Choosing the Perfect Pet for Your Kids – Is it a cat?
Being responsible is a very important quality of a person. This trait is not gained in just a snap of a finger, though. Acceptance of responsibilities is a long and winding process that should be inculcated in an individual as early as possible.
Childhood is the most appropriate time for kids to learn how to be responsible. Teaching your kids the value of being responsible could start by giving them a pet. Through this, you will be able to achieve your goal while your kids are having an eventful experience as well. However, you do not just give them any animal you could think of; from fish, hamster, parrot to a cat or a traditional dog. Bear in mind that the length of time they will be with you may range from months to years. It will never be easy that is why you really have to choose the perfect pet for your kids.
Benefits of Having a Pet
Having pets brings a lot of benefits. Aside from learning the value of being responsible, pets could in fact give their owners unconditional love. They are very reliant on human beings for love and affection but give it back to you too. Be sure to really take care of them and you will feel their warmth for you.
They may just stay where they are but once you approach them you would soon find out that they are regaled with your presence. They may not be able to speak how they feel but you could sense that certain warmth through their body language. Jumping excitedly, running towards you, or just staying by your side is their way of communication.
Pets have a great way of comforting kids especially when they are sick or having a bad day. They comfort people during times of need. They may not do it exactly the way another person does but in their own way they would achieve the same goal.
Factors to Consider
Choosing a pet for children depends largely on a number of factors. The child’s current age is a key element in making the decision. Very young kids might unknowingly mishandle or hurt the pet. There is a possibility that they would pull the cats tail, drop a hamster, or pick the puppy improperly which would cause undue hurt or pain.
The health of all family members should also be considered. Some people have a hypersensitivity reaction to pets. Hairy animals will most probably exacerbate a persons asthma attacks. In some instances, contact dermatitis may ensue in various parts of the body especially on those areas that constantly touch or adhere to the pet. Assess your family’s health status first to avoid them from happening.
If you are not certain whether or not your children have allergies, allow them to spend some time at a pet owners house. This would help you gauge whether the pet is suitable for them and will not be detrimental to their health.
Another thing that you have to look into is the financial aspect. Determine how much can you allot for the pet and their care including food, vaccine, and grooming. Building an appropriate coop up for a particular animal might be more expensive than you think. Even animals require playpens too.
Apart from that, you have to consider how big your house is and how much space you could spare for the kid’s pet. Ample space will be needed in taking care of bigger pets like dog or cat. If you have a rather small place, then choose an animal that would not require so much.
Having a pet would also entail apportioning the parents time. Even though the child promises to take on all the responsibilities, parents still end up helping out. It is important that you supervise your child while she performs the chores to make sure that everything is done right. It is only after a period of time when they could really manage.
Hopefully, the worst-case scenario will not happen. Some kids get tired of the pet and the parents end up doing the chores or finding a pet sitter in some cases. In order to avoid this from happening it is important that you find the perfect pet for your kids.
Caring for Cats the easy way
You will need a great deal of commitment in order to own a cat as they do require some care (although not as much as dogs!) and can live as old as 15 years (or even longer in some cases).
Cats require feeding (daily), care and playtime on a regular basis. You will also have to take into consideration, before getting your pet, that you will have vets bills to pay for annual vaccines, worming and if treatment is required for any illnesses. These bills can sometimes be very costly, but you can purchase insurance for pets it may be a good idea to shop around to get the best deal.
Before getting your cat, you should purchase bowls for food and water, a collar (if you want the cat to wear one), a bed (or pet quilt), a few suitable toys, and some food.
A kitten should be fed throughout the day 4 times with a small amount of food each meal, reducing to 3 times a day at 3 months old, then at 6-8 months 2 meals per day. Older cats (over 12 months) should only be fed twice in the day (usually morning and early evening).
Cats groom themselves, but using a soft brush on the cat, especially the long-haired variety, will help to cut down the number of hairballs in the cat’s stomach, which are caused by them licking/grooming themselves.
If you decide to have a cat flap fitted to your door in order that the cat can come and go as it pleases, you will have to train it to use the flap. You can use tit-bits to entice the pet to go through the flap when it is fully open. Start by opening the flap fully, just showing the tit-bit, then next time close the flap a little bit and keep on doing so until the cat realises that the flap will open with a small push of the head.
Cats like to sharpen their claws on most household furniture! Suites, corners of walls (thick paper), carpets. Invest in a scratch post there are many to choose from. When the cat starts to scratch, lift the cat and place him/her next to the scratch post, they will soon get the message and use the post instead of the furniture. If you think that your cat and you need some training click here for more details.
If you are fine and confident by training your cat to the perfect behaviour without any help but to keep under control cat spraying is the last step to have the “purrfect” cat at home, check this link.
