Age for getting a kitten for your child/children

**aylasmommy** · 10-27-2002, 10:54 PM

What age would you consider a 'good' age for getting a kitten for your children?

Ayla is about 16 months and dh keeps asking if we can get a kitten..

i'm just not ready for the responsibility of being the one to clean up after it

I don't know..i guess I want you all to say "when she's much much older" so that I can tell him all my girls told me we need to wait a long time before getting another cat

don't get me wrong i looove cats and animals in general..we just don't have the room, plus dh hardly helps out in the house at all..let alone with a kitten..

**heaven** · 10-27-2002, 10:58 PM

i really think that is too young to get her a kitten, i have six so if you change your mind though come on over. LOL. I personally believe 5 or so when they can start taking responsablity for the pet. JMHO.

**captclearance** · 10-27-2002, 11:59 PM

I agree, 5 or older...

**dolphin** · 10-28-2002, 12:40 AM

I agree that she is too young. She doesn't understand taking care of a pet yet or even how to act around one. Until she learns how to hold it and feed it I would say you will have nothing but trouble and lots of kitty scratches on your baby girl.

I don't usually give my opinion but I had to on this one. I hate it when little ones get all scratched up and bitten when they don't understand what they did wrong.

edited for my crappy spelling. lol

**aylasmommy** · 10-28-2002, 01:22 AM

yay! Thanks for all the advice

**SewCrafty** · 10-28-2002, 06:19 AM

I agree too, and I've taken care of a lot of kittens. She should be at least 5, so you can teach her to respect the kitten. Biting and scratching are their only defenses (I have the scars to prove it!) and children usually like to hug and squeeze them. Most cats are not overly fond of that. (Mine don't have a choice, I pick them up all the time, but I don't drop them either when they scratch me.)
HTH

**milach** · 10-28-2002, 07:40 AM

I agree a kitten for a little one is not the way to go. I have had cats all my life, and believe me, I've yet to come across one that has patience with kids. My cat runs the other direction when ds is even in the same room. It would be unfair to get Ayla a kitten, and then she can't even play with it. Then you'd need to get a recording of yourself saying "Ayla, don't chase the kitty" so you won't have to repeat yourself 9,000 times. You know how fast kitties are with those claws.

Laura

**Jerseygirl** · 10-28-2002, 06:52 PM

Definately wait until 5-6 years. Along with all of the very valid reasons the other girls gave, keep in mind that cats average a 12-14 year life span, although my big fat boy is currently 16 and still unstoppable. She will deal much better with the eventual issues of an aging animal once she is in high school and more responsible.

**aylasmommy** · 10-28-2002, 07:03 PM

You know what I think that our cat Mac ran away because of Ayla

That is a good point about dealing with the issue of dying too..

**bamamomto4** · 10-28-2002, 07:06 PM

I would wait to.We got Katie one when she was about 15 months old and the cat scratched her face.If you do decide to get on,get it declawed if It'll be staying inside

**homesteadmamma** · 10-28-2002, 08:12 PM

I agree also. I'd wait until 5-6. Little ones don't understand the care of kittens and they sure do like to play in the kitty litter if you turn your back for one minute!!