5 Ways to Keep Your Cat Safe from Your Toddler

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CatsLoveNutrish #CollectiveBias

Our first babies were the two cats that we rescued from a farm eight years ago. Fast forward and now we have a baby of our own-- a three year old, energetic, curious, and destructive little princess! At first I was worried about protecting our little girl from the cats, which I think is a concern of most new parents. However, as she grew from a crawling baby to a toddler, we quickly learned it was the other way around-- it's the cats that need the most protecting protecting from her!

For everyone's safety, it's important to be aware of both the toddler and the cat. A toddler doesn't intentionally hurt a cat, but if they do so-- the cat will most likely react simply out of self-protection. There's really no blame to be had on either end in that situation. To avoid these situations, an adult should be present while the toddler interacts with the cat.

Here are five things that we do to protect our cats from our little girl, AKA Little Miss Sunshine:

1. Cats Need Good Nutrition

A healthy cat is a happy cat. While you make sure to provide your children with the best possible nutrition, why wouldn't you do so for your cat? Choosing a high quality cat food is important!

Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® Indoor Complete Chicken with Lentils & Salmon Recipe is a good choice. It contains a real superfood blend that meets the complete needs of your cat-- including a healthy weight, good digestion, and immunity.

Print out a $2 off coupon to use in-store for Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® Indoor Complete Chicken with Lentils & Salmon Recipe by clicking here.

With some cat foods, there is concern about the safety of the ingredients but you don't have to worry about that with Nutrish Indoor Complete. It is safely USA cooked with real, wholesome ingredients and without any ingredients from China. 

The #1 ingredient in the fiber-rich blend is U.S. farm-raised chicken-- real salmon is also used. There are also natural prebiotics from pumpkin and dandelion greens to help support healthy digestion and antioxidant-rich berries to help support healthy immunity.

Nutrish Indoor Complete is available at most places where you buy your family's groceries, and also available online. I found it on the Walmart website when I used the grocery pickup service. It was so easy!

I searched "Nutrish Indoor Complete" and the first two results that popped up were the Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® Indoor Complete Chicken with Lentils & Salmon Recipe options with two sizes available.

A portion of the proceeds from each sale go towards the Rachael Ray Foundation, which helps animals in need through Rachael's Rescue. You can't go wrong there!

2. Provide a Safe Space for Your Cat

If there is too much noise and chaos, a cat will likely become uncomfortable due to their sensitive ears. Cats prefer a quiet and calm atmosphere and if there's a toddler around-- the atmosphere will be anything but quiet and calm! This is why it's important to provide a safe place for your cat to escape to.

For us, the basement is off limits for our little girl. The cats know that they can escape to the basement to escape HER! It's quiet and they have a safe place to hide. This is also where we keep the cat food and litter boxes-- places where they especially need their privacy. They can also enjoy our enclosed porch in peace.

While we set boundaries for Little Miss Sunshine, we also set boundaries for our feline friends. The cats are not allowed in the second level of our home where our bedrooms are. The bedroom is a safe space for Little Miss Sunshine too!

3. Model Interaction Behavior 

Teach your child how to interact with your cat. This includes showing your child how to properly pet a cat by stroking the fur from the head towards the tail. When your toddler inevitably grabs a fistful of fur, gently tell him/her that it hurts the cat and remove their hands from the cat. Do not allow tail pulling. 

There is no better way to teach your child how to treat a cat than by modeling the correct way when you are interacting with the cat. It may take a little time, but eventually your child and the cat can develop a loving relationship.

4. Be an Advocate for Your Cat

If your cat appears stressed, make sure he/she has access to their safe place (see #1). Pay attention to the signs that your cat is giving you-- the look of fear or anger in his/her eyes or frustrated meowing. You may need to physically pick up your cat and put him/her in a safe place away from your toddler for a while. 

It's important to be aware of what causes your cat stress, such as loud noises or a room full of people. In these situations, prepare ahead and place your cat in the safe space to avoid any issues. 

5. Cats Need Attention Too

Let's face it, toddlers are exhausting and can take up every ounce of your energy. You have to keep a constant watch to make sure they're not into something they're not supposed to be, climbing on top of who knows what, or sticking something in their noses or mouths that should not be there. We spend the majority of our time with our toddlers teaching, molding, and loving them.

But don't forget about your cat! Cats need love and attention too. Most cats will purr loudly when petted or held, proving that they need more love than they might have you believe. Take time to give your cat special attention.

What ways do you keep your cat safe from your toddler? Has your cat tried Nutrish Indoor Complete?