If you are concerned about your cat going missing, or it is involved in an accident, you can have a micro-chip (approximately the size of a grain of rice) inserted into the back of the cat’s neck. The chip contains information, which can help to identify the cat as belonging to you.
It is often said that a cat looks after itself. This is obviously not really true, but they do have a more independent nature than some other domesticated pets. That said, they still make ideal companions when they allow you to be their friend.
Is Your Child’s Beloved Pet The Cause Of An Asthma
Is Your Child’s Beloved Pet The Cause Of An Asthma Attack? Measures You Can Take To Prevent Or Minimize Asthma Attacks Caused By Pet.
That cute little kitten that your child (or partner) can’t live without could be making them very sick. Sadly, as much as we love them, cats and dogs are often major asthma triggers for asthma sufferers and can send some to the emergency room. Contrary to what many people believe, it is the dander (dry flakes of skin), not the hair of the animal that actually is the cause of the problem.
Your cat’s dander is shed continuously, but it is so small that it’s difficult to see. The dander is easily airborne and sticks readily to fibres- therefore it goes everywhere and gets on just about everything. If you have rugs and your pet comes inside the house, they are certainly full of it, so is your furniture and beds if they are allowed on them. If you cuddle or play with your pet, it’s all over your clothing too. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to get rid of Fido or Garfield.
There are a number of alternatives that you can take. Steam cleaning rugs and furniture in your home will help to remove the dander. Using a HEPA vacuum cleaner is also good. If possible, getting rid of rugs is the best solution. Make sure your pet stays out of the asthma sufferer’s bedroom. Wash all bedding, floors and walls to remove the dander. Then use a HEPA air purifier at night in the bedroom with the door closed.
Take your pet to the groomer for a shampoo once a week or have a family member wash your pet outside to ensure that the dander level is kept as low as possible. Long-haired pets should get clipped shorter. If your pet loves to show their appreciation by licking, this should be discouraged since their saliva will contain dander as well as proteins, which are also an asthma trigger for many asthma sufferers.
If you don’t have a pet but your friends or relatives do, even a short visit to their home can cause problems for an asthma sufferer, especially children who can’t resist playing with them. When you get home, get your child to take a shower and wash their clothing too to remove the dander.
Living with your beloved pet can be comfortable and symptom-free when taking all of these measures. However, if your situation is more serious and your pet still makes you sick, then you may want to try a natural asthma treatment.
How Fast Will Your Cat Will Grow
The Important Stages In A Cat’s Life
Just like having a child, it can be incredibly fulfilling bringing a kitten into your family and watching it grow up. It takes only a year for your cute little kitten to mature into a cat. It can seem hard to believe but it will happen fast. Being prepared is the goal here. So what are the key milestones for a young cat?
The First Moments
Kittens are born blind and they are completely dependant on their mother. The first stages will involve learning to eat and then growing. The kitten’s eyes will open and he will want to explore. At four weeks old, he is romping around shakily with his siblings. At this time he can begin to learn to use the litter box and should start to become a social animal. In the wild, the kitten’s mother will start to supplement his diet with dead mice and another small pretty. But, you may want to give him some soft kitten food or some dry food that is softened a little with water.
Six Weeks
He’s now six weeks old and he is more than ready to explore the home. If he’s indoors, he will move from room to room. A feral kitten will follow his mother when she goes to hang out with the other cats. These cats will still receive mice from their mother, but they aren’t dead anymore. Instead, the kitten has to learn to hunt the animal. Those who are eight weeks old will be completely weaned from their mother and are ready to go to a new home.
The Next Months
Through the next several months, the cats will grow really fast. You will need to get them in to be vaccinated at this time so that they are healthy and strong. They will begin to learn what they have to do to live with their families and learn which behaviours are okay. You can teach your kitten his name as well as a few simple commands now. If your pet has long hair, make sure to get him used to allow you to groom him, although the cat’s coat doesn’t need to be brushed just yet.
Sometimes, cats will suddenly develop a bad attitude. Believe it or not, this is an adolescent stage for them. This happens when the cat goes from being a kitten into being a mature cat. Sounds just like children, right?
This will happen around the fifth to six months and may last until the cat reaches a year old. They will still be playful but may get carried away to play too aggressively. If your cat is not neutered at six months of age, he will be mature enough to reproduce now. Neutering the cat will help this stage of his development go more smoothly. At six months, the cat looks the way he will look like an adult even though he may still become larger.
Adulthood
Just like humans, adult cats will continue to go through stages. But, these stages can be dealt with quite easily. And, unlike that mid-life crisis, you may have, the cat is not likely to go out to purchase a sports car at this age!
If you take care of your kitten’s health as he grows into an adult cat you will have a fulfilling relationship that will bring both you and the cat great satisfaction.
What a greater gift than the love of a cat.
Charles Dickens
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