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Rabbits and your child's health and safety

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Rabbits and your child's health and safety

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Rabbits can make great pets. But they are not a suitable pet for a family with young children.

They require safe, gentle handling and a quiet environment. They also need a lot of care and attention.

Rabbits and health risks to your child

It's rare that a rabbit will spread a disease or bacteria to you or your child. But it can happen.

Make sure you and your child wash your hands carefully after any contact with the:

Do not allow your child to touch rabbit poo and litter.

Teach your child how to treat a rabbit

Always watch children around rabbits. Teach them to leave the rabbit alone when they hop away or go into their cage.

Rabbits and young children

Do not allow young children to pick up the rabbit. Rabbits like to be on the ground. They do not like hugs or cuddles. This is another reason why they are not a suitable pet for young children.

Rabbits do like being petted and groomed.

Rabbits and older children

Teach older children how to hold a rabbit. They should use both hands and support the back legs properly. Never pick up rabbits by their ears or by the scruff of their necks.

Rabbit bites and children

A rabbit under pressure will bite or scrape. If a rabbit scratches or bites your child, they could develop a reaction or infection. This is the most common child health problem with rabbits.

To reduce the risk of bites and scratches:

get advice from your vet about claw trimming

teach your child how to treat a rabbit with care

Tell your child to tell you if they have been bitten or scratched.

If a rabbit bites or scratches your child

If a rabbit bites or scratches your child:

wash the wound immediately in warm running water

dry it carefully

apply a clean plaster

Talk to your GP if your child's wounds:

do not heal properly

look infected

are weeping, red, swollen or feel hot to touch

are worrying you

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Rabbits and your child's health and safety

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Rabbits are delicate. They're not a suitable pet for a family with young children. Find out how to teach and keep your child safe around pet rabbits.

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From your cat's perspective the arrival of a baby can cause a lot of disruption, with new sounds and smells, changes in routine, the moving of furniture and the arrival of new objects such as toys, prams and cots. For some confident and inquisitive cats, the arrival of a new baby can be an interesting and intriguing time, but for other cats it can cause them stress and anxiety as they might not feel as 'in control' of their surroundings as usual.

Most cats tend to be creatures of habit and appreciate consistency and predictability. They are generally quite sensitive to noise, sudden changes in the environment, and certain types of handling that they aren't used to. This means that it's a good idea to gradually prepare your cat in advance of the new baby's arrival, so that it is less of a 'shock' when the baby appears.

It's also important to plan how you will manage a young child around your cat, particularly as they start to become more mobile and active.

Top tips for getting cats and babies ready to live together safely

Your daily routine will probably change quite drastically when the baby arrives. If you can anticipate what is likely to change, and slowly introduce some of these changes in advance of the baby arriving, this may help your cat to feel less overwhelmed. Things that might change when your baby arrives include:

The person who feeds the cat, where and at what times.

The person who plays and interacts with the cat the most, at what times and how long for.

The location of the cat's food, water, litter trays, beds, scratching posts and toys.

The parts of the house your cat will or won't be able to access.

Introduce new baby items and furniture ahead of time

Gradually introduce your cat to new objects associated with the baby (e.g. toys and prams) so that the cat will be familiar with them by the time the baby arrives. Each time you introduce a new object into the house, place it in a 'neutral' area (i.e. not directly near the cat's food bowls or litter trays). Leave some of your cat's favourite treats on or around the new item, and then let your cat explore it in their own time. Using a pheromone diffuser such as Feliway® around the house or spraying the new items with a few squirts from a bottle can also help your cat get used to the change in situation.

If there are items intended for the baby that you don't want your cat to get used to sitting on or sleeping in (such as a crib or pushchair) then it is a good idea to place these out of reach of your cat or fill them with other items so that your cat cannot easily jump up into them.

Introduce new baby sounds and smells ahead of time

Before the baby arrives, you can also try playing recordings of the various sounds babies make (e.g. giggling, crying, calling and squealing) very quietly at first, and then gently increase the volume over time. This will give your cat time to gradually get used to these different noises before the baby arrives. Each time you play the recordings, you can also distract and reward your cat with a few treats.

