Cat issues
I have a 10 year old cat. Hamish. I LOVE THIS CAT. When I was pregnant he would drape himself over my belly. I had high hopes for him. It isn't turning out the way I expected it. Alex is now almost 7 months old. I understand the reality of the situation. I'm looking for solutions to specific problems. I'm not going to get rid of Hamish until I've done all I can. Hamish hates Alex. He wants nothing to do with her. That's fine with me, except he hisses at her when he gets too close. A meter away seems too close for Hamish. How do I teach Hamish to love a baby, when he WAS the baby for ten years? Alex really seems to love animals. She reacts very well to dogs. No fear, and why should she? All the dogs she's ever met are very very well behaved. But Hamish...oh Hamish. All she wants to do is touch him but I won't allow it since he hisses at her. She tracks him around the room and he cowers as if he's being hunted. ~sigh~ Do I wait it out or try to help?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by M Baxter on -
I wouldn't encourage a baby to touch animals in general. A baby isn't going to have impulse control for several years, and few animals are tolerant to the point where this kind of contact is safe.
I'd encourage the cat to be in another room. You can't train the baby to be gentle at this age, and you can't train the cat to tolerate abuse. Keep 'em separate. It's worked for us. We have an ancient Maine Coon and two miniature poodles. We worked hard on teaching the kids to leave the pets alone. When the kids were old enough, we started training the kids to train the dogs. Now my eight and nine year old kids work with the dogs on sit/stay, down, heel, and so on. The four year old does sit and down. And the two year old hands out treats.
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Permalink Reply by Jay Rodas on -
I cannot blame you for that since you love them both. This might be sounds crazy! but for some reason there is a possibility that your cat is on the adjustment period. This might be the reason why Hamish is not comf'table yet with Alex but I guess real soon he will use to it. I suggest, for your baby's safety you take him away from Hamish... that's the least that you can do. ;)
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