You're planning to have cat as the family pet for you. When acquiring a cat, the presence of young children in the household should be considered. You're thinking that the addition of a cat into your home would make a terrific family pet, and would give your children the pleasure of loving and caring for an animal.

Most likely you'd be right. Children and cats can become good friends, the important thing being that each has respect for the other. There are things to remember and steps to take before introducing a cat to your children.

First thing make sure that your children would want a cat as a family pet. Most probably they will enthusiastically welcome the idea, but make sure that they understand that caring for a living breathing creature has responsibility attached to it as well as pleasure.

If you have small children in the house and in particular those under the age of three then a cat might not be the best pet to have around. This is taking into consideration both the child and the cat's well-being.

Cats love to snuggle into people for company and warmth and this can be particularly dangerous where cats have been known to get into bed with babies and smother them unintentionally. Be prepared to assume all the responsibilities of taking care of the family cat yourself. Children can, and should, be taught to take care of some of the chores if they are old enough, but if they lose interest it will be up to you.

Children need to be told how to pick up the cat and handle it carefully and also to become aware of when the cat doesn't want to be handled any longer and would like to be left alone in peace. Many cats also get quite stressed with loud noise and sudden action which is something that is quite common with young children.