Likewise, if mum and baby are likely to spend a few days in hospital before coming home, it may be a good idea to take a small item that has your baby's smell on it, and place this somewhere in your home for your cat to sniff and investigate in their own time. This way your cat can start to familiarise itself with the baby before they actually meet.

Give your cat space, if they want it

When you bring your baby home, let the cat decide whether they want to be near them or not. Don't force them to meet in a confined space. Your cat may either want to investigate the child straight away or might be much more cautious and wary so let them go at their own pace. It's best not to leave the baby and cat together unattended so that you can keep an eye on your cat's behaviour.

For more information on reading your cat's body language and understanding what emotions they may be experiencing, see Cat body language explained.

How can I tell if my cat is, or is not, coping well living with children and babies?

If your cat is adjusting well to living with a child or baby, you should expect:

No obvious changes to their normal routines

The cat will eat, sleep, drink, groom and use their litter tray as normal

The cat will seem relaxed and comfortable around the house, even around the child

If your cat is struggling to cope with being around children or babies, they may display a number of different behaviour or physical symptoms.

Behaviour symptoms

Physical symptoms

If you notice your cat displaying any of these symptoms it's a good idea for you to seek help from your local vet or a cat behaviour counsellor.

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The arrival of a new baby into the home is a very exciting time, but some cats may take a bit of time to adjust to a new arrival. Here we share some tips to help make the introduction of your baby and cat as smooth as possible.

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39 Photos Of Pets Supporting Their Humans Through Childbirth

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39 Photos Of Pets Supporting Their Humans Through Childbirth

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For over four years, the Birth Photography Facebook group has been producing slideshows of gorgeous labor, delivery and postpartum images and sharing them on its public page. After compiling photos featuring midwives, doulas, dads and siblings, the group decided to focus its latest project on another special subset of birth team members: pets!

"Dogs and other pets seem to instinctively know that something is up during a pregnancy," the Birth Photography group's founder Laura Eckert told The Huffington Post. "They can become more protective of the mother-to-be, as though they sense that something is about to happen."

Eckert shared photos from "Loyal Birth Companions: Pets at Births" with HuffPost. "As these images show, pets are often very curious and maybe even concerned about what is going on during a home birth, and they often offer a sense of calm for the laboring mother," she said. "To some moms it's like having an extra support person right there beside them throughout their labor."

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39 Photos Of Pets Supporting Their Humans Through Childbirth

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For over four years, the Birth Photography Facebook group has been producing slideshows of gorgeous labor, delivery and postpartum images and sharing them on its public page. After compiling photos featuring midwives, doulas, dads and siblings, the group decided to focus its latest project on another special subset of birth team members: pets!

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The more pets you meet as a baby, the lower your risk of allergies

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The more pets you meet as a baby, the lower your risk of allergies

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The more pets you meet as a baby, the lower your risk of allergies

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Children that are exposed to multiple cats and dogs in their first year of life go on to have lower rates of asthma, hay fever and eczema later in life

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Pets and babies: preparing for a new arrival

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Pets and babies: preparing for a new arrival

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Finding out you're expecting a baby is often an exciting - and slightly daunting - time. If you've got a pet who's used to having your full attention, it's worth thinking about how they'll react to a new arrival to avoid extra worries.

Preparation is key. Gradually getting your pet used to the big changes before the baby arrives can help make everything go much more smoothly. Making sure their first experiences are positive ones can help your pet and baby grow into best friends.

Before baby arrives

Check your pet's health. Early in your pregnancy check your pet's vaccinations, worming and flea treatments are all up-to-date. This means they'll be no danger of them accidentally passing any unwanted parasites to you or your new baby.

Take care with cat litter. It's advised that pregnant women avoid cleaning cat's litter trays. This is to prevent an infection called Toxoplasmosis. If you do need to change your cat's litter tray, wear rubber gloves and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

Get your pet used to sharing your attention. If they suddenly get less attention when baby arrives, your pet might start behaving badly so you'll focus back to them. Slowly reduce the amount of fuss and attention your pet gets throughout your pregnancy rather than going 'cold turkey'. It will help them get used to having to share your attention with someone else.

