Category: Animal Treatment

Should I Let My Child Have a Pet Rat?

3/13/2015

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Image by stevendepolo via Flickr.com

When you visit the pet store or animal shelter, rats can look so cute and cuddly - and they are. But, should you really let your child have a pet rat? As a mom who has made this decision before, I know full well the responsibility it takes. There are many factors involved, such as the safety of the animal, the safety of your child, proper rat care, and more. Rats and other small animals are often an impulse buy. But here's what you and your child need to know about owning one - preferably beforehand.

Does your child respect animals? Before ever bringing a pet rat (or any other pet) into the home, you should know how your child feels about animals. Visit animal shelters and residences of friends and family with pets to get a good idea. Let your child interact with animals and see what the reaction is. If you have already brought home the animal without doing that, consider allowing your child to attend animal care classes with the pet. Many large pet stores and animal shelters offer these classes for free or for an affordable rate. Some include them in the adoption fee.

You and your child should know how to care for rats. As mentioned above, your child can take animal care classes. But there are other ways to learn about the care of pet rat as well. Books written by trusted sources are a great start. If you have already adopted a rat, your first step should be a visit to the vet. Even if your child's pet rat has come vetted and vaccinated, it is still important to start routine visits. The first visit can help you and your child understand how to properly care for a rat. The examination will also allow your vet to let you know if there's anything you should watch out for.

Rats ideally come in pairs. Some rats will do well alone. But they may be happier when they have a companion. This is even true if they have great human companionship. Are you prepared to let your child adopt two rats if it becomes evident that your rat needs company? Can your child handle two rats? One rat is already a good deal of responsibility. Multiply that times two and if your child is willing and able to handle that, a pet rat (or two) may be a good idea.

Rats are very social. Rats prefer to have a companion. However, they also enjoy human companionship. If your child is afraid to hold a rat or will not be around enough to give ample attention, adopting one is a bad idea. Rats enjoy being held and played with for long periods of time. They are highly intelligent and become attached to their human companions. When we owned a rat, he spent more time being held than he did in his cage. He immediately climbed right out of the cage into our arms anytime his cage door was opened. If anything was going on, he wanted to be a part of it. If your child is not ready for this kind of interaction, you should not adopt a pet rat.

Because of their docile nature, rats can make great pets for kids as young as five. If your child is not afraid to hold rats and knows to wash hands before and after handling them, they may be the perfect choice. Be sure you and your child have also researched and are aware of risks and proper care. After that point, your child is likely ready to begin the search for a great companion or two.

*The author is not a licensed animal care specialist. Her advice is based purely on personal experience and research and is not meant to replace the advice of a licensed professional.

Ask Lyn About Pets: Why Is My Child Hurting the Cat?

12/7/2014

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When Kids Mistreat Animals

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

A frequent reader contacted "Ask Lyn" for advice on this common scenario. You hear a pitiful mew and notice your toddler has the cat by her tail - again. Just two hours earlier you scolded him for doing the same thing. Why is your child hurting the cat and what can you do to stop this behavior? My years of experience as a mom and nanny have shown me several answers to this question.

Why did my child hurt the cat to begin with and what does it all mean? It may simply be a misunderstanding on your child's part or it could mean something deeper. In most kids, it simply means a lack of understanding how to behave with an animal. The ASPCA states that some adults who have been violent toward people also have a history of being violent toward animals. Children who have been exposed to violence also may attempt to show violence toward an animal. It is safer for your pets, as well as your child, to correct the behavior as soon as possible. It is important to remember that just because your child does this, it does not necessarily mean it's intentional or that she will be violent with animals or people in the future.

He doesn't know any better. Has your child been told why pulling a cat's tail or petting him backward is not a good idea? When you warn your child about these and other ill actions toward the cat, don't just say "No". Explain why it's not a good idea. Your child may see the family pet as a toy and not a living being. Some kids need reasons behind requests. You also need to explain things in terms that make sense to your child. A 3 year old will understand that pulling fur feels the same to a cat that pulling hair does to a human.

She hasn't been exposed to animals previously. If your child has never been exposed to animals before, especially cats, that could explain her actions. When a child hurts a cat, it doesn't necessarily mean she is being mean. She just may not have any history to tell her brain what the proper behavior is toward a cat. Ideally, parents should expose children to pets before adopting them. If it's too late for that, limit your child's exposure to the pet until she understands and demonstrates proper cat treatment.

