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Best for ages ten and up; same guidelines as for “Dogs,” to left.
Before you commit Cats are a lot less work than dogs, and they don’t need as much attention in a busy apartment. But because they can be less tolerant of your child’s playfulness, it’s a good idea to try to seek out a social cat. And you might skip the kittens for now. Kittens are more likely to transmit cat-scratch disease (which can cause fever and swelling of the lymph nodes) so adopting an adult cat may be wise if you have a very young child in the house, says Dr. Hohenhaus.
Speaking of scratching, be ready to sacrifice your curtains and furniture to your cat’s claws. And don’t count on declawing as the solution—it’s considered inhumane due to the pain and long recovery period, and because it leaves cats at a big disadvantage if they get outside. Another consideration: Is the feline you’re eyeing an indoor cat or an outdoor one? “We had a cat named Buster who was used to roaming a backyard in Philly,” says Park Slope dad Christenberry. “We weren’t comfortable letting him out of our second-floor apartment, and he never took to NYC living. We had to send him off to Jersey.” Finally, look around your apartment and decide where you’re going to be okay with the stinky smells of a cat box. “I swear, I’d rather have an extra room for the litter box than more closet space,” says Chelsea mom Dhuru, who keeps Moses’ poop box in the bathroom.
After you commit Teach your child not to bother the cat when she’s eating or sleeping, and to avoid touching her ears and tail. Kids under six or seven shouldn’t be allowed to pick up cats, says Dr. Hohenhaus.
