would it be fair to get another cat

iammumtoone

Sadly I had to have my cat PTS last week

Before ds was born I had three cats and this one was the last to go. I miss him terribly, whilst I of course missed the others when it was their time, it wasn't this bad, probably because in the other situations I still had a cat and now the house just feels so empty with no cat to speak to when I get up in the morning etc.

I would really like to get another one, not yet that wouldn't be right but in a few months I would like to start considering it seriously and looking.

The issue is I don't know if it would be fair on the cat or ds, ds (six nearly seven) is alright sometimes with them but can start to pull them about if not kept an eye on. All my cats were really good they just got up and went and hid up somewhere away for him if needed. I know not all cats are like this and would hate for him to be bitten/scratched. Also I don't think it would be fair on the cat as they might not be used to that behaviour.

I just feel really sad that I may not be able to have another cat in the house

Has anyone had experience of getting a cat from a rescue center while also having a young child(ren) that may tease them? It was fine when he was born as the cats came first but I am concerned about putting a cat into an already stressful situation with a new home and the added stress of a boisterous young child around. I thought maybe a kitten would be more suited to this but I have always preferred to get an older cat from a rescue center as these are harder to re-home.

any advise on this would be appreciated, I will not get another cat if it is not right for it but just cannot image the house without one

Person_one

Six is definitely old enough for a child to learn how to treat animals kindly and not tease or hurt them.

You need to be teaching him this anyway surely? Whether you have your own cat or not.

lisajane8482

Our newest rescue, Misty, came from a family who had found her on the streets. Their three year old son used to pull her around and she spent all her time hiding from him and became timid in the 4 weeks they had her. We've had her for 4 weeks now and whilst she's settled in well and is very affectionate she doesn't like being picked up and she doesn't like it if you move too quickly.

I agree with person_one at his age he is old enough to learn right from wrong when handling pets. We got our first cat when my daughter was 8 and my step daughter was 5. My daughter already knew how to behave around animals and what she should and shouldn't do, step daughter was different and had to be told off a few times (caught her wacking the kitten with his dangly toy once) but she soon learnt what was acceptable and what wasn't.

iammumtoone

Person_one wrote: »

Six is definitely old enough for a child to learn how to treat animals kindly and not tease or hurt them.

You need to be teaching him this anyway surely? Whether you have your own cat or not.

Yes I do teach him, he is not deliberately nasty to them just very heavy handed. He also never sits still (unless staring at a computer screen, which he is not allowed to do for very often) which means he is often running about the house. He really just wants to be friends with them but gets frustrated and doesn't understand why they don't want to play all the time.

iammumtoone

lisajane8482 wrote: »

but she soon learnt what was acceptable and what wasn't.

Unfortunately this takes a bit longer to learn with my son, he doesn't seem to understand if someone of something is hurt, he is not a nasty child just acts alot younger than his age. To give an example I was crying one morning (over tooth pain) he didn't get that I was upset and just carried on as normal in his own world asking for breakfast etc. Same with the cats he does get told when he is being heavy handed (he never hit any of them just will stroke too hard etc) and will then leave them alone but is unable to recognise when to leave them alone without being told, that is what concerns me as I can't watch him all the time.

balletshoes

in the circumstances you describe OP, I'd say no to bringing a cat or kitten into your household.

Once your son is older, hopefully it will be a different story .