Not sure why but but our vet and doctors have warned us many many times. Even in play......it's why I keep mine separate when at all possible.


Plus, although they're big as far as cats go, all it would take is one toddler stumbling and falling on them to break a leg. It's not often injuries like that can heal normally, if at all. If you're as bonkers about your cats as I am about mine you can understand why to me anyway it's so important to avoid that potential for injury, to everyone!

[Country Kids]

Cat Scratch Fever is a real thing. My aunts cat scratched her and she received a horrible infection from it. Lots of antibiotics and medical expense.

Her cat is very friendly also and they were just playing and swipe she got her with her claw. I would keep the pets seperated just so there is not question of an issue arising.