[momtopeyton]

It's me again. I need to know if older cats ever get used to new babies in the house. My 8 year old cat absolutely hates my son, who is now 2 1/2 years old. At first, the cat tolerated him but was jealous. I tried to spend extra time with him and whatnot. Once my son became mobile, the cat has become very agressive towards him and has bitten him once. He has tried to scratch too, but is declawed. Of course, when the cat swats at my son and it doesn't hurt, my son thinks its funny, but that is another issue.

Anyway, I am to the point where I am considering giving my cat away due to his behaviour towards my child. I don't want to do that, but I can't allow him to bite either.

Oh, and I have tried punishment, holding the cat while my son pets him, treats to be around my son...just about everything I can think of.

what can I do to make him nicer towards my child?
thanks
Jacki

 

[ForJazz]

Some people here might suggest the vanilla scent thing that is used to get new cats acquainted. You rub vanilla on the neck of each cat in this situation so that the cats realize they smell the same. Maybe it would work with your cat and your son? I don't know if this is a stupid suggestion or not, but I really hope you find something that works and so if I were you I'd be willing to try anything. I don't have any stellar advice because I've never had this experience, but I just want to stress one thing that's very important. Don't make him feel like he has to do this, and give him his space and time. Jealous kitties usually come around in my experience -- so don't feel you have to work on his "training" all the time. If he does it on his own schedule it will lead to greater success.

I'd work with your son at the same time too -- don't leave that factor out. I took my kitty to stay with my mom while I went on vacation -- and my nephew (1.5 years old) was staying with her for a week as well. The cat was terrified of small children, but once my mom taught my nephew the word "gentle" and what it meant, the kitty became less and less scared of him. My mom didn't push this interaction, but when kitty came into the room with my nephew, she just tried to be very calm and quiet and let the kitty approach on her own. If she did, out of curiousity, she'd make sure my nephew had gentle hands. My nephew was great with this and he was only 1 and a half.