Small Dog or Kitten ?

Go with the dog....I had a cat for 7 years and she was great but the litter box always smells. She wasn't good when my son was born and we had to find a new home for her. But dogs are always lovable, we have a mini goldendoodle and she is wonderful.

I have a 14 month old and pugs, they get along great and the pugs dont get very big. They are great with kids and train easily. My parents have 12 pugs and the baby does great with them and likewise. Good luck choosing a pet most can be trained without much trouble.

My cousin got a kitten when her boys were little (they are teens now) and she has always been a great pet - she became attached immediately and still follows them around, she does have a favorite and not only does she sleep in his room, she sits outside to watch him play basketball and just recently while he was sick, she sat at his bedside until he was better. They have always had dogs too, but the cat is the favorite.

I know you've gotten a lot responses already on this subject but being as I actually work in animal rescue, I thought I'd throw my two cents in. Yes, kittens can hurt small children when they're playing but the worst you'll get is some scratches. Just make sure you clean the wound right afterwards. I do NOT think declawing is the solution to having a kitten with small children. I cannot tell you how many cats we have gotten that someone had declawed and then had MAJOR issues with it afterwards. We've had cats that turned REALLY mean and had to euthanized, cats that pee everywhere except the litter box. I personally don't think it's worth it and on top of all that, it's an extremely painful procedure. (I've also worked as a veterinary assistant and saw the procedure done several times and refused to have anything to do with them) It's much less painful to just trim the cats nails the same way you would a dog. If you get a small dog, it's best to go with an older dog from a rescue. (preferrably one that is in a foster home with children) You'll know their tempermant better than you would a puppy or a dog that you just bought off someone. With a toddler, I wouldn't go too small however as they're VERY easy to trip over. ;) Whatever you decided, I wish you luck and hope you find what you're looking for in a pet.

I would go with the kitten. I would take my children with me when picking out the kitten. See Which on acts the best with the kids. Lots of holding. Even getting a 6 month old kitten is good. Still easy to train. I would try adopting a kitten. Just make sure if you do you get one, it gets fixed when it turns one. sica, can and other similar places can do it for half price. Just keep in mind, aniamls do cost money:) So if your tight on cash, might be good to wait.

To be honest, I think dogs are better companions. Cats tend to be very independent and not much of a companion except when its on their terms. Cats won't necessarily be a friend like dogs.

I grew up with having a cat and adopted two kittens once I was out of the house on my own. They were good pets for an adult, but they would often lumber around the house on their own.

I got my first puppy about 2 months ago. It is a completely different experience. I never felt as close to my kitties as I do to my little puppy. She is such a good puppy, so loving, attentive, gentle with my toddlers. I love her so much. I never thought I would be a dog person. I feel like I've received so much more affection from my cocker spaniel than I ever did from my domestic short hair or my calico. My Rose Petal gives such a huge greeting after not seeing for as little as five minutes. She runs to you, tries to lick your face or hands, jumps and runs around you in circles, gives playful barks, wants to be petted and played with constantly. You just don't get that kind of attention from a cat. They often run away and come to you when the cat feels like cuddling or laying on your lap.

I know cats may seem like less maintenance. I guess after having a dog I would rather pick up poop from the yard a couple times a week than clean a kitty litter pan every day and pick up puked up hair balls. If you get a cat, definitely have them fixed when they are young. Once they go through heat, they pick up very bad habits of being extra feisty, getting into things, peeing on things (even girls) and flirting more with boy cats that come by.

Hi S.. I love the image of your dog being so gentle w/ your playful 15 mo old, and I really love how you want to add another pet to your family!

I've always had cats, but I'd like to have a dog or 2 someday. Kittens are basically like toddlers...very active, into everything and chase/pounce anything that moves. I adopted my 2 12 y/o cats as kittens before I had children, and thank goodness! But kittens ARE adorable, and use the litter box, but are active at night...this may annoy your dog. Kittens teeth are very sharp, as are their claws so if you do decide to declaw they do have to reach a certain age which I forget. A kitten will prob chase after your toddler son and bat at your dog's wagging tail, using these teeth and claws in play. It's all fun and games to a kitten, that's why I got 2! But this quickly passes.

There are many beautiful adult cats (still young, age 1 or 2)waiting to be adopted, and have established their personalities (good w/ kids, dogs, lap cat, playful, lazy, etc.) You may want to consider this. My cats now are sweet companions to my 9 1/2 y/o daughter, they cuddle w/ my 3 y/o twins, are still very playful and healthy (please keep cats indoors and spay/neuter!!)

I'm no expert w/ dogs, but I have a fondness for pugs and I hear they are good w/ kids and other pets.

