Daughter playing rough with kitten

djbum_syd

We have a 12 week old kitten, as well as 2 adult cats.
My daughter is lovely with the adult cats but is so rough with the kitten.
She carries the poor thing around with her hands around it's throat, drags it about by it's tail or legs and throws it around.

I've shouted at her, told her off, put her in time-out, taps on the hand, even the cat scratches her - but nothing seems to stop her doing this.
She's 2 years old, so it may be she doesn't understand, but why is she not like this with the other cats?

The kitten still goes to her to play, etc even after my daughter has roughed it about, so not sure what I can do.

Any advice on how to stop this?

Thanks. x

wilkies5

you need to supervise ALL contact your daughter has with the kitten! It is really unfair on the poor thing to subject it to being dragged around by its tail or legs. What will you do if your daughter breaks its leg? Show her the RIGHT way to treat animals.....before its too late! Sorry to sound so harsh, btw.

Desperado99

I would separate the kitten from her and only let her play with it under close supervision until she learns. I know that may sound harsh, but we had a kitten rehomed to us from a similar situation (more children though) and he spent a lot of time on the top of cupboards and doors until he realised that we were not going to badger him to play. Three years on and although he can be affectionate, he still isn't a 'people' cat.

djbum_syd

The thing is, she is under close supervision - as I am always with her in the living room/garden. She'll go over to the kitten, give it a kiss and then just grab it and run.

I can't separate them otherwise the kitten would never see any one if she was locked away in the kitchen. She isn't afraid of my daughter, quite the opposite - follows my daughter every where. They're never left alone together, as soon as I see my daughter being rough (or even going close to being rough) I straight away tell her off and whatever else I need to. She just doesn't seem to learn. :-/

rising_from_the_ashes

Totally agree with both the above - your daughter cannot be left unsupervised with the kitten until she learns how to treat it properly (and yes I realise she is only 2).

If she is being supervised and starts being rough with the kitten, remove her immediately and don't let her back with the kitten.

Kittens need lots of love, attention and affection for them to grow up to be happy and easy to handle - at this rate, the poor wee soul will grow up hating people and will be hard to handle (as poor Bunting has experienced).

rising_from_the_ashes

djbum_syd wrote: »

I can't separate them otherwise the kitten would never see any one if she was locked away in the kitchen.

NO!

Remove the child - the kitten's done nothing wrong, you can't punish it!

Person_one

Have you actually got down on the floor with your daughter and the kitten regularly and shown her the right way to handle the cat? Even at 2 she can learn to gently stroke but not pick up. My 18 month old nephew understands that animals aren't toys, 2 isn't too young to learn that they have feelings too.

bagginslover

djbum_syd wrote: »

I've shouted at her, told her off, put her in time-out, taps on the hand, even the cat scratches her - but nothing seems to stop her doing this.

Have you really, REALLY shouted at her? Put the fear of god into her-shouted at her?

Sounds harsh I know, but if she is being as rough as you say, she is at serious risk of seriously injuring or killing that kitten, you need to stop it, now.

Also, tapping her hand, naughty step?! I really don't think those are tough enough, even for a 2 year old, not in these curcumstanses. Time to drop the new-fangled soft approach and get tough.

meritaten

I may be shot down for this - but kittens are used to 'rough' treatment from their litter mates! and the kitten may well see your daughter as a litter mate! The kitten obviously loves your daughter - so I would work on getting her to treat the kitten more kindly. praise her when she handles the kitten correctly - remove the kitten if she is is too rough.

hethmar

Sorry, but the kitten could end up dead if she carries on holding it by the throat. Time for more than a tap on the hand methinks. If necessary find a a new home for the kitten and explain to her why you have.

Person_one

bagginslover wrote: »

Have you really, REALLY shouted at her? Put the fear of god into her-shouted at her?

Sounds harsh I know, but if she is being as rough as you say, she is at serious risk of seriously injuring or killing that kitten, you need to stop it, now.

Also, tapping her hand, naughty step?! I really don't think those are tough enough, even for a 2 year old, not in these curcumstanses. Time to drop the new-fangled soft approach and get tough.

If it wouldn't work on a puppy, it generally doesn't work on a 2 year old!

Positive reinforcement isn't just for dogs!