Use gentle guidance and redirection. If you want your child to stop hurting your cat, you'll need to take a look at the whole picture. Exposing him to animals is the proactive end of the stick. But if the behavior has already started, you may also need to be reactive. Each time your child pulls the cat's tail, pets him backward, or otherwise treats him unfairly, use gentle redirection. Gently take his hand and use it to pet the cat slowly and gently. Say things like, "This is how we pet the kitty." "The kitty likes it when we do this." "Ooh, feel how soft the kitty's fur is."

Be consistent. Whether you choose to use the same methods I found useful or another method, the key in making it work is consistency. In order for the lesson to sink in, you need to act the same way each time your child is around the cat. If you use gentle guidance only sometimes and let it slide the rest of the time, this sends a mixed message to your child. What it says is that she only has to treat the cat nice sometimes, which is not what you want to teach her.

If your child cannot treat the cat properly, you may have to separate the two for safety on both counts.

*The above is meant for informational purposes only. Always ask your pediatrician and veterinarian for guidance in your specific situation.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Positive Parenting: Teaching Kids to Interact With Cats

11/1/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

That sweet fuzzy face separated from you by glass is pulling at your heartstrings. Your child is also attached. But before adopting, kids need to learn about cat care and how to relate to them. Interacting positively with cats holds great benefits for the kids, as well as the animal. Our family will be adopting a cat soon, but we wouldn't dream of doing so without preparation.

When they hold a cat for the first time, show and explain how. Show your child what to do by picking up the cat up yourself. While doing this explain what you are doing and why. Talk about wrong ways to hold the cat as well. You can illustrate the lesson to your child further by talking about how they would prefer to be held and why it matters. Your child needs to know that cats will get hurt or irritated if they are held a certain way. Many cats love attention when they are held the right way, so a large part of interacting with cats is holding them.

Focus on being gentle. This is one of the most important things kids need to know about interacting with cats and other animals. If your child is gentle, cats will respond more positively to their attention. If your kids are younger, you can take their hand and direct them into petting a cat gently. Older kids should need only your verbal direction. Let them know what is and is not gentle. For instance, even if you do it softly, petting a cat backward is not gentle because of the way it feels to a cat.

Explain what certain sounds and behaviors mean. Cats will make certain sounds or act a particular way, depending on how they feel. Kids should know that hissing means the cat feels threatened and they should stay away. Growling means the same thing. Purring means keep doing what you're doing. The cat is enjoying it. If a cat runs away or hides, that means the child should leave them be. Rubbing up against a person means a cat likes that person and wants attention. Show your child how to pay attention to a cat's cues and react based on that. For instance, if a cat starts to move around while being held, the child should gently set the cat down.

Test them around other people's pets, as well as those in shelters. This is going to be your key indicator of what your child needs to know about cats. It will also help you teach them how to properly interact. Cats will vary by breed, as well as individual personality. Let your kids play with other people's cats, having each person explain what their cat likes and dislikes. It's also a good idea to do this at an animal shelter or rescue. This way, you give a needy cat attention and you also help teach your child. Then, if your child bonds with the cat, you can see about adopting.

Allow them consistent exposure and practice. In order to fully illustrate how to interact with cats, allow your child practice as often as possible. If no one you know owns any cats, animal shelters and rescues are the perfect opportunity for this. Just make sure to only give attention to the cats who are open to it. My kids have become experts at getting even the most timid cats to open up because of consistently giving cats attention at our local animal rescue and shelter. This, along with other things, shows me they are ready to adopt and care for a cat responsibly.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Kids and Pets: Make a Coconut Shell Hamster House

10/31/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

If your kids are like mine, their pets are an important part of the family. In fact, I think of the pets as my furry grandbabies. We like to take care of the pets in the most natural ways possible. So we are always coming up with new ways to make them feel like they are in their natural environment. Because of this, our rescued hamsters recently got houses made of coconut shells in their cages. This activity is best done with older kids who have experience using sharp tools. But kids of all ages can observe.

Why Use a Coconut Shell? Hamsters love crawling under and inside coconut shells. An added benefit is that the hard shell gives them something to sharpen their teeth on. Prior to using coconut shells,our hamsters were using the edible store-bought hideaways. We used the design that was shaped like a hut and even had hay on top. They enjoyed those as well. But you could tell they were excited when the coconut shells wee placed in their cages. Unlike with the edible hideaways, that excitement has not worn off. Store-bought hamster houses and hide-aways may look more appealing to a human's eye. But as we discovered with our hamsters, they prefer the natural coconut shells by a long-shot.