Set boundaries in advance. If there are any rooms in the house that will become 'pet free' when baby is born, start getting your pet used to these new rules well before the birth. Baby gates are a great way to keep dogs out of an area. For cats, you may need to keep those doors shut. If your dog is used to jumping up on the sofa or bed, you might want to train them to wait for a command before they're allowed up. Read our guide to reward-based training.

Bring in new furniture early. Bring the baby's cot, play pen, highchair and other items into the home as soon as you've got them. This will give your pets plenty of time to get used to the new sights and smells. They'll be much less curious about them by the time baby arrives.

Get all the senses involved. Our pets rely so much on their senses - smell, sight and sound! Help them get used to the new experiences a baby will bring. A few weeks before your due date, you can start to carry around a 'baby'. A doll or teddy wrapped in blankets is ideal. This will help your pet get used to seeing you carrying something around with you. Try playing audio of crying babies to help your pet get used to the new sounds. Placing items from friends or family who have young children around the house or in the nursery will help your pet accept the smells of a new baby. Reward your pet with praise, attention or treats if they stay calm and relaxed. If they get excited or unruly, ignore them so they learn being calm gets praise and attention. Don't punish your pet for behaving badly or they'll associate the 'baby' with negative feelings. This could cause problems when your real baby arrives.

When baby comes home

Keep up your dog's exercise. Regular exercise is so important for your dog. It helps keep them fit, healthy and happy. If they don't get enough exercise they can get bored, destructive and behave badly. It might be challenging, but try to keep your dog's exercise routine the same after your baby arrives. Use a dog walker or ask friends and family to help if you can't walk your dog yourself.

Give your pets a safe space. Create a den or provide a space your pet can retreat to when it all gets a bit too much. Dogs usually like a den in a quiet room, behind a sofa or large piece of furniture. Cats feel safest when they're high up - a cat climber in a quiet room is the puuurfect retreat!

Introduce your baby when your pet is calm and relaxed. When baby comes home for the first time, you can introduce your pet to their scent by showing them your baby's clothes or blanket first. Once they have been shown the scent, you can gently allow your pet to greet your new arrival in a quiet room with close supervision. If they become excited, it's best to leave quietly and start again when your pet has calmed down a little.

Don't leave your baby and pet unattended. A baby should never be left unattended with any pet. You should be within reach whenever they are in the same room. Baby gates can help keep dogs out of certain areas. Cats can get through an open door very quickly and silently. Using a screen door or a tent that fits over the cot can stop your cat from getting too close.

The benefits of growing up with pets

As a pet owner, you'll have already noticed the positive impact your pet can have on your life. Growing up with a pet can also really benefit children's health and happiness. It's been reported that children with family pets are more sociable, outgoing and take fewer days off school sick. Caring for a pet can also teach them about responsibility and kindness.
Find out more about the benefits of owning a pet.

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Pets and babies: helping pets prepare for a new arrival

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Finding out you're expecting a baby is often an exciting - and slightly daunting - time. If you've got a pet who's used to having your full attention, it's worth thinking about how they'll react to a new arrival to avoid extra worries.

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An Evidenced-Based Approach to Safe Dog-Child Interactions

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An Evidenced-Based Approach to Safe Dog-Child Interactions

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An Evidenced-Based Approach to Safe Dog-Child Interactions Pet Behaviour Advice

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Last night (29/03/2022) I had the pleasure of being part of an Instagram Live chat with Charlotte of The Birth Club. Charlotte and I went to vet school together and are both fierce advocates of evidence based and informed decision making in our fields (animal behaviour for me, and perinatal educatio…

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Dogs and children can be great friends and having a dog can help children develop kindness, understanding and respect for living things. Dog companionship can improve a child's social skills with people and caring for a pet can encourage responsibility.

Because of this many families have dogs. Children quickly understand and learn to treat the dog as part of the family but it is important that parents teach children how to stay safe around dogs, to protect both child and dog.

Our top tips to keeping kids safe and dogs happy

Watch our video of top tips from our very own Samantha Gaines, mother to a toddler, dog owner and dog welfare expert.

Dogs and children communicate differently

From a dog's point of view, children communicate differently to adults; they cry, yell, shriek, crawl and run about flailing their arms. Dogs find it hard to understand children and even harder to tell them when they want to be left alone!

