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Technically, cats have been domesticated for centuries. However, no one has ever convinced the cats of this fact. Despite being loving household pets, cats tend to be more feral (wild) than they are domesticated. They are also animals that tend to prefer solitude. They often do not react well to being held or handled overly much – which can be a problem when children are involved. Cats look cute and cuddly, but when treated as such they often react by scratching or biting the cuddler.

• Statistical data is not kept on how many people are bitten or scratched by cats, but if it were, the numbers would be equally staggering. While people seldom die after being bitten or scratched by a cat, these wounds can be painful and there is always the chance of an infection or disease occurring.

The best defense against cat scratches and bites is vigilance – never leave your child alone with a cat and never let a cat sleep in your child's bed.

• A simple means of preventing your household cat from scratching your child is to have the cat declawed. Do not, however, do this if the cat is ever allowed to go outside because the cat would be unable to defend itself if attacked.
• Spaying or neutering your cat can make it more acceptable to handling and make it less likely to scratch or bite.
• Teach your children how to act around a cat and how to play with one. Make sure that they know never to hold a cat tightly and to always let the cat go when it tries to get away.
• Make sure that they understand that if the cat begins to hiss or growl that they should leave the cat alone.
• Cats often bite or scratch when they are happy or at play. For instance, many cats will flex their claws when they are purring, which can result in scratches. Therefore, it is important to monitor your child's contact with the animal at all times.
• Teach them never to touch a strange or injured cat.

Basic treatment for a cat-inflicted wound is to thoroughly wash the effected area and treat it with a topical antiseptic. While most cat scratches and bites tend to be minor; the wounds may still require medical treatment. Deep wounds, or wounds that bleed profusely, should always be evaluated by a doctor.

If the child develops a fever, or if the wound becomes inflamed or very sore, a trip to the doctor's is warranted as these can all be signs that the wound has become infected. In addition, several diseases and bacterial infections can be transmitted to a human from a cat scratch or a bite.

• Rabies – if the child was bitten or scratched by an unknown cat they should be seem by a doctor immediately. If possible, confine the cat until it can be checked for rabies. If it is impossible to catch the cat, contact your local animal control agency or health department for assistance in catching the cat. If there is any uncertainty as to whether the cat has been vaccinated against rabies, it may be necessary for your child to undergo treatment for possible rabies exposure.