To teach a toddler to be nice to a pet?

[xxmumof2]

Hi all,

Recently my family decided we would like to get a kitten. I live in a 1 bed flat and plan to keep the kitten as a house cat (less risk of being ran over, getting fleas, being attacked by other animals and etc) and live on the top floor so wouldn’t be able to let her back in anyway. Pets are allowed where I live as my next door neighbour upstairs has a puppy.

I work from home so the pet won’t be left alone almost ever and will get plenty of attention. I’ve had cats before so I know about general care also.

My concern is: to get 1 year old to be gentle? Of course I don’t expect him to be and it isn’t his fault as he’s only little, but in my book, rather than keeping children away from something, you teach them how to handle it instead - in this case, instead of not getting a kitten, I’d like to teach my son how to treat animals and be kind (I’m a massive animal lover).

I have a 6 year old also and I remember when he was younger he wasn’t the kindest to kittens (he is well out of that phase now as he understands and is lovely to them).

Of course I’d never leave my 1 year old and the kitten together unattended for safety reasons for both parties.

Has anyone any advice on how to introduce my youngest son to the pet? I’d like for him to learn from an early age that animals are important and to be treated gently.

No silly comments please - I’ve had plenty of trolls on previous threads about other things with nasty comments and I will just report.

thanks

Yes they can.

This is very strange

We have a cat and a dog and DD who is 6 wouldn't behave that way

It would be incredibly cruel to expose a pet as tiny and fragile as a kitten, to a one year old child.

Yes unfortunately there were some issues with behaviour , a lot going on and it wasn’t a safe environment for any pet let alone a vulnerable kitten

There's a reason rescues refuse to entertain families with children
Animals aren't not fking toys 🙄

We had two cats in a one-bedroom flat for several years and they were absolutely fine - they were raised there from kittens and didn't know any different. There were no behavioural problems and the cats were happy and healthy. We moved when they were five and they adapted to life outside with no issues whatsoever.

As long as you have the space for a couple of cat trees and a litter tray, I'm sure you'll be just fine ☺️ however I would say that it's generally best to get kittens in pairs as they can be quite full-on and often it's best for them to have a playmate.

I also don't see an issue with kittens being raised with children - in fact, I think it's much better than trying to bring an adult cat into a house with children. Well-socialised kittens raised in a home with children should be just fine.

Honestly? I don't think you can. I think you either have to keep them apart or wait.

My concern is: to get 1 year old to be gentle? Of course I don’t expect him to be and it isn’t his fault as he’s only little

No, you TEACH the one year old to be kind and never leave them alone with a kitten, you’re in a one bedroom flat with a 6 year old and a one year old yet choose to bring a kitten into that space? I actually don’t care if you feel this comment is unkind, use your common sense for goodness sake! 2 children, one adult and a kitten in a one bedroom property is madness and unfair on the animal.

'I wannna pet and I don't care what people say about how my needs come before animal welfare' is why so many end up in shelters

Afternoon, everyone. It looks like the OP won't be returning to the thread. Thanks for the advice everyone chipped in with. We'll close the thread now.