Getting a Cat for My 14 Month Old

Hi,

I got two 1 year old cat's from the Humane Society when my daughter was the same age. I was searching for declawed cats and someone at the Humane Society mentioned that cats tend to bite to defend themselves if they do not have claws. So my cats are not declawed and are working out great!

I think it is a great idea. I was in the same situation when I was about that age. My Mom got me a 2 year old cat. We were best friends for many years. Good Luck!!!!

Hello.
It sounds like you got some good advice all ready. If you do get a older cat I just wanted to add that it is not a good idea to get them declawed. If you really want to get a declawed cat maybe get one that is already been through it.
If you decide to get a older cat and get it declawed there could be lots of problems. By that time they are used to having their toes. In some cases it can be very harmful to them for getting part of their toes removed. They will act agressive and can Bite big time.
I have seen a lot of cats send to shelters because of their owners getting them declawed. Owners can't seem to handle their cats afterwards. Don't seem to understand why their cat is not happy and is hissing all the time or bitting or peeing every where. Then the shelters get stuck with unwanted declawed cats. Then they turn around and get another cat and do the samething. Sigh.
I have had 5 cats and never got any of them declawed and felt things can be replaced, capet, clothes, etc but the cat is part of the family and they can't be replaced.
Getting a cat for your child can be a great learning adventure but also a lot of work. Plus training for kitten/cat and child.
My 4year old has been around cats ever since she was born. She loves them. She is very kind and loving with them.
With a kitten they are very playful. They have lots of energy and like to play at night. lol. You might be up on and off through the night. Sometimes it's just like having another baby. LOL.
The other thing I want to mention about claws is cats really need them to protect them selfs. There is a lot of danger around. Sorry to be going on and on. Just didn't know if you knew how aweful it was for a cat/kitten to lose their toes. It's pretty painful. No matter what age the kitten or cat it is so painful for them. They don't just lose their nail they lose part of their toes too.

They do make wonderful pets for children even with their cute little toes with nails.
M..

Hi there~
I just got a cat from the Humane Society. He's about a year old and really good with my 3 year old daughter. He was real shy at first (normal) but has warmed up to her and tolerates her very well. Kittens are cute, but they are just like having a baby around and are lots of work.
I am also a single mom and wanted a kitten, but adult cats are much less work and you don't have to worry about potty training them! Good luck M.!

We have 2 adult cats and a now 18 month old son. He is surprisingly gentle with them. Our female black cat tolerates him alright, but our male tabby cat began to poop and pee various places in the house. We had to get rid of him. He's now an outdoor cat in S. MN. Anyway, my point is that older cats are set in their ways & that not all male tabbies are the same (although we had heard the same thing).

I also would recommend that you check out Animal Control. The animals there have often been rescued and have a limited time before they have to be put down. Everyone we know who has gotten pets there has had a good experience. It's almost like the pets know and are grateful for being saved. They have loads of kittens and adult cats, too.

I would also suggest that if you don't want a little kitten, maybe try one that is 1 to 2 years old. He/she may be more adaptable to a new environment with a young toddler. Good luck!

I would recommend a kitten, due to the kitten woiuld adjust to a infant better than say an adult cat who hasn't been around kids. Plus a kitten is more playful and could provide more entertainment for the two of you.

When my son was only 6 mos. old, we were on our way to get diapers and we saw a kitten get run over by a car. The kitten was in between the tires of the car who sped over it and he survived with only burnt hair from the engine. I stopped my car in the middle of a two lane busy road and made my boyfriend get out and pick up the kitten. We had no idea what to do with the poor little guy, so we just picked up all the essentials for a cat while we were there...Oscar became a member of our family a few days later (after my boyfriend caved to my pout). My son will literally tackle the cat and the cat loves it! My son is now almost 2 1/2, the cat and our two dogs and my son all play together so very well!

My son is 15 months and LOVES our cat - unfortunately for him, the cat will not let him get within 20 feet of her. We love her but I agree, Siamese is not the way to go for a little one!

I would also recommend an adult cat that has a history of being around children- Lots of times humane societies will record the cat's temperment. Kittens are more likely to scratch and bite if your daughter gets rough, and some adult cats are already declawed.

