Cats and kids make wonderful companions, but their interactions can be a recipe for disaster if children aren't taught how to play with cats. Cats have sharp claws and are ready to use them if they feel threatened or stressed, and kids, especially young ones, tend to enjoy the sort of loud noises and physical energy that cats find threatening or stressful.

This doesn’t mean your youngest residents are a bad match for each other; with the right encouragement and circumstances, your cat just might become your kid's best playmate.

Empathy and Trust

Interaction and play between cats and kids is an opportunity for learning on both sides. For better or worse, lessons will shine through for both cat and child. Having cats at home can teach kids compassion, empathy, and even self-esteem as they care for one another, according to Mother Nature Network. At the same time, cats learn to trust children and develop a fondness through positive behaviour. On the other hand, improper play can teach a cat to fear and dislike children. If they respond by lashing out, your kids can develop a fear and mistrust of cats (or animals in general) as a result.

To curb this possibility, it's important to help children understand that their cat is not a toy. As adorable as they may be, a cat is a living companion who has just as many feelings as their human housemates. And although cats can become frightened of kids if they are too rough, playing gently on their terms will make them more likely to enjoy their company. It's up to children to show the cat that they can trust them not to cause any harm.

Why Cats Lash Out

It's important to understand the reasons cats sometimes lash out, so a bigger incident can be avoided. Although some cats are grumpy, temperamental, or just plain mischievous, they generally don't bite or use their claws at random. Typically, a cat will throw a swipe because they feel threatened, stressed out, or annoyed at something in their environment. Sometimes, however, a perfectly friendly cat will get over excited during a playful tickle or when following a toy you're moving around and respond with mis-placed aggression.

Rest assured a cat will show warning signs that they’re about to strike. You can often avoid an altercation by teaching children to recognise these signs. According to the Humane Society of the United States, a thrashing tail, flattened ears, arched back, growling, and hissing are all cats' ways of saying "back off, or else."

Teaching kids how to properly handle and play with cats will also go a long way toward avoiding mishaps. Of course, it's also important to use common sense in determining whether kid-cat interaction should be allowed in the first place. If your cat has a grouchy temperament or a history of biting and scratching, or if your children are too young to exercise self-control around delicate animals letting them play together probably isn't a good idea just yet.

But there are ways you can encourage safe and fun play between your cats and kids

Set Up a Safe, Relaxed Environment

Be sure your cat has a safe place to escape to when they don't like what's happening. Consider a cat tree that's tall enough to put them out of reach of small hands. Cats also love high places because it affords them a full view of their surroundings.