Cats can make excellent pets for busy families since they are generally very independent and are not likely to be upset at being left alone in the house all day while the family is at work and school. Of course, some cats actually prefer to be around people instead of being alone, but with the right cat, you can have a pet who OK so long as there is ample food, water, and litter boxes available. For this reason, cats can be ideal pets for busy families with children.

Temperament of the cat is the best predictor since some are more tolerant of children than others. The temperaments of your children are critical, too, because even the mellowest cat will probably have an issue with a noisy kid who constantly teases the cat.

The age of the cat and of the children can also influence the success of a cat joining the family. Families with newborns may get nervous about felines wanting to sleep on or around the baby, and young kittens may not know how to be calm around kids which could result in scratches and bites.

Kids must be taught how to be gentle and patient with a cat. Teach kids about the body language cats display when they are upset so the kids will know to leave the animal alone when the its ears flatten, back arches, or hair stands on end. If your kids know the signs to watch for and know to get away from the cat when these signs occur, then they should be able to avoid potential injuries.

Older kids can take part in caring for a cat. Calm cats might enjoy getting brushed by kids, and some kids might actually get a real kick out of cleaning the litter box. Even very young children can help put out food and water, and babies can use toys to play with the cat. Parents should realize, however, that the main pet care responsibilities rest squarely on their shoulders. They should not allow the cat to go without fresh water for a week straight just to teach the kids a lesson. Cats can be a great way to teach children responsibility and compassion, but they are not merely toys for kids to do with as they please.

Be sure that your children have handled cats before adopting one to rule out cat allergies. Also, you can gauge whether your kids are ready for the responsibility of owning a kitty.

Many cats and children can have a wonderful friendship if care is taken in choosing the right animal and in teaching the kids how to interact with their new pet.

When you are looking at cats for adoption, you may look into their eyes and fall in love instantly. All pets are not going to be a good fit for you, so you really need to know what traits are important to you in a feline before you get attached.

Questions you need to answer before adopting from a shelter include:

• What is the reputation of the shelter?
• Do the animals look cared for properly?
• Is the shelter clean?
• Where is the animal from, for example a rescue or brought in by the owner?
• Does the animal have any behavioral issues, and if so, what are they?
• Are there any known health problems or susceptibilities?
• Is the pet purebred, a cross of two breeds, or unknown origins?
• What is the age of the pet?
• How does the pet get along with children? Other animals?
• Has the pet been left alone during the day (if you are normally not home) and if so, how did it do?
• Is the pet passive, outgoing, aggressive, or have other prominent personality characteristics?

Expect to be asked many questions by the shelter staff as they want to make sure that the animal will be taken care of and that the pet is a good fit for your household.

Bring your entire family with you when choosing the pet to make sure that everyone is in agreement with which pet to choose. Also, you may find that a pet will get along wonderfully with some family members and totally avoid others. By having everyone present you can see how the animal reacts to each family member.

If you want to adopt a cat, definitely visit the shelters to see if you can find the perfect pet for your family. You may even save a pet from death or at least having to live their life out in a shelter cage.

Cats enjoy being petted for reasons beyond the obvious enjoyment of time with you. However, they may not enjoy being petted in certain ways.

Have you ever noticed that your cat will raise its chin to encourage you to pet it there? They also like to have the sides of their face stroked, and scratching at the base of their tails. The reason for this is that these areas have sebaceous glands which produce a distinct cat smell. Every time you pat or scratch your cat in this area, you are effectively letting it mark you with its scent.

Certain areas on the cat are very sensitive to touch, and your kitty gets a lot of pleasure from you stroking these areas. Not only is the skin of the cat very sensitive, but hairless pads are as well. These areas of skin and pads are particularly sensitive as they help the cat to investigate and be aware of things that are taking place around it in the wild. While most cats don’t mind their body being patted, many do not like their paws to be touched. A light massage between the paws is one thing that many cats enjoy even if they don’t ordinarily like their paws touched.

If you have been patting your cat for some time and its tail begins to start flicking rather rapidly, he is starting to get somewhat agitated. At this point, you need to stop the petting for awhile.

Cats can get a little rambunctious when you pet their bellies. One moment they can be purring with pleasure, and the next they can be biting and scratching your hand. Often, they are just playing and don’t understand that they are hurting you.

Hopefully you have learned some new ways to pet your cat and areas to avoid petting.

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