Gathering supplies is simple. All you need is a coconut, a large rock, and a small hand saw. You'll need to crack the coconut open in a paved area. If you cannot find a large rock, a hammer will work just as well. Depending on the age of your kids, the adults may need to handle the tools. This is a fun activity. But safety should always come first. If you have another preferred method of opening coconuts, your tool list may be slightly different. Even if the kids cannot physically help, be sure they are still involved in the entire process. Explain to them each thing you are doing and why.

Cracking open a coconut is easy..if you know what you are doing. There are other ways to open a coconut. But this one is more fun when kids are around to observe. If your kids are old enough and skilled enough, they should help. Place the coconut on the pavement. Now take the rock and throw it hard right into the middle of the coconut. If you are using the hammer, bang it directly in the middle. You may have to rotate the coconut a few times with both methods. The shell will not come out perfectly even. But that's what you want. The ridges are where the hamster can crawl under. Once the coconut is halved, take out all the meat. The kids will likely enjoy eating it with you.

Building the hamster house is a fun parent and child moment. Be sure there is absolutely no more coconut meat left in the shell. We also like to rinse and air dry ours thoroughly. Each hamster will only use half of a shell. If you only have one hamster, you can save the other half for a later date or give your hamster two places to hide. If your hamster is large in size, you can line the two shell halves up to create a bigger hideaway. If the shells have broken in a convenient way, you may not need to do anything. But otherwise, use a small handsaw to cut an opening in the side for the hamster to crawl under. Rinse and dry the shell again to clear any leftover cutting debris. Then, place in the hamster's cage and watch the excitement.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Prior Dog Exposure Educates Kids Before Dog Adoption - Teaching Kids Proper Dog Care and Treatment

9/9/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Are you thinking about getting your kids a dog? Don't let that cute doggy face lure you in before your kids even know what to do. My kids have adopted several small animals before, most of them with special needs. However, hamsters and dogs are entirely different. My method for preparing the kids for dog adoption includes plenty of exposure to dogs. Based on our experiences, I firmly believe that prior dog exposure educates kids before dog adoption.

Utilize time with dogs belonging to family and friends. My sister has three cute Dachsunds (aka 'weiner dogs'). When she first started bringing them over, two of my kids were terrified of them. But she kept at it and now all of the kids adore the dogs and get excited each time they come over. The kids have also spent quality time with other dogs belonging to family and friends. I feel this opens them up to a wide range of experiences with dogs, both large and small.

Give kids a chance to take over feeding time. If you have a family member or friend who won't mind the kids taking over one or more scheduled feedings, it can be a big help. My sister lets the kids give her dogs water and special treats when they come over. This is only a good idea with dogs who are not protective over their food. Feeding the dogs helps to prepare the kids for becoming a responsible pet parent. It teaches them what it's like and gives you and your kids an idea of whether they can handle it or not.

Let the kids give basic commands. Part of being a responsible pet parent involves teaching dogs commands. These commands are important for strengthening the bond between your child and the dog. They are also vital in various situations. My sister has already taught her dogs the basic commands. However, she allows my kids to command them and reward her dogs with treats when they comply. This helps to educate them on the kind of commands they should be teaching their future dog. My seven year old has taught her hamster a trick and I believe the idea came in part from giving commands to my sister's dogs.

Spend quality time with shelter dogs. One of our favorite things to do is visit the animals housed by one of the local shelters. The kids and I go interact with the dogs and cats every week, many times more than once each week. Each dog has their own personality. Because of this, I feel it is teaching the kids to adapt to various scenarios they may encounter with their own dog. Some dogs will come up to us right away. Yet others may shy away in the corner until they feel comfortable. We also make toys for the shelter dogs. We sell some of the toys to earn money for the shelter pets and we donate some of the toys as well.

A well-rounded experience with dogs teaches kids what isn't in books. Sure, a book may touch on some of the things kids will experience as a dog parent. In fact, the kids should be studying up as well. But just reading the text is not enough. In order to be fully prepared and well-educated on dog care, one-on-one interaction is an absolute must. What are you doing to prepare your kids for adopting a furry family member?

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Should I Let My Child Have a Pet Rat?

Ask Lyn About Pets: Why Is My Child Hurting the Cat?

When Kids Mistreat Animals

Positive Parenting: Teaching Kids to Interact With Cats

Kids and Pets: Make a Coconut Shell Hamster House

Prior Dog Exposure Educates Kids Before Dog Adoption - Teaching Kids Proper Dog Care and Treatment

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