Cat toys and young children at home: which ones to choose to avoid accidents
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
A household with young children and a cat calls for rethinking which feline toys make the cut: some accessories cats love the most pose a real risk to a toddler who might put them in their mouth or get too close during play. All our pointers are in the cat toys and enrichment section, on the cat page.
Contents · 5 sections
What's the real health risk beyond small parts?
A review by Florin, Zaoutis and Zaoutis, published in 2008 in Pediatrics, notes that a cat scratch remains the main route of transmission for the Bartonella henselae bacteria responsible for cat scratch disease, a condition that disproportionately affects children and young adults (see the study). Play that turns into a scratch during overly rough handling by a child is therefore a real point to watch, regardless of which toy is involved.
Which toys work best with young children in the house?
- A long-handled wand toy, which keeps physical distance between a cat mid-hunt-excitement and a curious child
- Toys without thin string or elastic, which a child could handle and which pose a strangulation or ingestion risk for both the cat and the child
- A fixed food puzzle rather than a toy with small detachable pieces, easily picked up by a toddler
How to organize play sessions to limit incidents?
Save the most stimulating toys, like the wand toy covered in our hunting instinct guide, for moments when an adult directly supervises the interaction, which stops an overexcited cat from accidentally scratching a child who gets too close. Keeping a scratching post nearby also channels off excess excitement after an intense play session.
Should some toys be kept out of children's reach?
Yes, small catnip sachets, tiny bell balls, and anything easily swallowed should be put away between supervised play sessions, exactly as you would with another child's small toys.
Frequently asked questions
Should a cat be vaccinated or treated against cat scratch disease?
There's no vaccine against this bacteria; limiting scratches and properly disinfecting any wound remains the best prevention, best discussed with a vet.
Is a kitten a higher risk than an adult cat?
Yes, kittens statistically carry the bacteria more often and play with more uncontrolled scratching than a calm adult cat.
What should be done if a child gets scratched during play?
Clean the wound right away with soap and water, and watch for redness or fever in the following days, seeing a doctor if symptoms appear.
An accessory from our shop for this use: Automatic tail ball for cats (€17.90) · the whole shop
For your cat, at Le Félin (same family, zero commission): Arbre à chat gris foncé (from €119.99)
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Cats universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.