Aug

28

When Your Kids Want a Pet

Posted by admin

August 28, 2007 |

There has been a tiny orange and white kitten hanging out by our house for a few weeks now. It is very friendly and tame, often letting my sons carry it around the yard. It is also very skinny, devouring food the first time I put some out for it. After a few weeks of hanging out we decided to adopt the freeloader. Even though we already have cats inside my boys have been so smitten by this kitten, and the feels seem to be mutual. My oldest named him Sweetie Pie and insists, despite all evidense to the conrary, that the kitten is a girl. Sunday night we finally let the kitten in, partly due to a pair of large dogs sniffing around the yard, and he took immediately to loving on his boys.

Pets can be a lot of work for young children. And not all kids are up to the challenge. Though I’ll be doing most of the kitty care, I’ve been laying out some ground rules for my boys. Number one is that Sweetie Pie is not a toy/doll to be carted around. So far they seem fine with this, but my nieces haven’t figured out that he really doesn’t like to be carried like a baby doll. Still he’s been a lot of fun and the other cats have taken to him with ease. And once we get him in to the vet this Friday he’ll be officially part of the family.

For tips on how to manage kids and pets my favorite site is the Best Friends Animal Society’s page on kids and animals.


Comments

1 Comment so far

  1. Trish on August 30, 2007 9:16 am

    We have a kitten right now also, and I am guilty of carrying her around just like a baby too! I think she’s getting used to it, though. I know, I’m as bad as the kids, right?

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