Stores like PetSmart often feature cats from your local Humane Society, so take your children there sometime. Many pet shelters cover the cost of spaying/neutering in their adoption fee. My black male cat practically chose me by reaching his paw out to me, and his tortoise-shell sister got herself a home just by her gorgeous looks. I just told my daughter today "people who don't bring pets into their home really don't know what their missing." I think they're just missing something in their hearts.

May your family be blessed!

K.

There are a few things to think about when getting any animal. First, if you get a kitten they are more moldable and less skittish then a grown cat, so a kitten might be best for your little one. We got two kittens when my oldest was just about two and they tolerated a lot from her. She would put them in her shopping cart and let push them, its like they kind of grew up together. But, you should think about getting the kitten declawed as soon as possible or your little one will get really scratched (that is if you tend to keep it as an indoors cat). For dogs, you said your husband did not want a puppy, which is understandable. My problem with that is that a dog that is not raised around little ones is more likely to be agressive, but not always. THat was one of my concerns when we got our dog who was already one and a half, but she was raised with kids smaller then my children and she is very good with them. ALso, the dog you already have might not take to an older dog so well, but might be okay with a puppy. I find it so sweet that your dog is protective of you autistic child.Animals can sense these things. I have both a dog and two cats. My cats we got before our dog and Clare the female keeps our dog maggie in check, and Clyde our male cat is pretty timid with the kids or strangers. Maggie (our black lab)is VERY protective of our family but very gentle and tolerant. There are pros and cons to having any kind of pet, you just need think about what would work best for your situation. In my exerience with three children and dogs, the dogs tend to be pretty standoffish of smaller children until they reach about 2-3 years old. That might be the case with your dog. Once your youngest is a little bit older it might interact with him a little more. I wish you luck with your new addition to your family

Hey S.,

I personally am in favor of whatever you choose. You can't go wrong. I love pretty much anything with 4 paws, and so do my kids. We have two kids, two golden retrievers, 3 cats and a fish. I affectionately refer to our menagerie as the family farm.

Getting an animal is a wonderful opportunity to teach your kids about taking responsibility. I think a great bonding experience is to let your youngest help feed, clean up after and play with your new cat or dog. If he takes ownership it will become his, and he will be less upset that your oldest has such a close bond with the lab.

You sounded a bit unsure of cats. I'd say if you are considering a cat go for it!! My cats are wonderful! They are SO easy to litter box train. It took just showing them where the box was. Step back and let nature take over. That easy... no joke. In fact, in the summers, mine prefer to go outside (they go out the dog door). So I only have to change the litter box when it gets cold. Kitties make wonderful pets for everyone in the family. Nothing beats cuddling up in a chair watching a great movie with a little purr box sitting on your lap. Not to mention the local humane society usually has tons of sweet babies looking for a good home. Best wishes!!

S.,

I've chimed in on this subject before about our dog Mr. Bear. We actually FOSTERED him before adopting him. Fostering a pet through a rescue site was the perfect answer for us since we already had a dog, big black marshmallow/Newfie mix Russell. We wanted the right easy-going temperment to be a good brother for him and if they didn't get along, there was always an out. Not that I'm advocating getting a dog then returning him like an ill-fitting pair of pants. But fostering is an easier option, since it's not permanent. Turns out, Mr. Bear was a wonderful compliment to Russell and we adopted him soon after fostering. (Two months into fostering, the folks said there was someone interested in adopting him and we said "Heck no! he's ours!!!" and we drew up the papers to keep him permanently.) Russell and Bear were great friends until Mr. Bear passed two years ago. We would absolutely foster again the next time.

Do your research and ask a lot of questions. I suggest look for a dog and not a puppy. Ask about temperment, behavior, how he plays, etc. There are tons of sites out there with dogs that need homes.

Good luck to you and your soon to be menagarie!

J.

I have had cats all of my life. As long as you get them when they are kittens, if you are gentle and loving, it will grow up that way. In my whole life, none of my cats have ever hurt a child or anyone! My one dog that we had bit numerous times. We no longer have that dog. For someone who has no cats to say that they hurt kids more than dogs is incorrect in my opinion and in my experience. Hopefully that person is some kind of vet or animal expert. I have never heard of such a thing. Cats retreat around loud noises which would = kids. A kitten who has all of his/her shots and will be fixed and declawed when the time comes is what I would get!!

Good Luck!!

