Kittens and small kids?

[Moonwatcher1234]

We had a rag doll quite a few years ago when my eldest dc were 2 and 3. She was a lovely cat but boisterous and not typical of a rag doll. It was hard to leave her and the youngest without constant supervision as he irritated her and she scratched. Fast forward and the eldest two are grown but I have a 3 year old and 1 year old now - I would love another cat but am wary of rag dolls. Can anyone suggest any breeds that are good/patient with little ones?

Ime no breed of dkitten will like small dc manhandling it...

@30degreesandmeltinghere

Ime no breed of dkitten will like small dc manhandling it...

Hmmm may need to wait until they are a bit older than. I can and would supervise as I did before when the children were younger but would love a family cat growing up with the kids as before.

Kittens and young children are a definite no.
I’d leave it a short while then go for a young adult rescue. No biting and scratching and their personalities are so much clearer.
A one year old won’t remember growing up with a cat. A 4 plus year old will never forget that cat joining the family!!

@Wolfiefan

Kittens and young children are a definite no. I’d leave it a short while then go for a young adult rescue. No biting and scratching and their personalities are so much clearer. A one year old won’t remember growing up with a cat. A 4 plus year old will never forget that cat joining the family!!

Sensible advice - I just really want a cat though because I love them! However, I like the idea of a rescue. Perhaps a pedigree kitten is not the way to go.

Our first cats were a mum 2. And a son 18 months.
Yes. That’s right. She had kittens at 6 months.
They were perfect for us.
Fast forward many many years and we lost them. Got two rescue kittens.
Attacked the kids, wrecked furniture. Bloody hard work. And matured into odd characters who hate each other and aren’t cuddly lap cats at all.
Love them.
But would never have kittens again. Adult rescue in the future.

As long as you have space for a cat to retreat from the kids, then a sturdy adult rescue from a reputable rescue centre could work well.

No kittens are safe with children. Small children can and do kill them and it's something we come across at our clinic too regularly. The only cats you should entertain with small children are adult rescues that have been assessed as being 'bomb proof'.

I would agree an adult rescue is best. The rescue will be able to match you with one who is ok with kids. Plus they will know their personality. With kittens it's more of a gamble and you found breed is no guarantee of character.

@thecatneuterer

No kittens are safe with children. Small children can and do kill them and it's something we come across at our clinic too regularly. The only cats you should entertain with small children are adult rescues that have been assessed as being 'bomb proof'.

Oh gosh…that’s sobering and awful. Thanks all for your responses. I think a rescue adult cat is definite the way to go. TBH, I’ve been feeling a bit bad about considering a pedigree cat again as the breeding world seems to be a bit of a moral grey area. Thinking back, we bought our beautiful rag doll from a breeder who had dogs and cats crammed into a tiny bungalow. Naively I thought she just loved animals but given she charges £450 for our kitten perhaps it was more profit motivated than I realised.

We got our rescue cat who was 3 when DC were 2 and 4. She's now 13 and has been such an integral part of the family growing up with the DC. She's not keen on the kitten and puppy but she's decided not to leave home just yet

Oh and she's just a moggy 🐈‍⬛

@SummerSazz

We got our rescue cat who was 3 when DC were 2 and 4. She's now 13 and has been such an integral part of the family growing up with the DC. She's not keen on the kitten and puppy but she's decided not to leave home just yet

Oh wow, she’s gorgeous! That’s made me cat broody!