Afraid of Cats

[Starburst]

And these aren't feral cats. They are VERY domesticated. Judging all housecats on the same level as dogs or feral cats is sort of silly.

Even stray cats and feral cats aren't the same, though most use the terms interchangeably. 'Feral' refers to wild, never having interaction with humans- feral cats are usually afraid of humans and in almost every case cannot be properly domesticated because they don't trust humans enough to get close. 'Stays' are usually animals that have had human interaction and are usually abandoned pets or runaways. They are usually more likely to approach humans and are easier to domesticate, usually because they have already been domesticated.

If you take a stray to a pound they will either fix and release or try to find a home for it; if you trap a feral and take it to the pound they will either fix and release or euthanize because they pretty much assume feral animals aren't adoptable.

BTW my aunt used to work for Animal Friends and Rescue and has fostered many cats and dogs, she pretty much knows all the ins and outs of animal shelters.

[Cradle2crayons]

So why do so many of you have such a different position on having cats around daycare than dogs? Just wondering.Pregnant women are more susceptible to cat born illness than from dogs....we've had feral cats overrun our neighborhood and the preogs were kinda leary bout them being so all over everything outside............and their stink was terrrible.the neighbor feeding them all finally got some help, now all are neutered or spayed, and there are only 3 that I notice now.

I have the same position at my house.

The dogs and cats are out free all day. They go in and out of the house at will. The only thing not in the daycare areas is my daughters pet rat, the mouse family (both in daughters room), the kids two snakes (in my room), and Willie our rescue hamster (in my room as well). Oh and our kitten rescued from a busy intersection. She lives in daughters room during the daytime hours.

Not that it won't happen, but I've never had a daycare kid scratched. I've been scratched by one kitten who for some reason likes to follow me around and when I ignore him, he climbs me like a tree (shrug).

I had cat scratch fever when I was four from my grandmas outside cats who were not the cleanest cats or vaccinated. I spent 10 days in the hospital.

While anything is possible, I'd be more worried about a cat bite than a cat scratch. Also of note, the bacteria that causes cat scratch disease can also be found in e saliva, blood, and on e fur of infected cats. Also, fleas are the number one transmission route that infects a cat. Ticks also spread it, and dogs can get it too from infected fleas etc even though their form (mutation) is a little different.

There are tests to identify it and it can be cured in cats.

That said, all of our cats get tested yearly and are all negative, EXCEPT our new rescue we found dodging 18 wheelers in a busy intersection. She was administered a z pack (but in cat liquid form) and will be retested in a few months.

Also of note, just because a cat is infected doesn't mean they will transmit it.

The chances of a child getting the infection is less than them falling and scraping their knee and it getting infected.

Silver, my advice is to start slow, just like you are doing. I had a girl once who was TERRIFIED of cats. So was her mom. I took her to a friend of mines house who had some newborn kittens, and she saw how helpless they were as babies. And they were so cute. My friend told the girl she needed help feeding them with a syringe, and gave her a little kids vet lab coat. Girl was HOOKED after that. Now this girl is in junior high. Her goal is to be a vet when she grows up.

Btw, as I type this, TUX the monkey kitten is climbing the back of me to get onto my shoulders. Apparently he thinks the iPad is getting more attention than him.

[countrymom]

Declawed cats are far more prone to biting aggression though....I have two, one clawed and one not (not by my choice) that don't follow that mold but statistically speaking......

thats not true. My cat is front and back declawed and i've had him for 14 yrs. I've never had him bite out of aggression as a matter of fact he will hiss at the kids if they are bugging him.

[Cradle2crayons]

thats not true. My cat is front and back declawed and i've had him for 14 yrs. I've never had him bite out of aggression as a matter of fact he will hiss at the kids if they are bugging him.

I think she was referring to research that proves that the INCIDENCE of biting and other behavioral problems are higher in cats who have been declawed.

Of course, it's not true in all cats. Obviously yours isn't the norm

[Meeko]

All of my clients know I have a dog. He is part of my family. To me....having a client not like my dog is like having them not like my daughter. I'm not getting rid of either of them.......

I am not a cat lover, but the same would apply if I had a cat. The parent was aware you had cats. She was aware her kids were nervous around them. She chose your daycare anyway.

They have to get used to them or leave. I would just live life as I usually do. Adapt or leave. My family first.

I love my daycare kids. But I love my dog more. Much more.

[Cradle2crayons]

All of my clients know I have a dog. He is part of my family. To me....having a client not like my dog is like having them not like my daughter. I'm not getting rid of either of them.......

I am not a cat lover, but the same would apply if I had a cat. The parent was aware you had cats. She was aware her kids were nervous around them. She chose your daycare anyway.

They have to get used to them or leave. I would just live life as I usually do. Adapt or leave. My family first.

I love my daycare kids. But I love my dog more. Much more.

I agree. I disclose all animals to parents from day one. As well as vet records and health history on them all. If they chose to place their kids here, then it is what it is.

[MotherNature]

Chances are (especially if they are siblings) one of there parents is afraid of cats and projected that fear to the kids (most fears like this are learned, not experienced-based). Sometimes kids also fake having similar fears to fit in. My ex-roommate (worked at her mom's daycare) was afraid of clowns and after the older DCKs heard about it they all suddenly had a "fear" of clowns, they all saw her as a cool older sister and constantly imitated her- she knew they weren't really afraid and were just copying her.

I wondered that.. Didn't realize they were all sisters. That totally makes sense though.