[onscreen text] Kids & Cats. (gentle music)
 [onscreen action] Woman holding cat, kids petting cat. 
[male narrator] Introducing a new cat in your family
can provide a lifetime of memories
for you and your children.

Helping to care for a cat
will teach your kids compassion and responsibility.
 [onscreen action] Male narrator on screen speaking. 
[male narrator] So to make sure this relationship
gets off on the right foot, it's your job as a parent
to introduce the new cat to your kids the right way,
and we're gonna show you how,
so let's go over to Tracy to learn more.

[female narrator] Thanks, Chris.

The key to developing a great relationship
between your cat and your kid
is to establish some ground rules
and avoid rushing the process.
 [onscreen action] Cat sitting on cay tower. 
[female narrator] We'll being with making your new cat
comfortable in your home.
 [onscreen action] Kitten playing on floor with toys by family. 
[female narrator] Then move on to a series of supervised interactions.
 [onscreen action] Kid playing with cat. 
[female narrator] And finally, progress to a point
where your children can play with your cat on their own.
 [onscreen action] Female narrator on screen talking. 
[female narrator] Now it's important you watch this segment
with the whole family, so everyone's on the same page.

Okay, let's begin.
 [onscreen text] The Quiet Room. [onscreen action] Female narrator on screen talking. 
[female narrator] When you first bring your cat home,
make sure you designate a quiet room just for him.
 This is a place where he can go and be by himself
without the stress of being around kids or other pets.
 [onscreen action] Woman setting up a room for the cat. 
[female narrator] Set up the room with food and water,
bedding, toys, a scratching post, and a litter box.
 [onscreen action] Woman placing clothes around the room. 
[female narrator] Then put a piece of each family member's clothing
in the room to familiarize your cat with their scent.
 [onscreen action] Woman brings cat into room in cat carrier and opens the door. 
[female narrator] Finally, bring your cat into the quiet room in a carrier,
then open it and leave.

This will allow your cat
to explore his new surroundings at his own pace.
 [onscreen action] Woman talking to kids. 
[female narrator] While he's getting comfortable with his room,
you should take a moment to talk with your kids
about how to treat your new family member.
 [onscreen text] The Ground Rules. [onscreen action] Kids playing with kitten. 
[female narrator] It's very important,
children to understand your cat isn't a toy,
and in fact, is very delicate.

Make it clear that there can be no tail pulling,
hitting, teasing, yelling,
or any behavior that could frighten or hurt your new cat.

It's also very important to recognize the signs
when your cat's getting upset and wants to be left alone.
 [onscreen action] kitten sitting in cat tower. [onscreen text] Signs That Your Cat Is Upset: Swatting. Crying. Hissing. Growling. Tail Twitching. Ears Pressed Against Head. Hiding. Trying to Get Away. 
[female narrator] Some of these signs include swatting,
crying, hissing,
growling, tail twitching,
ears pressed flat against their head,
hiding, or trying to get away.
 [onscreen action] Female narrator speaking on screen. 
Once you've covered these points,
it's time for introductions.
 [onscreen text] The Introduction. [onscreen action] Kitten playing. 
[female narrator] Because the change in environment
can be stressful for cat, it's best to wait
until your cat's comfortable in this quiet room
before introducing them to your kids.
[onscreen action] Woman playing with kitten.
 [female narrator] This could take a few hours or even a few days.

You'll know he's ready when you enter the room
and he seeks interaction with you.
 [onscreen action] Female narrator speaking onscreen. 
[female narrator] When you make the introduction,
be sure your other pets are not in the room
and remind your children not to run up to the cat
or corner him.

You don't want his first experience
with your kids to be frightening.
 [onscreen action] Child enters room and sits down. 
[female narrator] Have one child at a time to enter the room
and sit in the middle of the floor.
 [onscreen action] Female narrator speaking on screen. 
[female narrator] Don't force your cat to approach your kids.

Instead, let your cat set the pace.

Cats, and especially kittens, are naturally curious,
and will likely want to meet your children.
 [onscreen action] Woman holds kitten and demonstrates how to pet it. Kid pets cat. 
[female narrator] It's best that you handle the cat first
and take a few minutes to demonstrate
the right way to pet your cat.

Cats, especially kittens,
may bite when overstimulated by petting,
so encourage your kids to pet their new friend
for just a few minutes at a time.

Your cat will enjoy these short sessions
and look forward to seeing your kids again.
 [onscreen action] Female narrator speaking on screen. 
[female narrator] So start out with gentle petting
and play with one type toys
before allowing your kids to handle your cat.
 [onscreen action] Woman picks up cat. 
[female narrator] Once your cat's comfortable in their presence,
you can show them how to safely pick up the cat.

However, it's important to know
that some cats don't enjoy being picked up or held.
 [onscreen action] Female narrator speaking on screen. 
[female narrator] Once your cat has met your first child,
repeat this process with your other children, one by one.
 [onscreen action] Two kids playing with kitten. [female narrator] After they've all had a chance to meet,
your cat can begin playing with your kids in a group
while you supervise.
 [onscreen action] Kitten playing on cat tower. 
[female narrator] Try not to overwhelm him with too much attention.
And remember to always give him
plenty of time alone in his quiet room.
 [onscreen action] Kids playing with kitten. 
[female narrator] For the first few weeks,
you should supervise your children's interactions
to make sure they're playing appropriately.

Cats are very delicate
and kids need to play gently.

Cats, and especially kittens,
may scratch or nip during play.

So if your children are young,
consider waiting until they're older before you allow them
to play with your cat unsupervised.
 [onscreen action] Female narrator speaking on screen. 
[female narrator] With these ground rules and some patience,
your cat and your kids will soon be well on their way
to becoming lifelong friends.
 [onscreen action] Male narrator speaking on screen 
[male narrator] Okay, let's quickly review the key steps
that Tracy covered
on how to introduce your new cat to your children.
 [onscreen text] Set up a quiet room. Make sure your kids understand the rules. Introduce your kids one by one. Bring everyone together as a family. 
[male narrator] First, set up a quiet room, where your cat
can adjust to his new surroundings by himself.

Next, make sure your kids understand the rules.

No pulling on hair, tails, ears, or whiskers.

Then introduce your kids one by one,
allowing your cat to approach the children on his own.

And finally, allow your cat
to meet each child, individually,
before bringing everyone together as a family.

Now let's go to Kellyanne.