Is a cat right for my family?

Question

I am a stay at home mom with a 17 m/o daughter. I am thinking of adopting a cat from our local animal shelter. It would not be a kitten it would be at least a year or two years of age. I will be going back to work soon, but when not at work our family are home bodies. The cat would get plenty of attention during the evening and whenever we are home. The cat is NOT a pet for my daughter it is for me she will know to respect the cat and treat him/her gently. I do not expect my daughter to help me take care of the cat or anything. I had cats growing up, but they were indooor/outdoor cats and came and went as they pleased. Our cat would be indoors only. Does anyone have experience with cats and toddlers, or adopting from a shelter? Our shelter has the pets wormed, defleaed, has rabies shots, spayed/neutered, microchipped and has other shots if old enough. It would only need a yearly vet visit then rt? Thanks to everyone.

Of course I understand that any pet is a life long commitment not something to be taken light which is the reason I am doing so much research!

No I do not agree with declawing and the cat would be part of our family so if it is sick we will find a way to pay for it.

Answer 1

Cats don't need as much "attention" as dogs. Dogs are "pack" animals and miss you (their "pack") when you are gone. Cats are more independent and don't mind being home alone while you are at work. I think a cat sounds like a perfect pet for your lifestyle.

I'm happy to hear that you are going to make sure your child learns how to treat your cat. So many people just "throw them together" and then wonder why something bad happens. You sound like you've put a lot of thought into this and I'm sure you're going to do just fine introducing your new companion into your family.

Adopting a cat from a shelter is a wonderful thing to do. Our 11 year old cat was adopted (he has three legs) and he's been the best! They seem to be almost "grateful" that you opened your heart and home to them!

Most shelters don't have room for all the cats and kittens that arrive so they usually keep the kittens and the most "friendly" cats. Any cat you adopt from most shelters will have been neutered or spayed, tested for aids and leukemia, had their vaccines and been microchipped. You would then need to take them once a year for their "annual" vaccinations.

The vet I worked for used to do the spays and neuters on any cat that was adopted from our local shelter. I can tell you that every cat or kitten that we saw was extremely friendly and loving.

I wish you all the best with your new companion and let me thank you for considering adoption - wish there were more people like you. God bless.

Answer 2

I have 4 children and we have had at least one cat since the oldest was about 2. We have adopted from a shelter and got a cat who gave my son ringworm and a 150.00 vet bill the first week we had her. Plus the doctor bill for my son. Check the cats at the pound carefully!!! When we called the pound to tell them about it because there was another cat in the same cage as the one we adopted they didn't even ask for a name or cage number they just said okay and hung up. They reall don't seem to care so just be careful.
You seem to be one of the few who believe it is unacceptable to let a toddler maul an animal because they are little or because it's "just an animal" My children were taught very early to be gentle or to leave the cats alone. We have never had a problem and we have 4 cats that lie around on the furniture, or the middle of the floor. They don't run and hide from us- they are secure because they are safe. I am sure it will be fine and your daughter will enjoy it once she is a little older too. I love my cats and can't imagine not waking up to a purring kitty standing on my chest every morning!! Good Luck with your kitty adoption!!

Answer 3

I think you sound like a close to ideal home. I work with rescue groups and you've hit most of the main points. You are willing to keep you cat indoors. You know that the cat will be yours, not your child's. You know about vaccinations, shots, spaying, and other things that are so important.

The only other points I would touch on are

You promise not to declaw the cat
A guarantee that if the cat becomes sick, you can afford vet care
You have stable home from which you will not be moving, or if you do move, the new location will be cat friendly
You KNOW that your daughter is not allergic
You promise to give the cat back to the shelter (if it's a no-kill shelter) should you not be able to keep it at ANY point in its life

While young, an annual vet check is often fine for most cats. My cat now goes more often because of health conditions that he has developed because of his age. My cat that died went more frequently because he was a purebred of poor breeding - which led to a host of health problems. Be aware that health problems can start at any age and be sure that you can afford treatment for them (within reason). Keeping your cat indoors will help decrease the chances of MANY illesses and injuries, but unfortunately, stuff happens.

I also commend you on wanting to adopt a cat that's a little older. They are all too often passed by for the spry young kittens, but are wonderful cats because you know what you are getting. Their personailty is developed, their health has already been looked at, they are litter box trained, they are even happier to be adopted to a good home. Somehow, they know.

Be sure to try and adopt from a no-kill shelter. They tend to take more time with the cats ensuring that they are healthy and socialized. They also usually maintain a lifetime responsibility for the cat, such as taking it back if necessary (at the owner's choice) and sometimes even helping with vet bills.

I wish you nothing but luck in finding a new addition to your family and must admit I'm slightly jealous. ; )



Edit: Oh, I want to thank whoever is stalking me and giving all my answers thumbs down. Isn't school in session? Grow up, get a life, and try studying rather than playing on the internet. It's apparant you need all the education you can get.

Answer 4

First, let me say, I'm partial to cats.

That being said, I had three cats in my household when my son was born. He has grown up with cats and he's never, ever been scratched and I've never had any problems with them and him, ever. My cats now adore my son (he's almost 14) and he has a great respect for them and for all animals.

