My three year old daughter wants a cat. is that a good idea?

Question

I don't have any animals in the house. what species would be best?

Answer 1

I think three is a little to young.

Answer 2

Three is pretty young- a lot of kids that age don't understand how to be gentle enough, and she could get scratched or bitten. You also need to realize that the cat will be yours- you will have to feed it, clean the litter box, and pay the bills (which are considerable in the first 6 months) so if YOU don't want a cat, don't get one. The cat will be yours for a while- it could still be alive when she leaves for college, so unless you want to do all the chores for the next 15-20 years.... Someone suggested a guinea pig-- maybe a better idea as they only live 5-6 years, but if handled properly and frequently they can be affectionate and fun. They also cost a lot less to buy and maintain (no shots or neutering needed). Your daughter may have her heart set on getting a cat now, but cats are notoriously independent, and once the novelty wears off... then what? Will you keep the cat, or will you look to get rid of it (another reason not to get one unless you want it). It sounds like a bad idea to me-- cats are living animals, and you can't just throw them away if you change your mind, or your three year old does, and we all know that three year olds change their minds often. Good Luck!!

Answer 3

Hi!! I have had at least one cat all my life (30 yrs) and would highly recommend getting one for your daughter!
First, i would visit your local animal shelter or petsmart (S.T.A.R.T.) or
look on Petfinder.com to find great cats in need of homes. Because she is so young you may want to find a cat over the age of 2, who is more calm. Many shelters get cats who are left when their owners have passed away and i have found these cats to be very lovable and friendly.
I wouldn't suggest a kitten as their claws really pinch and they can be quite rambunctious! However, I rescued a 2 day old kitten who's mother was hit by
a car when i was about 9 yrs old and my sister and i took turns waking up in the middle of the night to feed the kitten and learned ALOT of responsibility from that. It was a great form of birth control!
So..just some ideas from someone who has had at least one cat by her side since the day i was born! I will never be without a cat, they are seriously the best pets and not very hard to take care of!! Any other questions i would be glad to help!!!

Answer 4

I am wondering - Does MOMMY DESIRE A CAT??
Lets be reasonable... A three year old child is usually NOT going to take care of a cat, or a kitten.. The adults in the house will be the ones having to take care of the animal - regardless if a cat or dog or another type of animal..
Your child might want a pet, yet the decision whether to get one or not must be decided by the parents - can you afford to take care of an animal? Vet bills, food, and time wise?
Getting a pet for your child might seem like a wonderful idea, but being so young - she might not stay interested in it for very long! So you really ought to ask yourself the question " DO YOU want a cat!?"
I was lucky - my parents loved animals and so my siblings and myself grew up around many types of creatures, besides just dogs and cats - but i must admit - when we were kids - it was our parents who did most, if not all, of the daily taking care of those many animals { at least they enjoyed it!!}....
My advice is to only get a pet if YOU are interested in one!

Answer 5

A cat, yes, not a kitten for a three year old. An older spayed or neutered cat will be a lovely pet for her and still your daughter will need a little training and supervision till you know she can handle the cat without provoking it. Youngsters tend to want to grab at cats and cuddle when they want to. Cats do not like to be restrained if they don't want it. So the cat needs to make the decision.

Cats and children have a great emotional affinity. If she learns not to harass the cat it will probably love her to death, sleep on her bed and follow her around. Let your daughter put the cat's food down for it after you have dished it up and give the cat treats that it likes. Teach your daughter to play with the cat with a feather toy or cat dancer (never with her hands). You will need to learn to keep the cat's nails trimmed, clean the litterbox etc.

Answer 6

Yeah, it's a good idea. It's better to start off with a kitten than an adult cat though. My folks got one back in spring and he adapted to the house better than anticipated.

You may also want to see if your daughter, yourself, or anyone else in the household is allergic to cats. Before we got this kitten, we had an older cat (she lived to be 18 before she passed on) and I wasn't allergic to her at all. With the kitten, I was allergic like crazy for the first month or so and then it died down. It varies from people to people too. A co-worker of mine is actually getting worse as time went on.

Answer 7

absolutly!! a cat would teach her how to be responsible at a young age and to have a companion ...take her to a pet store and let her pic one out (kittens are best choice with small children because most adult cats dont like kids) make sure you research different breeds or ask someone who works at the pet shop about low mantnence cat breeds (like long haired cats will need special fur cair and some cats need special diets) good luck

Answer 8

I would go with sea monkeys. A three year old is not old enough to have an animal. They just received the ability to think long-term. Animals are cute,but they have feelings,and they require love, attention, first-aid, food, water, and most of all, your time. Wait a couple of years, okay? Or you might regret it.

Answer 9

A short haired cat would be good. Less maintainance. No particular breed though. A cat is a good idea. Go to a pound and have her help you pick one out.
Good luck!

Answer 10

I have grandchildren and I have found that most little girls love kittens , but they love them so good they want to carry them like a stuffed toy and you have to keep after them because this can make a kitten or pup sick . So you are constanley yelling put the kitty down sweetie , I dont know a fish or a bird , when they are so little .Later on its great when they realize how to enjoy them .

Answer 11

get a smaller pet that is easier to take care of. A fish was my first pet. Start with a fish. If she takes care of that, get her something else (like a rat). Wait until she is old enough to take care of a cat. Right now, she is too young to take care of a cat.