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Cats and Kids
Are Toddlers and Cats a Good Mix?
By Shel Franco
Dr. Brunt also points out that many shelters provide basic healthcare and temperament testing for the animals in their care, so be sure to ask for their input.
Once you get your pet home, the adjustment begins. Much like when you brought your child home from the hospital, there will be changes to your daily life now that you have this additional family member. There will be doctor's appointments, a few sleepless nights and plenty of worries to go around, but there will also be joy, especially if you are prepared.
Dr. Brunt says that good cat health ensures good family health. She offers the following tips to achieve this:
-Take your cat to the veterinarian first thing to make sure it's healthy.
-Keep up with regular veterinary visits with necessary vaccines and parasite control and information about normal behavior and the cat's basic needs, like proper nutrition, to keep it disease-free.
-An indoor lifestyle minimizes contact with parasites and diseases that might be transmitted to people. (We call those zoonotic diseases.)
-Keeping the litter box scooped daily will prevent any unnecessary concerns about toxoplasmosis parasite infection. (Contrary to what's often reported, you cannot get toxoplasmosis directly from your cat.)
The relationship between your cat and your toddler is unpredictable. Cathy Schoettle of Edmonton,Alberta, Canada, worried about how her cat and her child would mix but she says their relationship is very good. There are moments when they tire of each other, but the two seem to work out the issues without much drama. "Sometimes our toddler is a little rough, but the cat reacts very well," Schoettle says. "Sometimes she will hiss and leave. Other times she just leaves."
