Do not pull on the cat’s tail and other lessons about animals

By mslny

We do not have any pets in our house. As much love as my two little humans have to give, I do not currently have the capacity to provide more care and feeding duties toward another being. Call me selfish, but it’s just not going to happen in our house this year. But, because I feel more than a little bit guilty about my unwillingness to get a pet, I have made it known to my friends with animals that we would be happy to pitch in for a short-term commitment, should they need any pet-sitting services.

And thus, it came to pass that a fat feline by the name of Bella joined our family for the past eight days. And nights. Oh yes, the nights. Cats are nocturnal creatures, aren’t they? Or it seems that any that enter our house are. This is not the first time that we’ve heard the midnight snacking by a cat or been serenaded by a meow fest at 5 a.m. routine.

The kids spent most of the week lying on their sides under my bed stroking Bella who had made her safe haven between the large shoe bins that are stored there. I hoped that they were treating her right, but had to trust that they were following the guidelines we’ve developed with regards to touching animals.

We have established a few rules in my family to ensure that little faces do not get scratched and that animals are treated with the respect they are due. These apply in our home, the homes of other people, and when we are out in the world.

1. Do not pet an animal until you have gotten permission from the owner. Dogs on the sidewalk who are tied to a bench are off-limits unless their owner invites us to engage.
2. When we pet dogs, we first allow the dog to smell our fist. If the dog is receptive, we can pat his back or head.
3. Do not pull on tails.

Simple, right?

Other parents I consulted shared similar suggestions. “I tell my kids to always ask the owner AND me if it’s okay to approach, ” said Bill Gookin, the author of DaddyIsTired.com. “Ask the owner for how to approach, too.”

Beyond pets, we also have to set our kids straight on wild animals they get excited about, such as squirrels or blue jays. It’s easiest to stick with the Must Get Owner’s Permission rule. Mother of three Brandie says, “If no owner is there, it’s probably wild, and no matter how cute it is, we don’t mess with wild animals!” Parenting blogger Whit Honea gives his sons guidance that the only wild animals that can be touched are ladybugs.

Are there more safety rules around animals we should be aware of?