As you busily apply a plaster to your crying child, you wonder - What happened? Only a moment ago, they were petting their cat. But then they pulled its tail. The cat, being a cat, reacted by defending itself and scratching back. But now you have a crying child and a few scratches. How could this have been avoided? How can I ensure my child is safe around animals?

Children and animals are one of the cutest combinations ever! However, if your child isn’t used to animals, it can prove to be quite a handful. Animals are living things too, with minds of their own, and inevitably, not all encounters with them will be positive.

But don’t worry, we’re here to teach you about animal safety, and how you can reduce the possibility of accidents happening when your child is interacting with a furry friend.

So, what are some of the things that can go wrong when you mix children and pets?

Here are the major things to look out for before your child interacts with an animal:

Whilst it’s awfully cute bringing children and baby animals together, young cats and dogs may bite and scratch out of sheer friskiness and playfulness.

If the pet has not been treated well by its owners, it will naturally be more aggressive towards people.

Children don’t realise when an animal is getting over-excited, so if left unsupervised, they might not see the warning signs and could get bitten or scratched.

A child might put their face too close to an animal, provoking the animal to be stressed or over-excited.

Children can often irritate animals by pulling tails or taking away toys. Animals can also get annoyed if disturbed whilst sleeping and eating.

Some wild or fostered animals might not be immunised against rabies. This condition can make people extremely ill if bitten.

If they’ve had a positive experience with one animal, children might assume all animals are friendly, and try to pet a stranger’s animal without warning. This could result in an unpleasant situation if the animal is not comfortable with new people.

So now that we’ve looked at the potential problems of children interacting with animals, let’s see what solutions and strategies we can use to reduce potential harm and heartbreak.

How can I make sure my child is safe around animals?

Take a look at the top tips for happy interactions between children and animals:

If you’re looking for a pet, find one with a gentle disposition. Older pets are often a good choice, and they’re not as hyperactive as younger pets. Plus, many older pets do not get fostered, so you’re providing them with a loving home.

If you treat your pet with kindness, it will be a lot less stressed and anxious. Don’t hit animals or keep them on short leashes. A happy pet goes hand in hand with a happy child!

It’s always best to supervise your child whilst they’re interacting with an animal. You can usually tell when the animal is getting over-excited, or when a child is being a bit too rough. Intervening early can help prevent nips or scratches.

Teach your child that an animal isn’t a toy, but a living being with feelings. You can model appropriate behaviour for them. They should not be hitting or pulling tails. An animal’s space must be respected, so they should be left alone whilst eating or sleeping. Teach your child to not put their face close to their pet, unless they want to risk getting a warning bark.

Make sure that all your pets are immunised against rabies.

Make sure your pet is always under your control, that they’re leashed when appropriate, and that you’re the one in control of the situation.

When meeting dogs in the park, teach your child to always ask the owner’s permission before petting. They should pet the dog appropriately and not be too rough.

You can teach your child the warning signs of a highly-strung dog: Rigid body, still tail at ‘half-mast’, out-of-control barking, crouching, and a staring expression.

Make sure your child knows to avoid wild animals, and that they should be admired from afar. Most rodents carry diseases, and if you see a sick animal, contact the local authorities to retrieve it safely.

How do I keep my child safe around animals?

Help your child relate to our furry friends safely with Unii’s tips.