Adopting a cat with a small child

[Hennifer]

I'm not sure if we should wait till our youngest is older? He's just three.

He's also a bit violent to humans, though he adores cats and follows them around the neighbourhood. He has always been gentle towards any that have hung around for long enough to find out

I don't know if we ought to wait. I know some rescues don't allow adoption till a child is five or so, anyway.

We also have to find somewhere for a cat flap.

Any thoughts appreciated - we're on a quiet road, everyone has a cat except for us, we have our own garden, and we are upstairs though we have a fire escape at the back.

[Adarajames]

Most cats come without said small child, so you should be fine! (idiotic sense of humour here, not punctuation pedant!)

[MrsSparkles]

We got 2 when our daughter was 3, we were advised to go for hand reared kittens as they were likely to be more tolerant!

They've never bitten her (even when playing) and the first time she got a scratch was last week (she's now nearly) 5 when she tried to throw one of them off her and it grabbed on. She never runs after them, and knows not to hold them if they're wriggling etc.

I think it depends on the temperament (of cat and child!).

[Hennifer]

Thank you both and LOL at adopting another toddler!!!

I'm not so worried about him getting attacked as the cat getting hurt by him. I remember ds1 being quite unkind to the cat we had back then. He is lovely now but it was a bit hit and miss. I think he was jealous. But he was about 18 months old at the time, so it may have been a bit optimstic.

I'd rather get an older cat as I like them to come potty trained, as it were, and there aren't many kittens in rescues and I think they tend to be rehomed much more quickly.

I'd want an old mog. I like them

[BagelGoesWalking]

Sounds like it might be best to wait a year perhaps or a bit longer, so he's in school.

Lovely mog can have quiet times during the day and your son will understand that he needs to be a bit more gentle, which is difficult when they're young and so full of enthusiasm!

[Hennifer]

Thank you - yes, I think you are probably right! I would hate there to be a conflict between child and puss.

Will just browse the 'needing homes' section on the cattery website for the time being