77 Things to Know Before Getting a Cat. Susan Ewing M.

may still not be the best time. If your house is “holiday central” for all of the relatives, or if you always host the neighborhood party, maybe it’s best to wait on getting a kitten or cat. Likewise, if you have very young children, it might be better to wait. Children can get pretty wound up around holiday time, and your new pet needs relative calm so he can adjust to all of the newness with a minimum of stress.

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      Meeting the Kids

      There’s nothing cuter than a kid and a kitten, but children—especially young ones—need to be supervised when they are with the new kitten or cat. A child doesn’t always understand that he or she may be hurting a kitten, so it’s up to you to keep all parties safe. Don’t let your children sit on the cat, pull his ears or tail, or poke his eyes.

      Pay attention to your cat. If his ears are back, his tail is thrashing, or he’s hissing or growling, he’s had enough. Remove him from the situation. Don’t let children interfere with your cat when he is eating or sleeping. Crating your cat or putting him in a room by himself will give everyone a chance to calm down.

      Encourage your children to sit on the floor to play with the cat or kitten and teach them the proper way to pick up the kitten: with one hand under the chest and the other supporting the hindquarters. Also, remember that, while an adult cat may have learned to play nicely, with claws sheathed, a kitten is more likely to scratch. Supervise playtime. Encourage using toys on poles so that the kitten’s claws connect with feathers or fur, not skin. You don’t want your child to get hurt.

      Another good way to help strengthen the bond between your children and the kitten is to let them help take care of him. Even a small child can fill a water dish or scoop food from a can. Remember, though, that even though your children may enjoy caring for the kitten, it’s up to you to make sure that the kitten isn’t neglected because the children forgot or were too busy.

      

      If you don’t have children at home, but children visit from time to time, it’s a good idea to introduce your kitten to some children. You want him to grow up to be a cat who is comfortable around both adults and children. Maybe there are some neighborhood children who’d like to meet your kitten. Just remember to supervise all interaction. You want this to be a positive experience for both the kitten and the children.

      If you’re adopting an older cat from a shelter or rescue, the volunteers may be able to tell you whether he is good with children, but maybe not. Always err on the side of caution. Make introductions slowly. Make sure the child understands to move slowly and quietly. The best way to make the introduction is for the child to sit quietly and let the cat come to him or her.

      

      Make introductions with the child sitting on the floor.

      No matter if you bring home a kitten or an adult cat, you must teach your children to handle the new pet gently.

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      Meeting Other Pets

      If you have a dog, you can’t just turn a cat—and definitely not a kitten—loose in the house and expect everyone to live happily ever after. At least an adult cat has a better chance at reaching safety than a kitten, and an adult cat might even stop a dog in his tracks by using his claws.

      If you’re introducing a kitten to your dog, put the kitten in a cat carrier for the initial introduction. Let the dog and kitten sniff each other through the carrier door. It may be that your dog is friendly and curious, and that’s a good thing. If your dog tries to get to the kitten through the carrier, the introductions will take much longer.

      Next, set your kitten up with his own bed, litter box, and food in a spare room with the door closed. Both the kitten and the dog will be able to smell each other through the crack under the door. When you want to let the kitten explore the house, crate your dog.

      After a day or two, depending on the size of your dog, you might be able to put a baby gate in the doorway of the cat’s room. The two pets can see and smell each other, but the kitten will be safe. Always supervise all contact until you are sure that they are safe together.

      

      Take introductions slowly before you let your dog and kitten loose together.

      With an adult cat, things can be both easier and more complicated. An adult cat may or may not already be familiar with dogs. You’ll still want that safe area for the cat, but adult cats have full use of their claws and are faster and more able to get to that safe area.

      Use baby gates wherever necessary so that your cat can leap over, leaving the dog behind. Clear a shelf or two and remove things from your fireplace mantel so that the cat always has someplace high and safe where he can rest undisturbed. Keep the litter box in a room that is a “dog-free” zone. Again, a baby gate across the doorway may work. It’s not fair to your cat to have to try to use the litter box while a dog is present, especially if the two are not yet best buddies. It’s a good idea to keep the litter box where the dog can’t get at it anyway because many dogs seem to find litter box deposits tasty.

      Be patient. Total acceptance is not likely to happen in just a day or two. It can take weeks. Make sure neither animal can harass the other when you’re not around. Supervise their meetings and praise both animals when they are calm and nonthreatening. Many dogs and cats become good friends, but even a truce can work as long as there are safety zones for everyone.

      If you love having a cat and want another, follow a similar plan for meet-and-greets. A kitten in a carrier may be introduced initially to an adult cat. Then, as previously discussed, set up the safe room for the new cat or kitten and let the two cats smell each other at the crack under the door. When one cat has the run of the house, the other is confined. Also, when you’ve removed the new cat from his room to a safe place, let the resident cat check out the new cat’s room. Having a diffuser of synthetic cat pheromones may also help relax the cats.

      If the cats seem comfortable sniffing near the door, prop the door open a couple of inches and let them interact at that opening. If either cat seems stressed, end the session. Be patient with this process.

      

      With careful introductions and supervision, your cat and dog can become best friends.

      Eventually, enlist a helper and have the cats in the same room, but at opposite ends. Offer tasty treats and attention, especially if the cats are calm and ignoring each other. Gradually bring them closer and closer. Even if they never become best friends, it’s good enough if they tolerate each other with no aggression. As mentioned in discussing introductions to dogs, have a cleared-off shelf or two where the cats can get away from each other.

      If you have other types of pets, such as rabbits, gerbils, or hamsters, it’s likely that they will never be friends with your cat. Your cat will see these animals as prey, so make sure that these other pets are in safe cages out of your cat’s reach. If you have an aquarium, make sure that the lid is secure. Yes, there are cute videos online of cats cuddling with rabbits or a mouse perched on a cat’s head, but these are not the norm. Keep all of your pets safe.

      DID YOU KNOW?

      While dogs are usually predictable in their behavior, cats are more independent and “creative” in their life skills.