They've been begging. Pleading. Even making promises you know they won't keep, including vows to clean up their rooms every day for an entire year. Your kids would say just about anything to get you to agree to get a kitten.
You've finally given in. After all, you know what joy and warmth a cuddly live creature can bring to any household. But before you actually make a trip to your local animal shelter, there are some important things to consider. According to veterinarian Dr. Dawn Ruben raising a kitten, which will eventually grow up to become a cat that can live up to 20 years, is a long-term commitment, and one bad experience -- a swipe of a paw or pull of a tail -- can set a bad tone between your children and their new friend. So before you bring a kitten home, it's important to take a few measures to prepare your kids, your home and yourself to make sure everyone gets off on the right foot. Here are five tips for introducing kittens and kids that will help make the transition for the newest addition to your family stress-free.
5: Study Up and Share
Once you've given in and decided to get your kids a kitten, the very next step should be to do your homework. Jovana Fizovich, veterinary technician at Town and Country Vet Hospital in Apex, N.C., says doing research is important so that new owners -- and their kids -- understand the commitment involved in caring for an animal, even after that "cute kitten" newness wears off. Good sources for solid advice include your veterinarian, fellow pet owners and even pet supply store experts.
Once you have as much cat-care information in hand as possible, share it with your kids to get them used to the idea of an animal living in their house and what that will entail. It might also help to pick up some children's books about pets at your local library or bookstore. As you explain things, point out some small ways your kids can be part of the process of introducing the kitten to its new home (under your supervision, of course).
4: Establish Clear Rules and Boundaries
Sure, your kitten will be furry and cute and oh-so-cuddly, but it’s also a living, breathing and as-yet-untrained animal, not a stuffed teddy bear. That's why it's important to lay out some ground rules ahead of time. The rules established need to go both ways: A set of rules for the kitten and another set for the kids. For example, even before the kitty sets foot in its new home, you should choose the areas where your new pet will be allowed (and not allowed) to roam. Will it be an indoor cat only, or will it be permitted to go outside? Will your kitten be allowed to jump on the counters?
As for your children, their rules need to be crystal clear, too. For example, Fizovich says it's important to allow only one child to feed the kitten, so it doesn't get overfed. She also encourages parents to set parameters for their children on when and how to play with the kitten and how to pick it up. Make sure they know that it's not OK to tug and pull on their new pet's tail, whiskers or any other part of its body. And especially with boys -- those future WWE champions -- help them understand that wrestling with the kitty is definitely an absolute no-no.
3: Assign Duties Judiciously
It goes without saying that each of your kids will want to be in charge of certain aspects of caring for the kitten. In fact, they might even become territorial over their roles. If your children are old enough -- at least 6 years old, according to Fizovich -- it's OK for them to have cat-related duties of their own. For example, one child could be responsible for making sure that the kitten has fresh food and water every day, while another ensures its bedding is clean and that its toys are always available. Of course, picking out a name for your new pet can be a family affair for all to enjoy.
One note of caution, though: Leave the task of cleaning your kitten's litter box to adults only, since animal feces sometimes have intestinal parasites like roundworms, hookworms and whipworms that can be dangerous for people, according to the Veazie, Maine-based Veazie Veterinary Clinic. Sometimes, children forget to wash their hands thoroughly, and litter-box cleaning definitely calls for regular hand-washing.
2: Tread Slowly
When it's finally time to bring your new kitten home, just remember that it'll be an adjustment for your new four-legged friend, so take things slow and easy. Fizovich cautions that kittens need time to really get comfortable with their new surroundings -- especially when they're coming from a shelter to a house or apartment. Your children are going to be excited and ready to play with their new pet as soon as you take it out of its carrier. But this is where you should tap the breaks.
Veterinarian Dr. Katharine Hillestad says your kitten won't be as stressed out if it has the opportunity to get to know its new surroundings -- and its new family -- slowly. Don't be alarmed if the kitty spends its first few days hiding under the bed. Remind your children that the animal's behavior isn't related to anything they did; their new companion just needs time to get comfortable in its new surroundings.
Take the first few weeks to introduce the kitten to your children -- and your other pets -- at a snail's pace. Let your kitty and your kids spend short periods of time together initially to make sure they adjust well to one another.
1: Keep a Watchful Eye
You've done all the steps: read the kitten care books, laid down the rules, divided up duties and gradually made your new kitten a part of your household. It might already seem like your furry friend has been around forever. But even if you consider your kitten a member of the family, that doesn't mean your kids should be left alone with it right away.
One reason for this is that kittens might play rough. Scratching and biting during play is how they interact with their kitten siblings, so they may be apt to do the same with your children. These young pets just need time to grow, develop and learn (through training) how to play nice. And they're not the only ones: As mentioned earlier, human kids may need plenty of ground rules and reminders to be gentle when handling kittens, as well.
In the meantime, Fizovich says you should take a child's age into consideration when determining if he or she can be left unsupervised with a pet. As a rule, most young children under 5 or 6 years old shouldn't be alone with a new kitten, and older kids need to establish a track record and prove they know how to be gentle. Until then, your safest bet is to make sure there's an adult around when kittens and kids interact. With time and your guidance, your children and their new kitten will develop that special bond everyone's hoping for.
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