Introducing young cats to a house with a toddler...

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We lost our beloved brat-of-a-cat when my daughter was 7 months old. We think something scared her and she got lost (after being missing for 3 days, she was run over a few streets away). It didn't seem the right time to introduce another cat as my daughter was becoming more mobile.

But now DD is nearly 3 and very gentle (though persistent) with her grandparents' cats. Plus my husband saw a mouse the other day!

So I decided it was time to e-mail our local Cat's Protection and they got in touch almost straight away. We were torn between an older more placid cat (who can be confident enough to just leave DD when she gets too much - we plan to make the spare bedroom a child-free zone) & a pair of kittens (we're out of the house 3days per week) who can be playful and learn together.

They have two 4ish-month-old kittens (no word on sex) - a ginger one and a black-and-white one - to be homed together. Apparently used to children and friendly/playful... they need a couple of days to assess and then we have first refusal.

They sound great and I'm pinching myself. But what do I need to know about introducing a cat (or two!) to a house with a toddler/preschooler in Sept... any tips? Anything I need to be aware of if there are two instead of one?

We took in a very young stray kitten (around 7 weeks old) off the street when my DSs were 5 and 3. To be honest the kitten was a bit too much for my 3 year old (he didn't like the unpredictable darting around, the sharp little claws & teeth) and although he speaks fondly of the now-adult cat, he is not close to it.
Both children were used to cats as they had grown up with my 2 old cats (who weren't especially fond of children!)
If you're going to be out of the house a lot I'd probably go for a placid older cat who is ok with children. I wouldn't have actively chosen to combine a kitten + toddlers, too much hard work!

Thank you for answering, Timtam... (sorry I didn't reply earlier!). I think you're right but it's a real heart/head conundrum for me...though I realise I should be a grown-up and think of the cat. We have a little time as the fosterer is out of town.