Help with 2 Year Old Leaving Family Cat Alone

I agree with the responses so far. You might want to also try extending the "showing your son how to be nice to the cat" to include involving him in things the cat enjoys - let him give the cat some catnip or a toy to show him how much fun it can be to make the cat happy - or even just let him help you feed the cat. He'll see how good it feel to make the animal happy and maybe change his behavior. And don't worry about the cat - if it were that bothered, it wouldn't tolerate it.

I agree with the first responder. Giving away the cat isn't solving the problem - you do have to teach your son to be kind to his cat. He's still small, so you must have patience. Don't give him a time out, but drop what you are doing and go over and make him NICELY pet the cat. Your chores or whatever you are doing can wait. This is a wonderful opportunity to teach your child to treat animals the proper way.

I think its great that yours on has found a great friend in your cat. If she doesn't mind there isn't anything wrong with him loving her rough. My boys' grandma has a cat that loves attention so much she just lays there and lets all the grandsons (there are 4) do what ever they want to her but my 20 month old understands that he can't treat Snickers his other grandma's cat like that. I would stress more on that other cats are not yours and that just because your cat likes that attention doesn't mean all cats do. I don't see a cause for you to give your cat away.

You have gotten some great advice. I agree that it might just take some patience. My son is 14 months old, he started walking at 8 1/2 months so he is very active. He is obsessed with our cats and the dog. He has been from the very beginning. My favorite phrase is "Love the Kitty" "Love the doggy". If he starts getting rough I say this phrase and he refocuses and gives kisses and puts his head to their head for a hug. Then I praise him for being so nice, so gentle. My son LOVES to be praised. The phrase "love" started when he went through his biting, hitting scratching phase and I was the target. I would put his hand on my face softly and say Love Mama, oh that feels so nice- it carried over to the dog/cat.
I hope it helps and that he gets through his phase quickly.
L.
PS I did also get a book about cats that is not a kids book that has big photos of cats and kittens. He loves this book and when the cat wants to be left alone I suggest we look at the book of kitties instead. He always goes for the idea.

Do you think getting your 2 year old a (stuffed) cat of his own would help?

Or is their a place you can put your cat while your son tends to be most aggressive?

It is easy enough to show your child how to be nice.. when your hands aren't so busy with other things..like preparing dinner! I usually put the cat in another room so I don't have to holler because I'm preparing something messy & have to wash, and rewash my hands 100 times to referee..

If it keeps the peace to have a relative take in your beloved pet, well that may be a good option (but hard & sad for you). There will be more time in life to get another pet.. a time when your child has more self-control, by that I mean even when kids are trying to pet nicely, they pound the poor creature! Besides, your cat could be happier, too.

Good luck!

We are experiencing the same issue with my 2 1/2 year old. He's nice for about 5 seconds, even say "Nice to the kitty", then goes to yank on her or tries to pick her up. She tolerates him for the most part but tries to avoid him. He is getting better with it. What we did was like the others suggested show him how to pet the kitty nice and keep telling him the kitty doesn't like when he does certain things. If he does hurt her on purpose, he sits on time out. And we ask him if he would like if someone did the same thing to him. Also since his older sister has chores, we gave him a "chores" list too. Things like going potty, and eating dinner like a good boy, and be nice to the kitties for a whole day. He gets stickers just like his sister for doing his "chores" and is responding very well to the positive rewards. Slowly its been getting better. I also agree with not giving the cat to someone. Teach him now, and he will appreciate all animals in the future.

Hey L.
I understand how it is with your 2 year old not being nice to your cat, in my house I have 3 cats but only one of them tolerates my son because they have such a good bond and they also have cuddle time everyday and my cat doesn't seem to mind or fight him off either but sometimes the cat just walks away or my son ignores the fact the cats even there, yea my son gets mean with the cat by pulling his har, tail , and picking him up wrong, but what I have done is for my son is to show him how to be nice by helping him pet the cat and tapping him lightly on the hand telling him " NO" we dont do that we pet the cat nice ,when hes mean to the cat it has seemed to work for me and my sons only 1 and understands the concept of being mean and what happens if you are mean, your sons two he should know better by now what hes doing wrong maybe you can show him how to pet the cat and if hes mean do what I do with my son it will work sooner or later you just have to keep up doing it or it wont work at all and then he may start to understand better by you showing him how to be nice with out you reacting in a bad way first. I don't think giving the cat away is your answer
it just shows that you are giving up on teaching him how to be nice to the cat or nice to any animal he will come in contact with in the future.
Good Luk:) hope this advice helps you out
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