My four-month old is terrified of our cat. He screams whenever he sees her and takes ages to calm down again. As far as I know (and I've been careful not to let the cat into his room) she has never scratched him or anything. Why does he have this reaction and how can I stop it?
Bobbie, Swansea
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Gail Johnson
Development advisor at the Royal College of Midwives
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Ask the midwife
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Gail says…
It is unlikely that he is afraid of the cat but he might be anxious in response to your concerns about the cat being in the room. You are wary of the cat frightening your son and you may pass this worry on to him. Get him used to the cat gradually: try cuddling him while showing him the cat and introduce pictures of a cat in a storybook.
Talk to your son and make eye contact with him when he becomes anxious. This will help to reassure him. As he gets more confident he will probably enjoy playing with the cat, although you may still want to keep an eye on them.
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