Got a cat and kids? UC Davis vets have questions for you

[Kadie]

Got a cat and kids? UC Davis vets have questions for you
By Cynthia Hubert

Published: Friday, Mar. 4, 2011 - 2:20 pm
Last Modified: Friday, Mar. 4, 2011 - 3:42 pm


UC Davis veterinarians are seeking the public's input for a study about interactions between cats and children.

Past research has shown that domestic cats can have a calming influence on people, particularly the sick and elderly and children with special needs, but little is known about how and why those benefits occur, or whether a genetic basis exists for such interactions, according to the veterinarians.

Ben and Lynette Hart, animal behavior specialists in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, are asking cat owners to take part in an online survey about interactions between felines and children.

The Harts want adult cat owners in families with children to answer questions about their families and the behavior of their cats around children, including its temperament, and whether the felines engage in any aggression or fearfulness toward youngsters.


Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/04/3450309/got-a-cat-and-kids-uc-davis-vets.html#ixzz1FgPNNFyc


survey at...
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ucdcatbehavior

[DaisyDeedles]

1. I love kitties but my allergies can't take them.

[madinmaryland]

2. Welcome to DU!!

:hi:

[beac]

3. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Kadie]

5. Welcome to DU DaisyDeedles!

:hi:

[TuxedoKat]

12. Some people

who are allergic are able to tolerate Siberian cats due to a lower level of the allergy-causing protein in their saliva.

Edited to add:

Welcome to DU! :)

[rucky]

4. best vet school in the country

[kestrel91316]

7. Nuh uh. That would be Colorado State University. Davis got its accreditation yanked

a number of years ago due to substandard facilities. They have since upgraded them, but some of us haven't forgotten. And it's still commonplace for us CSU grads to come to CA and steal all the jobs from under UCD grads' noses, lol.

But they are a VERY GOOD school.

[HuckleB]

11. Why would anyone from Colorado want to move to California?

:shrug:

[kestrel91316]

13. LOTS more jobs here (traditionally - not so much right now, but still more than there).

[beac]

6. My cat, who even after 10 years BARELY tolerates my husband picking her up, will

allow my young godchildren to manhandle her without objection. Their own cats at home put up with all kinds of well-intentioned but probably uncomfortable carrying, holding and general bothering that they wouldn't put up with from an adult.

I can't help but believe that a cat senses the difference between a child who doesn't know any better and a grown up who is old enough to understand that the cat makes the rules!

[Tess49]

16. I have a 12 year old girl cat who is famously grumpy, and will reach

out and slap you just for the sheer delight of it. When one of the grand-babies toddled over and started petting her (translate: hit her with his little hand)and then pulled her tail, everyone in the room stopped breathing -- waiting for her instant retribution. We wouldn't be fast enough to save him, we thought. Instead she slowly rose to her feet, and left the room. No utterances from her, no fast strike, nothing. I know it was because she knew he was a baby.

[david13]

8. If I had cats and kids, I would gladly trade the kids for more cats,

any day. Hey, I'll even offer a two for one deal, where can you get a deal like that?
Two kids for one cat, any day.
dc

[dionysus]

9. because teh kittteh.. is awesone n/t

[HuckleB]

10. Done! -eom-

[Lyric]

14. Done! Thanks. :)

Jelly gets along great with the kids here, although he can be a bit wary of the screechy-squealy toddlers. :)

[slackmaster]

15. "Calming influence"?

My cats drive me up the wall sometimes.