Children and cat, how would you deal with this?

[Sparrowlegs248]

I have a cat, pre dates the children by about 10 months. Children 1 and 3. Cat is a bit scatty, nervy. She will run away if they start running about, being noisy. They aren't rough with her but have swiftly cordoned on that they can make her run away. They shout her name, "pat" the ned/cushion near to where she is sitting. Swing cuddlybtoys about in the vicinity. In order to make her run away .

It's driving me bloody potty. I tell them every.single.time.

Its not kind, she doesn't like it, don't shout at the cat (they don't really shout at her, more like around her) don't chase her. Have made them sit in the bathroom with me so I can see them while getting ready.

None of it makes a single bit of difference.

Any ideas?

To clarify, the cat is currently laying on top of the armchair in the same room as them, by choice. So is not completely traumatised. But even so I bloody hate it.

If they were just calling her name it wouldn't bother me, but they're not, they're shouting it loudly, in order to get he to run away. They think Its hilarious, but I don't tbh. It's not all the time, as I say she'll often join in bedtime and it's fine, or if they're playing she'll be in the same room, it's just when they turn their attention to her it's in this over the top way to get a reaction from her.

She's 4, and is very playful but too much for them to play with. She's VERY quick and quite rough with it. Not that they've ever got that far with her.

i think youre doing all the right things, but ultimately thats what life is like with very young kids and cats. It sounds like shes pretty tolerant. She will tell them off if it gets too much

Re-home the kids 😸

The cat will be getting distressed 🙁 Good idea about writing and reading stories involving the cat
and having things calm when this is happening

just be careful and make it known that not all cats will run away and even your own cat could turn.

I know if they had done what you say they did to one of my cats she would have ripped their face off. Big Norwegian Forest cat with paws the size of my palms and claws to match.

One day the cat might not run but attack.

If they were rough with her, or grabbed her, she'd scratch or bite. But they aren't. They're not touching her or even that close to that at times. And it's so quick, one but of shouting or flapping about and she's gone

I am just saying next time a child thumps the bed and shouts the cats name the cat might not jump but attack

I'd have huge consequences for them, every single time they do it. I'd also get a playpen so that if they can't be nice they go in there so the cat is safe

One day the cat will take a swipe at one of them. They wont do it again

There is a really powerful tool called Social Stories which is often used with SEN children but I used when my children were small too. Basically you create a story about the situation showing what is happening and what the consequences and emotions are. Eg . 'Sarah and Molly are sister. Sarah and Molly have a cat called Bob. They love Bob. Sometimes they chase Bob. This makes Bob sad and scared. Etc
I would read it too the children when they were calm and then bring it out again when they were chasing the cat. I appreciate the 1 year old might not get it but the 3 year might well and that is half the battle.

Keep telling them no. They will grow out of it. Now aged 13, our cat’s favourite human is 11 yo dd1. Child can’t sit down without a cat jumping on her lap within seconds. When she reads in bed at night there will invariably be a cat curled up next to her pillow.