Coexistence of little children and cats is possible!

It would be more right to say that this coexistence is not simply possible but desirable. The main condition is to follow special rules.

For children already able to walk, a cat can be a kind of training tool: a child will look after the animal, take care of it. Children learn to understand living beings, and acquire self-confidence. Children can learn early about intimate life, birth and caring for the offspring. The choice of breed is not important here.

If you intend to buy a cat for children, don't do it if you do not love these animals. After all one of the parents will have to take responsibility for the care of the cat in the family. This burden can not be completely left to your children: they can quickly accustom to the new "toy" or may later be interested in other things so that they will forget to take care of their pet. Perhaps this change of interests means nothing special for your children, but it is very significant for cats and their welfare. Don't buy a cat as a gift to your friends' children without advance agreement.

It is very important to exclude ill-treatment of a cat; it usually comes from ignorance, light-heartedness and misconceptions about pleasure. There is a need to explain to children how they should treat the pet and show them how to do it. The deliberate cruelty towards animals is usually spread among those children, who are also treated roughly.

Children aged between three and six years should at first seat comfortably before taking a cat, otherwise they may drop it.

Children, who haven't yet learned to walk, may have problems with cats. Kids are very fond of stroking cats, and cats like it to. But parents should always keep an eye on the situation. If the child pulls the cat's tail, or accidentally steps on an animal, the cat can attack (aggression caused by pain). Very young children (less than two years old) have the natural habit of sudden grasping of objects. It frightens kittens very much.

In addition, the cat can be a source of various diseases transmitted from animals to humans, and here is the greatest danger to children because they have a habit to keep fingers in the mouth. Among these diseases is toxoplasmosis.

We need to exclude the possibility of access to each other's food of cats and children. After playing with the cat the child must necessarily wash his/her hands. Cat's excreta must be immediately removed, especially if they are in the place, where children like to play.