The relationship between cats and children requires careful management to prevent stress for the cat and injury to children, with supervision and cat body language education being the primary interventions.
Cats in households with young children face welfare compromise from involuntary handling, inability to escape and sleep disturbance. Children who learn to read and respect cat body language interact more appropriately, reducing stress for the cat. Cats unable to escape child interaction develop chronic stress with associated health and behavioural impacts. High-level retreats accessible to cats but not children are a critical welfare provision in family homes.