You might have the best of both worlds...a pet to play with, but none of the responsibility. I'd try a fish or something smaller first, if only to determine the added work in taking care of an animal. We were thinking about getting a dog for my 2 year old, since we had to put our 12 year old dog down last year, and my daughter LOVES animals, especially dogs. (I think it might have to do with the fact that we had one when she was a baby.) But, I decided to get the fish...and at first the novilty of her own pet in her room was cool and fun. She loved taking care of it. But that wore off and now I take care of it, including cleaning the tank, etc. My advise is before you get one, think of the work that you might have to do, because your 14 month old will not have much of a role in responsibility. I'm glad we didn't get a dog afterall. Sometime later, when she can appreciate it and help with some of the responsibilities, we'll do it. I want to encourage her love for dogs, and we have lots of family and friends with dogs that we can visit and take for walks. Just my opinion...it's alot more work than it's worth, even a fish. I'd rather be playing with my daughter than cleaning a tank. Good luck with your decision. Hope I helped.

thats great that your looking to get one from the humane society, that way she can meet the cat first too to make sure the cat is good with little ones, i would think a cat may be best because youll know if it will tolerate a toddler better than a kitty who may grow up to not like being held as much, but i think you'll know when you meet the right one.

I only have 2 recommendations.
1. Get an adult, male, neutered cat. It's been my experience owning many kitties that males tend to be more affectionate and less testy than females. We got our male as an adult from the humane society and he's awesome. Our kitten is still very playful and thinks the boys are playing all the time and is skittish around them at times.
2. Rethink declawing! Both my kitties (adult male and female kitten) have their claws and my 1 and 3 year old have NEVER been scratched by them, but they have been nipped! So, before you decide to remove the cat's first KNUCKLE, think about it. Unless you're willing to remove the cat's teeth also, your daughter will still run the risk of getting an owie from Kitty. It's much better to teach Ava the right way to handle animals and to supervise all initial interaction time carefully.
Good luck with your new addition!
C.

My mother's tabby cat is pg right now. Would you be interested in one of her kittens? Let me know if you are! =)

if you were looking for a kitten my mom has two cats that just had litters. they are all very cute and will (unfortunatley if you like big fat cats) stay small. i think they are called rag dolls or something. anyway, they are farm cats even though they go in her house anytime they can and are hoping to stay there. she took them already to get their first set of shots. i'm pretty sure she wants to give some of them away. if you are interested you can email me back. ____@____.com

First off I had a wonderful cat that I supidly never brought around any children, when I was pregnant the cat got jealous, and when my preemie baby came home she started to urinate in the crib and on the baby clothes and we NEVER had a problem with our cat ever before. Well the baby came before the cat so guess what we found a new home for the cat.

Then:
I got a adult female cat from the Humane Society when my daughter was about two years old and things went horribly bad.The cat HATED my daughter. I have always said if I got a another cat it would be a kitten so I could train and get the kitten used to children.

My daughter is 5 now and just started within the last few weeks being nice to animals. She never purposely was mean but out of her maturity and intelligence just didn't know and comprehend how to be nice to kitty's. She would hug them and at the same time almost be choking them. We do have a ferret and my daughter trys so hard to be loving but at the same time she is to rough. I have to babysit their interaction constantly or put the ferret in a cage.

I personally think animals are better for older children. But if you've got the time and patience to babysit your child and the cat together every second go for it. I recommend a mellow kitten.

Giving your daughter a pet is a wonderful idea! Not only does it give you both someONE to come home to, but will teach her responsibility. Because young children are not usually gentle with animals, and because older cats who are not used to being so roughly handled are not inclined to stick around for it, I would recommend a kitten.

On declawing: NOT recommended. The process of declawing takes what is equivalent to the tip of your finger off, not just the nail. It is inhumane. Cats only use their claws when they are threatened. Particularly with a kitten, you can instruct the cat when it is inappropriate to use its claws - as in, any time on your child. Declawing leaves the cat generally defenseless. Cats generally flee danger, rather than fight, but if the cat found itself threatened, its only alternative is its teeth, which can inflict far more damage than claws.

My daughter is 2 now and we've had 3 cats before she was even born. My first cat was an 8wk old kitten and even though we didn't have children when we got him I would not recommend a kitten. They are too hyper and delicate. My daughter has sat on our cats when she was 20 some months old. She pulls their hair and has grabbed their skin. We're working on her to pet nicely and not to pull but it still happens. We have one cat that won't tolerate being pestered too much and will nip at my daughter. You never know what you're getting but spend a lot of time with the cats before picking one. I'd even read up on breads too. Our two Tabby male cats do well with her where one will take the pulling and the other one runs away from her. The female black cat will get testy. I'd get a full grown adult cat that does well with childrens inexperience. Good luck.

