"The poor animal," you think. "Is there anything I can do to prevent the abuse?" Worse yet, you worry your pet may eventually retaliate against the unwanted and inappropriate attention.

Children are naturally fascinated by animals. Cats are exceptionally interesting to young children due to their smaller size and quiet nature. They do not frighten children with barks or knock them down when they get excited. They are not confined to an inaccessible cage, but are free-roaming wonders of the natural world.

They have tails that wave temptingly, almost teasing a child to grab it. They have ears that flick, shiny eyes that seem to glow, and luxuriously soft fur. How can a young child resist attempting to touch, squeeze, taste or pull on such a fascinating creature? He can't. But you can help guide your child into more appropriate sensory explorations of the family feline or other household pets.

Children are never too young to learn, and that includes learning pet-handling skills, although their retention of what you teach them may be limited. Retention increases with the quantity and frequency of repetition. The following tips can help your child and pet survive this development stage while providing benefits to both:

Constant Supervision
The most important thing you can do is provide constant supervision. Young children should never be left unattended with any animal. Even the most docile cat or dog may be forced to defend itself if it is put into an uncompromising situation.

You should know where both your child and pet are at all times, and intervene if the child's handling becomes too rough or the pet appears agitated. Your pet will feel more secure and may resist an urge to retaliate if she senses you are there to protect her.

Provide a Safe Escape
Provide a safe place for the pet to escape, such as a room separated by a door gate or pet door, where your pet can avoid contact with the child.

Teach Cat or Dog to Retreat
Some cats or dogs, especially those who are not used to children, may prefer to stand their ground against an invading toddler rather than retreat to a safer place. Your pet can be taught to "get up and move" when you tell her, which is a valuable thing when you see a confrontation developing between the child and pet but are unable to get there in time to intervene.

You can clap your hands or make other startling noises to encourage the animal to retreat. Eventually, she will learn that when your child makes inappropriate advances she should exit, rather than fight for her space.

Offer Opportunities for Interaction
You cannot subdue your child's natural curiosity, and if you try to put your pet "off limits" to his explorations, you may create even more interest in this intriguing, untouchable creature. So provide opportunities for your child to interact with your pet. Sit down with both of them and show your child how to pet nice and talk about the animal.

Teach How to Touch
Children as young as one year old can be taught how to touch gently. Stroke your child's arm gently and say, "Touch nice." Then take your child's hand and stroke your own arm, repeating, "Touch nice." When you can ask him to touch you nice and he responds by stroking your arm gently, you know he understands. You can then transfer this new knowledge to your pet.

Encourage Body-petting Only
Encourage your child to pet the animal's body only. Head petting may provide too much temptation to grab ears or poke eyes, and young children do not yet have the self-control to stop themselves from acting on their impulses. Likewise, stay away from the paws and tail. Do not let your child see you play with your pet's extremities, or he will want to do it, too.

Set a Good Example
Children learn an incredible amount from the examples of others. They mimic what they see and hear. Always treat your pet gently in front of your toddler. Do not play rough with your pet or physically discipline your pet in front of him. Do not do anything to your cat or dog that you do not want your young child to do.

Emphasize the Benefits of Proper Handling
Praise your child when he touches the animal gently. Show your child how kitty purrs and rubs her body against you when she enjoys gentle petting, or how the dog wags her tail when she's happy. Your child will begin to notice these rewards of proper pet handling and will feel rewarded himself when he is able to get the cat to purr or the dog to display happy behavior.

Let Your Child Show Affection
Let your child show his affection for your pet in harmless ways. This is the beginning of raising a caring, compassionate and humane human being.

Your pet can be a wonderful learning experience for your young child, and teaching pet-handling skills at a very young age creates a solid foundation for future learning. Don't be surprised when your toddler approaches your pet and gently strokes her on the back due to your instruction and example. And when your pet responds by returning the affection to him, it will truly be a moment to remember with fondness and pride.