Children often treat dogs as their peers; they hug, cuddle, hold and scold them. Children express affection for their family through close facial contact e.g. kissing. While this may seem sweet, a dog may find this threatening and it can be quite dangerous.

For these reasons young children are more likely to be bitten than any other group and research shows that children are far more likely to be bitten by their family dog than any others. However, there are lots of things you can do to make sure your child is safe and your dog is happy.

Helping children and dogs to enjoy living together

We've teamed up with veterinarian and animal behaviourist, Dr Sophia Yin, to design a set of materials to help parents understand and recognise dog behaviour making it easier for children to stay safe and dogs happy.

Take a look at our '6 Golden Rules' for a quick guide on staying safe.

Understand how your dog is feeling - learn to recognise important body language signals.

Download our leaflets and posters and teach:

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Children and dogs - How they can live together | RSPCA

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Dogs and children can be great friends and having a dog can help children develop kindness, understanding and respect for living things. Dog companionship can improve a child's social skills with people and caring for a pet can encourage responsibility. Because of this many families have dogs.

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RSPCA - INTRODUCING YOUR PETS TO YOUR BABY 

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RSPCA - INTRODUCING YOUR PETS TO YOUR BABY 

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Help and advice on dog training, behaviour, care and our Dog School from our experts.

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What if my cat runs away?

If your cat prefers to run away from your baby, that's fine. Forcing your cat to interact with your baby could be very stressful.

Instead, allow your cat to escape and investigate in their own time. Carry on with your normal daily duties and routine and your cat should begin to accept your new arrival.

How will your cat react to your baby?

If your pet has already experienced the arrival of a new baby, and has coped well, you shouldn't have too many problems. Most cats are extremely adaptable and will cope well with some planning, but some cats might struggle.

If they are struggling, your cat may:

become more avoidant of you or the new baby

spend more time outside than usual

hide away for long periods

become less tolerant of being handled

toilet in areas they haven't previously

start spraying

If your cat is struggling, it's best to speak with a cat behaviourist. You can find a qualified, trusted behaviourist on the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) website.

Things to think about

There are a few things that you will need to think about and be aware of.

Safety and babies

Never put your baby on the floor with your cat. They need to be supervised at all times. This is the case for all cats, even those with a good temperament.

To keep them safe when you can't supervise, you can:

use a screen door for the baby's nursery. This will allow you to keep the door shut, but still see and hear your baby.

think about using a cot and pram net to stop your cat from investigating your sleeping baby

be mindful of the areas your cat doesn't enjoy being stroked. It's common for most cats to be sensitive around their stomach area and tail. Babies can 'grab' in their enthusiasm to want to touch and stroke, which can easily upset your cat.

Safety and toddlers

Once your baby starts crawling and toddling it's important to remain alert.

Make sure that your cat has a safe place to rest and relax, which is not accessible to your toddler. This will avoid a situation where the cat is continuously followed, cornered and pestered.

Remember to place your cat's litter tray in a quiet area away from anywhere that your infant has access to

Hygiene

It's best to:

make an effort not to leave dirty nappies on the floor. They can cause cats to wee or poo on that spot.

use antibacterial soap to clean your hands after feeding, grooming or playing with your cat

always wear rubber gloves, which are washed afterwards, to clean your cat's litter tray

have a litter tray that has a top on it, so your cat can do their business but your baby can't get in

How will I know how my cat is coping?

You'll know your cat has settled in well with your baby if they:

act the same way they did before your baby arrived

approach your baby calmly and seem relaxed around them

are able to sleep, eat, play and go about their daily business as usual

If they are struggling, you may see some key signs of stress. These can include something as subtle as grooming too much to toileting and spraying in your house.

If you feel that your cat is not settling in well to life with a baby, it's best to speak with a cat behaviourist. You can find a qualified, trusted behaviourist on the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) website.

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If your cat prefers to run away from your baby, that's fine. Forcing your cat to interact with your baby could be very stressful. Instead, allow your cat to escape and investigate in their own time. Carry on with your normal daily duties and routine and your cat should begin to accept your new arrival.