I would definately recomend a kitten. The kitten isnt as tempermental and will grow with your child. The problem with a cat from the human society is that you have no idea where it came from. They may have been with an older couple or by itself a lot. I dont believe you should comingle any older animal with a toddler. You want an animal that will grow with your child and learn your childs tendancies. Kittens are more willing to have the hugs and ear tugging then a cat that has been around the block once or twice. I would also recommend a male cat. They seem to be more loving and gentle towards people in general is my experince. I have never had a problem with my kitten. I brought a kitten into my home about 3 months ago. I have two boys 4yr old and a 20month old. My youngest loves that kitten to pieces...literally. The kitten has gotten use to his behavior....and is really very good with my children.(My kitten is not declawed. He has a scratching post and I have not had any problems). I also believe that an older cat would be worn out with the energy from my two boys and may become aggresive. I've had many cats/kittens over the years, and I have never found a problem with sleeping at night or them having too much energy. Also, kittens have a natural born instinct to go in thier litter box, so you dont have to worry about training them....its automatic. Hope this helps!

K. A

Hi M.-
I think it's a great idea to get a cat for her! We had a big, old male cat when my son was small and the cat was endlessly patient with his big hugs and mauling. We taught our son that he needed to be 'gentle' with the kitty, but being so young, it was difficult for him. That's why it might be the best idea to make a trip to the humane society and pick out a loving, older cat. In my experience, males tend to be more tolerant and affectionate than females, but you must be certain he was neutered before he learned to spray... Very important!!! At the humane society you can spend some time getting to know the different cats available and you will be able to tell which ones have the right personality. Also, there is a good chance you will find one that has already been declawed. FYI, they will probably require that you bring your lease showing that you are allowed to have a cat before they will allow you to adopt.
I would strongly recommend against getting a kitten. Kittens are more likely to become traumatized by rougher handling and I have seen more than one grow up to be mean and stand-offish because of it. When it comes to kids and dogs, puppies are best, but for kids and cats, kittens are a risky choice.
Good luck!
S.

Hi-Remember that it's what you do in your house, what kind of quality time you spend together with your daughter that is going to make your house a home. Whatever you decide to do, please remember that although adopting a cat is a terrific thing to do, do so wisely because a cat is not a throwaway object, but a being with a whole set of needs to tackle. Just make sure you adopt for the right reasons. And just so you know, I have a 20 month old and 3 dogs!

The problem with kittens is they scratch a alot and there is nothing you can do about it because it is just part of how they play. Nothing you can do until you have it declawed... and yet older cats can be finicky when faced with change. Maybe look up some breeds and look for gentle, laid-back types. Maybe look in the paper for that breed of adult cat and ask the people with the cat if they have kids?, is it an indoor? declawed? Personality...? Just make sure they aren't getting rid of it becaue it sprays the place!!
I have a Siamese cat who was 2 when my daughter was born. Let’s just say, I wouldn’t recommend a Siamese. Very ornery cats! I can't tell you how many things he has broken around this house.

If you get a cat, rather than a kitten, it may already be declawed, which would be nice for you. Also, you may be able to better get an idea for a temperment of the cat if you get a cat rather than a kitten. It might be easier to tell if the cat is going to mind the child crawling over to it and playing with it. The humane society may have a history of the cat as maybe it came from a home with kids and would do great with your 18 month old.

Plus kittens go so fast because everyone wants one that they often have a harder time adopting out the other cats.

Just a thought about cat, vs kitten.

I think you should definatly get a kitten, older cats who aren't around children don't always tolerate the holding and such. But if it startes as kittens they get very used to it! We have two cats and one was older when we got it, he doesn't tolerate it like the other one, that we got as a kitten! I hope your experince turns out as good as mine, my daughter and her kitty are best buddies, it is too cute! Good luck!

We've got an old cat who luckily is pretty patient with my 22-month-old son, who's going through some phase or something...he's been pulling her tail and trying to sit on her!! She's nipped at him a couple times. I don't know...I know that pets are good for kids, but being that young...it might be a little too young, you know?? I've actually been debating about sending our cat to my parents' house so she'll stop being tortured. Of course, you know your daughter's temperment...my son is a brute! (I mean that lovingly and affectionately, of course!) :) And he's also trying to keep up with his big brother and act all tough, which I think is part of the problem on our end.

I would actually recommend an older cat though...but you'd need to bring your daughter to the humane society or wherever you're going to see how they interact (most importantly, how the cat interacts with her).
~Steph