Help me protect my DD and my cats from eachother!!

[preggymeaggy]

My DD is 20 months old and is TOTALLY in love with our two cats. She is usually a very calm and sweet tempered little one, but lately (the past two weeks) she is just not listening about being gentle. Both cats are tollerant of her and even love her, but when she gets really excited it's too much for them.

I tell her, of course, to be gentle and kind. I show, by example, how to touch animals properly. She feeds them every morning, which she really enjoys and helps the cats harm to her. But there are times when I find myself telling her over and over to be gentle or not to pull or separating them temporarily. Eventually they find each other though, and the whole cycle starts again. I get to the point where eventually I start using a very serious tone (never angry), and explain that I will take her off the couch (chair, bed, out of the room) when she mistreats the kitty. This has not proved effective, as she looks straight at me, smiles, and whenever I remove her gently from the situation...she goes right back in. Cats are creatures that move, so it's hard to KEEP them separated.

I get frustrated sometimes, because this is her first time challenging me on ANYTHING. She just loves the cats so much, and does not yet understand when it's time to leave them alone. I also don't think she understands that they "could" really hurt her if she persists with them.

Any suggestions?

[dovey]

We're going through something similar here. Except for the part where the mama stays firm and calm, not getting angry. I'm trying hard, but it really upsets me when I see my daughter try and pick up the cat by her neck, and I sometimes end up being angry.

At first, I made a rule that she wasn't allowed to pick up the cat at all. But that didn't work. I think she knows that she's not supposed to do it, but she has a VERY difficult time following the rule since the cat is at the center of her 2.5 year old life right now. (My partner found the cat just a few days ago.) I was getting upset that she wouldn't follow this rule, but then my partner said something sarcastic, but a good parallel, I think: "If you don't give them access to condoms, then they won't have sex!"

So, with that in mind, even though I don't really want her to hold the cat at all, I'm trying for the "safe sex" approach, and teaching my daughter how to hold the cat in a gentle and safe way with a lot of supervision.

I don't know if that helps, but that's what's going on around here.

[mommabear207]

Originally Posted by preggymeaggy

My DD is 20 months old and is TOTALLY in love with our two cats. She is usually a very calm and sweet tempered little one, but lately (the past two weeks) she is just not listening about being gentle. Both cats are tollerant of her and even love her, but when she gets really excited it's too much for them.

I tell her, of course, to be gentle and kind. I show, by example, how to touch animals properly. She feeds them every morning, which she really enjoys and helps the cats harm to her. But there are times when I find myself telling her over and over to be gentle or not to pull or separating them temporarily. Eventually they find each other though, and the whole cycle starts again. I get to the point where eventually I start using a very serious tone (never angry), and explain that I will take her off the couch (chair, bed, out of the room) when she mistreats the kitty. This has not proved effective, as she looks straight at me, smiles, and whenever I remove her gently from the situation...she goes right back in. Cats are creatures that move, so it's hard to KEEP them separated.

I get frustrated sometimes, because this is her first time challenging me on ANYTHING. She just loves the cats so much, and does not yet understand when it's time to leave them alone. I also don't think she understands that they "could" really hurt her if she persists with them.

Any suggestions?

sounds just like ds and our dog. ds has taken to biting, pulling on his tail and hitting with toys. poor dog has been wonderful in return. i also separate them and try to teach appropriate gentle touching and praise him when i see him interacting with the dog appropriately. but sometimes i just have to put the dog in another room where ds can't get to him until ds forgets about it. our dog and outdoor cat will also move away from him but hes persistent! though the cat is starting to avoid him so i'm hoping he'll make the connection soon.not that you would ever want them to react negatively it will be a while before a 20mo understands they could without them actuallt doingit.