I've adopted my last cat from a private shelter and my second to last from our local shelter. They were already neutered, had all their vaccinations and if they had any other problems they were taken care of well before they were put up for adoption. After that, you're right, it's a yearly checkup.

So long as you can afford a pet, which you sound like you've weighted those options already, I say go for it. I can't imagine my life without my cats.

Good Luck!

Answer 5

Adopting a cat from a shelter is an excellent idea. You give a displaced cat a home, and you also get a cat that may have been temperment tested, made current on its vaccinations, and spayed/neutered.

If it's an adult cat, once the vaccinations are done by the shelter, you generally only have to get the shots boosted once a year after that. (Some rabies vaccinations are good for 3 to 5 years.)

If you get a docile cat, it should be fine with your child.

The only "drawback" to cats may be that they can carry a disease called "toxoplasmosis", which can be dangerous for you if you become pregnant again. Click on the link below for more information about this disease:

http://www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/dpd/parasites/toxoplasmosis/factsht_toxoplasmosis.htm

Answer 6

Well, I think it's wonderful that you want to adopt from your local shelter and save a life! I adopted one of my 'kids' from a shelter and had no problems as far as his health or behavior. I don't have any children but I think if I did my concern would be the cat scratching hin/her if it had claws. If you don't believe in declawing, you can purchase Soft Paws from Cat Fancy magazine. They're fake nails for cats that fit over their existing claws. Another concern would be how a toddler would handle the cat. Would she/he pull on their tail? Would the child know how to correctly hold the cat? Would she/he stay out of the cat food and water bowl? You said you're a stay-at-home mom so maybe these things wouldn't be a problem for you. Just thought I'd bring it up. Another thing you would have to watch for is the cat playing with the kid's toys. You don't want it to play with anything that has strings or small parts on it that he could choke on or ingest. (I know, you don't want that for your kid either!) I'm just trying to think of everything here! And I say kudos to you for wanting to keep your kitty inside if you decide to get one! All cats should be kept inside;too many dangers out there!! It sounds like you would give it alot of attention and love! Enjoy your new addition!

Answer 7

Your home sounds like a wonderful place for a cat. Just keep in mind that a cat can be a 15-20 year (or more!) commitment. If your cat remains healthy, it should only need yearly check-ups. In fact, even if your clinic uses 3-year vaccines, make sure you take your cat in every year for an exam! However, just like people, kitties can get sick and develop chronic, but treatable conditions. Make sure you are willing and able to care for your cat should this occur. Plus, most cats will need dental cleanings, which must be done under general anesthesia, every few years to keep their teeth and gums healthy. I'm not trying to scare you out of getting a kitty. Just make sure you think of everything. :-)

Answer 8

If you can afford to adopt one cat,I suggest that you should adopt two . My cat was agresive and stressed cause she was alone for 12 hours,so the best solution for me was to bring her another cat and now both are truly happy.My cats are indoor.I am sure you can take care adn love her,cats eat 3-4 meals so she can have 2 soft meals in the morning and evening and solid food the rest of the day.Cats eat only as much as they need,not like dogs..and yes I agree with the recomendetion of "Ideal home"

Answer 9

Ferret life expectancy is usually stated to be around 6-8 years, although in my experience, most don't live much beyond 6. I think the inbreeding is part of the problem, and some think early neutering makes it worse. The jury is still out on that, because I know people who have gotten ferrets from private breeders, with good backgrounds and were late neutered and still got adrenal disease. Every once in a while, I'll come across a ferret who is still going strong at 8. I still think we should study the genetics on those ferrets! One way to help your ferret live longer is to brush their teeth every day. I also think that feeding whole prey (like mice, etc.) can make a big difference. Clean teeth and healthy gums help keep bacteria out of the blood stream. Whole prey naturally clean the teeth. There is a lot of controversy about feeding whole prey, but it does make sense, since ferrets did not evolve to eat kibble. Another way to keep them healthy is lots of exercise. That's sometimes hard to do, given they are escape artists. They are evolved to roam over a wide area in search of prey, so running around in an 8x10 bedroom for a couple hours, isn't nearly as good. A happy ferret is more likely to live a long life, too. Ferrets are SMART, so if you can give it a stimulating and changing environment, they'll fare better. Jumping on any health problems right away is important. Adrenal disease is common, but getting more treatable every day. I've had ferrets live for years after getting adrenal disease. Right now, it's one of the least troublesome illnesses. Little or no sweets. We think too many sweets stresses the pancreas, which then causes tumors. Any part of your body that is constantly irritated can become cancerous. It makes some sense that if a particular organ is over-stressed, it might cause problems. Ferrets also don't need carbs. At all. I did an experiment with my personal ferret. He ate nothing but mice for 1-1/2 years. He grew up strong, healthy, and won at ferret shows. He obviously did not need carbs. I think carbs are also hard on the pancreas. Avoid foods with a lot of chemicals. Buy foods with human-grade ingredients. You're less likely to end up with tainted products. Educate yourself to their nutritional needs and read lots and lots of labels. But even if you do everything right, sometimes they just get a bad roll of the genetic dice. For me, the way to ease the pain of one passing is to concentrate on the others I still have.

Answer 10

I think you and yours would be a perfect fit for a cat....it sounds like you've done your research and God bless you for adopting from a shelter! Have fun with the new addition to your family!