Getting a pet cat means that you are adding another member to your family. Cats and children make great companions but you may be aware of special health concerns for children with pet cats. A lot of times people feel cats are better pets for children than dogs but you need to take some time to ensure that the health and well being of your cat and children will not be compromised. Always make every effort to understand the responsibilities that come with owning a cat and ensure you children understand as well.
Kids love kittens. They’re small, fluffy, and cute but they become full grown cats very quickly. Many irresponsible families get kittens every year and then become overburdened with the responsibilities that come with owning a cat. Even as a kitten you need to spend lots of time grooming, playing with, and socializing your kitten so it’s not all just fun and games. Nevertheless, when you take the commitment of cat ownership seriously, you will have a loving pet that is a central member of your family.
Children can sometimes be overly aggressive with small pets so you’ll need to teach them that cats are vulnerable. Because cats can more easily escape from rambunctious children, they are often a better pet than dogs (for the pet’s sake, that is). Still, you should spend some time demonstrating to your children how to handle cats and how to play with them. Overly aggressive children may cause the cats to develop anxiety leading the cat to reciprocate the aggressive behavior.
Finally, when you get a cat you need to be aware of toxoplasmosis. This bacterial infection can be contracted through contact with cat feces and when infants are infected they are at risk of brain damage and possibly even death. By taking a few precautions you can protect your infants from toxoplasmosis. Regularly clean the litter box and never allow children to play near it. Sandboxes are a favorite place for cats to defecate so they should always be covered when they’re not in use. As long as you maintain a clean environment and keep your children away from cat feces the risk of toxoplasmosis is very low.
