2yr old little girl wants a cat!?

Question

I am wondering if 2 is too young to get a cat? My daughter has started asking about a kitty cat, so we took her to the pound to look at them. Now she says that she needs one. She has never been around one and she seems to be gentle with one that we like (she is 3) but each time the kitty wants to rub her, she(my daughter) gets a little nervous and pulls away. Will she get better or should we wait a few years? I don't want to get one and have to take it back..it is a no kill shelter but that is kinda mean.

Answer 1

You are very wise to be considering an older kitty for your young daughter. I am sure she will get over get over her nervousness at the cat's rubbing her. Two is quite too young for her to understand that a cat may scratch or bite if your daughter attempts to hold it against its will and if that were to happen,and it most likely will at some time in their relationship, I am sure your daughter would end up always being fearful of cats.

Children age four or five as more likely to take the lead of their parents in treating the cat with respect and being able to appreciate the cat's unique character.

An older cat will quickly learn to stay out of a youngster's way by jumping up beyond their reach if they feel "molested". So unless you can supervise your daughter's interactions with the cat pretty closely there may be "incidents". A lot would depend on the temperment of the cat and that's something you can't know in advance.

Answer 2

It's possible - you know your daughter best. If you think you can explain to her that she needs to be gentle with kitty, then everything should be fine, as long as you remember some important points:

1.) Do *not* get a kitten. Kittens are fragile, and your daughter could accidentally hurt one by hugging too hard or by stumbling onto him/her.

2.) Talk to the shelter people and ask for a cat that's used to being with children. Some cats get hissy around kids, but many understand that children are "human kittens" and need patience and tolerance. You want a laid-back cat, not a nervous one.

(To give you an example what I mean - I have a cat that was abused by a previous owner and is very easily scared. She would NOT be happy around kids. You want a self-confident, outgoing cat.)

3.) Can you place the litter box in such a way that your daughter can't get into it? Maybe in a room with a baby gate?

4.) Always supervise your daughter's interactions with the cat. Make sure your daughter doesn't bother the cat when he/she wants to be alone, and doesn't play too rough (and vice-versa, lol).

5.) It'd be good if the cat could have a place to withdraw if he/she needs a break, like a room with a baby gate or the top of a cat tree.

6.) Just to be on the safe side, let the shelter people show you how to clip the cat's claws. That way, you can keep them short and dull and avoid any risk of unpleasant incidents. (If you observe all the tips above, this will probably be a none-issue, but better safe than sorry. :D)

I'm sure your daughter will love to have her own kitty - she may be a bit nervous at first, that's normal, but I'm sure she and the cat will become fast friends! :)

P.S.: Btw, studies have shown that kids that grow up with pets tend to get fewer allergies later in life! :)

Answer 3

OK try this, get her a stuffed kitty and tell her that she needs to take caer of this kitty before you can get a real kitty.
That may help and give you a while longer.

Best to wait cause she may end up hurting the cat by accident or the cat may bite or scratch her in deffecne or play. Wait a little longer, just try the stuffed animal. PLuse are you ready to clean a cat box several times day, give flea med's, shots, medical bills, cat toys, or out door play pen, for your cat. Think its your pet not hers cause she will foprget about it later on in time.

When my sisters kids were 2 I couldnt let them near my cats cause they would grab there tail, chase them and pick on them. That made them a lil mean to kids. Same was for others as well

Answer 4

2 years old is not too young to be around a cat. Just make sure YOU want one for the family, not just for your daughter. You need to tell your daughter how she can act around the cat. You don't want her pulling the whiskers, tail or ears. If she has never been around a cat, it will take time for her to get used to it.

It's great that you're going to adopt!

Answer 5

Your daughter MAY be a bit young to have a cat unless she is VERY well-behaved, able to take instruction from you (like leaving kitty alone when she's eating and sleeping, don't chase her, etc.) and you are able to closely supervise the two of them when they are together.
A cat can defend itself; that's what teeth and claws are for. And your daughter should adjust well to a cat; it's just a new experience for her now. But please consider the three things in my first paragraph. If you can answer "yes" to all of them, then go ahead and adopt the kitty.

Answer 6

i got my daughter a kitten when she was 18 months old. i always had pets growing up, and wanted her to grow up with her own pet, too. two is not too young to learn boundaries, and she learned very quickly that kitties feet are sharp. she's also learned some responsibility with feeding her kitty. i think it's adorable that your daughter wants one, and her shyness about it would make me think that she wouldn't be too quick to cause harm. i'd just suggest constant supervision around the kitty, at least at first, for both their safety. my daughter is 2 1/2 now and the novelty has definitely worn off, but they're so cute when they lay together and watch cartoons! good luck!

Answer 7

i grew up with 4 cats as a baby.
they are great pets but the real question is do you want one?
i have a 2 year old brother and he is always claiming he wants something but little kids live in the moment so he quickly forgets about it. she will most likely get over the fear by being around it but personally i would wait a couple years and see if she still wants one then.
good luck!

Answer 8

She is probably nervous cause she hasn't experienced it before, that is natural for any child. I would just suggest getting a de-clawed cat or a kitten that can be de-clawed just cause I know my cat, Gwain, likes to cut me up when we play and I doubt that would be good for a 2yr old.

Maybe get an older cat from the pound. They tend to be lazier sometimes :)

Answer 9

If you want a cat, by all means adopt one. But you'll need to monitor your 2 yr old. They don't understand that the cat is not a toy, and if you aren't careful the cat could be injured or traumatized so that she won't want to be around the child.

Answer 10

Hi, my daughter has loved cats all her life too. She got one for her 7th birthday. We did some research and decided on a ragdoll which is a strictly indoors cat. She is beautiful. I think it means more to my daughter that she had to wait until she was older.