We recently got my five year old a kitten. She has been wanting one since she was 1 and we told her that by the time she goes into kindergarten if she still wants one and is able to help take care of it we would get her one. Well, she is going into kindergarten in August and we finally got her a kitten a couple of weeks ago. ANYWAYS my question is
My daughter wants to sleep with the kitten on her bed but I worry the kitten will sit on her face while my daughters sleeping and smother her. I hear about cats smothering children a lot.
2007-06-21 11:58:23 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Congradualations on your new "fur-kid." I'm sure your daughter will be gentle and loving to her new kitty. I also have owned cats for over 30 years and yes, they sleep with our children and have since they were born. Old tales always seem to appear regarding kittens and puppies and how they will act toward babies or children. Please do not be alarmed. I'm sure that she will be fine and the kitten will NOT smother your child. They are a welcomed addition for the child and make for a calming atmospher. You may want to put a small little "snuggle bed" on the bed with your daughter for the kiitten to snuggle up in, this may make you feel more at ease.
2007-06-21 12:10:36 · answer #1 · answered by Patti 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The `smothering' stories you're speaking of is an OLD WIVES TALE. The way it goes, cats supposedly suck the breath out of babies. It's not true.
There isn't any way the kitten could smother your kindergarten-aged daughter.
The kitten might lay right next to her head, but wouldn't even be able to lay over her mouth and nose at the same time.
My full-grown cats sleep with us and haven't smothered either one of us in 30 years.
If you do decide to get a kitten, PLEASE get it spayed/neutered when it is six months old. Twelve million un-wanted cats and dogs are put to death in shelters nation-wide every year.
2007-06-21 19:06:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's no danger in letting your daughter sleep with her kitten. If she were an infant, then you'd have a good reason to worry. But since she's five and can turn her head to avoid being smothered, it's completely safe :)
Cats don't lay on people's faces as much as old wives' tales say they do:) I've got 10 cats and none of them has ever laid on my face while I've slept.
2007-06-21 20:34:48 · answer #3 · answered by Avie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ha ha ha... honey, that is an "old wive's tale." It is more likely that your five year old will accidentally roll over on the kitty and squoosh her. That's the main reason why I think kitty should sleep elsewhere. You can talk to your little girl and expalin to her that cats are "night creatures" (nocturnal) and kitty will not really want to go to sleep when it's bed time for little girls - kitty will want to play or watch things from the window. If your daughter insists that the kitten be with her at night then my suggestion is to allow the kitten to be in your daughter's room at night, but to make sure that kitty has a place to perch by the window, some soft toys to play with, a litter box, bowl of fresh water and a bowl of kibble and perhaps a flat soft pillow to snooze on. If the kitten decides to sleep on your daughter's bed, it is more than likely she will curl up at the foot of the bed. Most (if not all) cats do not really like to sleep next to a person's face. ALL my cats begin sleeping with me by first sleeping at the foot of my bed.
2007-06-21 19:18:28 · answer #4 · answered by Phoebhart 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is a myth. Even if for some reason the kitten sat on her face, it wouldn't cut off air flow & if it did your daughter would wake up. Chances are she'd wake up if the kitten got on her face. The kitten may not even want to sleep in the bed. But either way, it doesn't pose a threat to your daughter.
2007-06-21 19:04:16 · answer #5 · answered by layla983 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont be paranoid !
unless your daughter has allergies ie asthma there is no reason for kitten to not sleep on her bed and it is in fact more hazardous for the kitten as children can roll onto them and hurt them
it may be an idea also to explain to your daughter that although cats are lovely pets they prefer there own space a lot of the time and it may not want to sleep on her bed
2007-06-21 19:04:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A kitten shouldn't smother your daughter, I would be more worried about the kitten's claws. They are extremely sharp and painful. Cats are easily aggrevated and will even scratch their owners when they are just tired of people petting it.
2007-06-21 19:02:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry, it's a legend. I don't think it's *ever* actually happened. Let the kitten sleep with your daughter if it's ok with both of them. We usually have 3 cats in bed w/us.
2007-06-21 19:08:06 · answer #8 · answered by Catkin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you have to worry about a kitten harming your daughter. Even if the kitten willingly stays in your daughters bed ....which I do doubt, Your daughter will be fine...watch out for the claws though..LOL
2007-06-21 19:06:31 · answer #9 · answered by Cash--Rescue, Foster, Adopt! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no it wont ur daughter is big enough and if the kitten does sleep on her ur daughter will be able to move and i doubt the kitten would sleep with her cause they are very active durning night its there time to hunt. but ur daughter will be fine plus if ur daughter moves a lot when she sleepsthe kitten will jump off and sleep under the bed
2007-06-21 19:06:22 · answer #10 · answered by melissa d 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