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BASIC HEALTH PRECAUTIONS
Expecting a baby? Congratulations! Here's some help with how to mix cats and babies.
Sadly, cat shelters often take in cats cast out when the owner is expecting a first baby or because the cat scratched the baby and is therefore "jealous and vicious". Many other couples or expectant mums have had their pet cat(s) for many years before starting a family, but reject the cat once the baby is due.

You usually prepare for the birth of a baby once the pregnancy is confirmed; you should extend this preparation to your cat. By getting the cat ready for the event several months in advance, your baby can enjoy growing up with animals.
Exposure to animals early on helps children to respect them and may even improve the immune system.
BE PREPARED - ESTABLISH A NEW ROUTINE
How will Puss react to the new addition?
A timid cat that is over-dependent on you, but hides from other people may find the new addition difficult to start with but you need to help it become more confident and less dependent on you well before the birth.

A devoted cat that joins in human activities will probably have hurt feelings, but is likely to join in with caring for baby if you let him.

An independent cat who treats you like a hotel will probably ignore the baby as long as hotel services remain unchanged.

Many cats become protective of what they view as a 'people-kitten' and there are accounts of cats raising the alarm when a baby shows signs of sudden illness. Far from being vicious creatures willing to suck a baby's breath, some have even saved abandoned babies' lives by snuggling up to infants that were at risk of hypothermia. Cats' emotions are different to human emotions and. contrary to common belief, cats do not plot or plan to do future things through jealousy or vengefulness.

You may have heard old wives' tales about jealous cats harming infants by suffocation or mauling. These scare stories are widely circulated and regularly crop up on pregnancy forums. They are usually exaggerated and the few that are genuine are only newsworthy due to their EXTREME rarity. Tales about cats suffocating babies abound, but actual occurrences are very rare; in many cases the presence of the cat was incidental. There was one confirmed case where the baby inhaled the cat's fur and its breathing was obstructed. Use a crib-net to keep your cat out of the crib or pram - this will reduce any accidental scratches and the transmission of bacteria.

Get information from your doctor and your vet about cat-borne organisms that can harm unborn babies and take appropriate precautions e.g. don't handle soiled cat litter and scrub garden vegetables before eating them.

Toxoplasmosis can harm an unborn baby, but cats are not the sole source of toxoplasmosis. Use rubber gloves and common sense about hygiene when cleaning out litter trays (if this task is unavoidable).

Ensure Puss is healthy and vaccinated. De-flea and de-worm him regularly as you don't want either parasite transferring itself to a baby or child. Children have little concept of hygiene and roundworm infection is actually quite common. There are roundworm remedies available for children and adults from pharmacies, but prevention is preferable. In some countries, flea and tick bites can carry blood parasites that harm cats and humans, so flea and tick treatment is essential.
AFTER THE ARRIVAL
Establish the cat's new routine gradually and well in advance of the new arrival. That way he has time to adapt. Let him sniff the crib, pram, baby-bath etc but teach him not to get inside them. Let him investigate the intended nursery room before making it out-of-bounds. If Puss knows what's in there, it is less of a tantalising mystery and he's more likely to ignore it. You may need to fit a scratch-guard to protect the shut door from an over-curious cat.

If you're concerned that Puss will try to sleep with the baby (they are nice and warm to snuggle up to), get crib and pram nets so he can't bed down with baby. These must be taut when fitted or the cat may use them as a hammock. Some American readers have mentioned difficulty in getting these, but they can be fashioned from large sections of fine mesh lace curtain (net curtain) or mosquito netting.

As the time of the arrival approaches, gradually reduce the amount of time spent petting your cat. Towards the end of pregnancy, Puss may not have much room to sit on the expectant mother's lap due to the "bump". Some cats are fascinated by the "bump," perhaps able to detect the movement within it. After the baby arrives you will have less time for petting and it will be less of an upheaval if you have already weaned Puss off having you at his beck and call. Establish a special 'cat-time' (e.g. in the evening after a baby's bed-time) to spend quality time together or, if possible, get your partner or an older child to become more active in caring for the cat and giving it attention while you care for junior. Some older children enjoy taking on the responsibility of becoming "mother" to Puss.

Ensure Puss's feeding area and litter tray are well away from areas needed for preparing baby's meals. Clean work surfaces before food preparation in case Puss has walked across them. As well as carrying in contaminants from outdoors or from the litter tray (normal bacteria from the faeces may be beneficial in the gut, but are not beneficial if ingested), some cats carrying the Helicobacter pylori bacteria associated with stomach ulcers.

