How to introduce a cat into a family with small children

There generally always comes a point when your children will ask for a pet. This could be anything from a dog to a snake to a stick insect. However, if you’re thinking about introducing a cat into your family, especially if you have small children, then there are some things you should consider.

Prepare everyone

Introducing any new animal into your home is a big deal, even if you already have pets. Take some time to talk to everyone in the family, especially the children about what they can expect. This could be anything from telling the children about what kinds of things the cat will need, how to take care of them and what the children can do to help.

Get your house cat ready

Although cats aren’t known for causing too much havoc in a home there are some things that could go wrong. If you’re going to get a kitten then you need to be prepared for not having windows open while the cat isn’t allowed to go outside. Both cats and kittens will also need somewhere to scratch and you can help to save your furniture by buying various scratching posts.

Create their own area

Whether it be an adult cat or a kitten, they will probably be a bit overwhelmed by a house with children, especially if they’re young. It would be a good idea to create an area for your new pet that’s their own. This could be a cat bed, blanket somewhere or even a cushion on a particular chair. The cat will probably want to escape for some peace and quiet now and again.

Go slowly

When you being your cat home it’s important to ensure they have time to settle in. Children will probably want to be around the cat all of the time but this can both scare and overwhelm the cat. Ask children to spend a little bit of time with the cat before letting them have a break. The cat will be much happier for it and more likely to want a fuss and cuddles somewhere down the line.

Enjoy it

Bringing a new pet into the family is such a wonderful time and one that should be enjoyed. By following some really simple steps, like the ones above, you will have a pet everyone loves and will become a member of the family in no time.