Simple hygiene using a cat- and baby-safe disinfectant or anti-bacterial spray are recommended. If you use litter trays, persuade Puss to use a covered litter-tray with a cat-flap entrance (this reduces odours and the scattering of litter by enthusiastic excavators).

When baby arrives, Puss will probably be curious and probably somewhat wary of the new and noisy arrival so don't panic when he sniffs the crib or hangs around. Many cats soon lose interest and look for entertainment elsewhere. Some become self-appointed guardians to the new arrival and will want to watch you as your care for the baby. The warmth of a crib, with baby in residence or not, is attractive to cats and though they usually stay away from a baby's face (contrary to old wives' tales, most cats dislike the smell of human breath).

Keep the nursery door closed or fit a screen door when baby is asleep, but make sure Puss is not accidentally shut inside the nursery. If the nursery is at ground level or accessible from a roof or wall, keep the nursery windows closed or fit mesh screens. This precaution will keep cats - including strays and neighbours' cats - from entering from outdoors. A baby alarm or intercom will allow you to monitor baby.

Keep baby's feeding utensils out of Puss's reach and wipe up spilt baby food before Puss gets into the habit of hanging around and doing it for you. Keep cat food and baby food well separated to prevent cross-contamination. What goes in must come out (in the case of babies either upwards or downwards), so keep soiled nappies (diapers) shut firmly away from Puss.

Though it sounds gross to us, many cats are fascinated by bodily scents and will investigate soiled items. Something that many owners don't realise is that some cats love to chew or suck on wool and may be attracted to baby blankets! Wool-eating (pica) is more common in Siamese and related breeds. It is also not unknown for cats to steal small items of baby clothing (bonnets, boottees) and take them to bed, perhaps attracted by the smell.

Avoid cross-contamination by washing your hands after petting the cat and after cleaning litter tray, cat bedding and food bowls. If possible, use a different pair rubber gloves for these tasks. There are also alcohol-based anti-bacterial hand-scrubs available.

Don't leave cat and baby together unattended; most scratches are due to a cat fending off an inquisitive grasping or crawling baby. The jerky movements of a small child can catch a cat unawares and though it only means to fend off an "attack", cats' sharp claws and babies' fragile skin do not mix. Cats' mouths also carry lots of bacteria and though you shouldn't become paranoid (we actually need to encounter germs in order to develop a good immune system) it's not a good idea to let Puss keep licking the baby, however cute it seems - especially if you've just seen Puss leave his litter tray.

Inevitably you'll have friends and family round to see the new baby. Encourage these visitors to pay attention to the cat as well as the baby. Don't make Puss feel rejected, the baby is part of his life too and if he is made to feel part of the baby-raising activities he will be more accepting of the noisy intruder. Babies can be very stressful, especially if you aren't getting a good night's sleep and your cat also wants some fuss. If you get tired or irritated, don't take it out on Puss. Always keep a sense of priorities. You only have one pair of hands: baby is top priority, cat usually second and most other jobs can wait a few minutes unless you have a partner to help out (or an older child to give Puss plenty of attention).

Last, but not least, regularly de-worm and de-flea/de-tick Puss. Check which flea powders and flea-sprays are safest in a house where there is a baby or toddler. Also comb Puss regularly to remove any fleas and also any loose hair. Flea combing can be part of his quality time after baby's bedtime.

For every several hundred people who have raised cats and babies side-by-side, or who have grown up with cats, there will be one person who claims horror stories. Try not to take them too seriously, your cat(s) is a loving member of your family, please try and consider their happiness and wellbeing alongside the human members of the family. Cats and children can live in harmony!

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Learn Featured Cat Molly What pretty blue eyes! I'm Molly and I'm 5... Latest News Local supporter and cat lover, Beata Kelbert, is raising funds for East Surrey Cats Protection by ... A survey of 1,100 cat owners by Cats Protection shows that many people are failing to understand the...

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Dogs Trust - expectinga baby - Tips and advice for all the family

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Dogs Trust - expectinga baby - Tips and advice for all the family