I'm hearing management issues in many of the responses you are receiving. I have a 14 mo. old girl and a 2 1/2 yr. old Jack Russell female. Bandit is VERY attached to me but regularly runs around and chases Kaitlin around the house. She also has been trained to go lay in her cage if she's not in the mood to have her ears pulled or tail pulled by the baby. Training is the key. I have been pulling and tugging at her since I knew I was pregnant because I didn't want issues with her behavior. She knows that SHE needs to take herself out of the situation before it gets her into trouble. Now, I've taken Kaitlin to friends' houses where they had litters of kittens and she LOVED playing with them. Everyone's advice on the male cats is right on - and they get MORE loveable after they are fixed. I had 2 before I was married and raised them like dogs: they came when I called and begged for food and attention, so it's all in the training. You need to look inside yourself to see what you have time for. If you are looking for a more mellow/trained small dog, you might try the Sanctuary for Senior Dogs in Cleveland. They are like 5+ yrs. old and all are fostered - not kenneled - so the foster family could give you a VERY clear picture on how they are in a home environment. I 100% recommend Jack Russells, but you need to be very clear and consistent with your training and commands. They are VERY smart and need definite boundaries, but they also have the fun energy to play with your little one. Bandit wouldn't hurt Kaitlin ever. Kaitlin has no fear of any dog of any size.

S.,

As long as your son is as gentle as you say, (or can at least be taught to be) then I think a kitten would be a good choice. I would strongly suggest a male kitten, however, as males are "typically" more outgoing and playful than females. But that isn't always the case - they all have their own personality. We got kittens for our children two years ago, and one of them is SO playful, always chasing things, running around like crazy. He is a great jumper, also! He can jump seven feet in the air! No kidding. And he loves attention - he always wants to be around us, and if we're ignoring him and standing there talking, he will jump up on our shoulders, (just mine or my husbands, not the kids) and lay across them. It's wild! However, the other one, a very nice cat, also a male, tends to be lazy and only comes around to be petted when he wants to. So, you see, they vary greatly. They both know when it's the kids bedtime, though, and each go to their respective beds to sleep with the kids. They are quite lovable.

Cats live an average of 16-18 years, so a cat would be with your son throughout his childhood. And I recommend declawing the front claws, to save accidental scratches on your little boy. (Cats can still climb using their back claws.) Good luck with your decision! J.

I have a 15 month old and recently adopted 2 kittens. They have very different personalities. One plays with my son, but the other ignores him. He is gentle too. It's a toss up, really, on how a kitten would be. Kittens are easier to care for and are easy to litter train. You can leave them for a long weekend and they don't require as much attention...

Kittens are a lot of fun, they turn into cats. The thing about kittens is they will bite and or claw, not necessarily to hurt but it is a form of play for them. Make sure if you get a kitten you have it declawed (I only have front claws removed) and fixed. Female cats will get out, yowl and cry when in heat, and if you don't want every Tom in a 6 mile radius visiting you want to have her fixed. Male cats will spray your house to stake out their territory if they aren't fixed and the yowling when a female is in heat will get on your nerves. So will the clawing the furniture and climbing the drapes! My daughter had a big Tom she named Fluffy, as a kitten, who even let her dress him in doll clothes and would sit in her doll stroller and let her push him around in it with his back legs sticking out through the leg holes.
We have both, dog and cat, and have had for over 30 years. The older cat still spends a great deal of time sleeping with the child and snuggling with him, he will play but only with a moving light or a pipe cleaner. The dog is his wrestling and walking buddy. Dog prefers to be where I am 90% of the time.

I would not recommend getting a small dog. My parents have one as does my brother (two different breeds), and neither of them are good with the kids at all. one is a toy poodle and one is a Jack Russel terrier. They are both very jumpy and snippy. I have had cats since I was a teen, and have had very little issues. In fact, I've never had any issues between my kids and the cats. We got a kitten about a year ago, and he is the best cat ever. Cats are super easy to litter train too. Ususally, you only have to show them one time where the litter box is. I put him into it, then picked up one of his front paws and "scratched" it in the litter. No problems after that. I would recommend getting it spayed/neutered and front-declawed asap however. You wouldn't want a pregnant female cat or a male who sprays to mark his territory. Sometimes they can scratch you without meaning to, it is just how they use their paws, but if they have not claws, then there's no problem.

I would definitely say not an adult cat. They are set in their ways. My 10 year old cat pretty much ignores my toddler. Actually the 8 year old lab pretty much ignores him too. I would say that you son might be a little young for his own pet. On one hand I would say wait until he is more aware of it; he probably is not as upset as you think. On the other hand, if you are willing to rescue a dog in a shelter, I just can't discourage that. But I would probably wait.
And oh yes, labs are lovers!

I would say get a small kitten. We have two cats and a dog. One cat loves the baby (she's the younger of the two cats) and the other cat just comes around the baby when she's in desperate need of attention. I would say declaw at least the front paws. My kitty has swatted at the baby but only once or twice. Plus cats are more independent than a puppy.

It all depends on the pet's personality. Most cats are typically afraid of sudden movements (toddlers) and some can be quite playful at all times. We have 2 cats now with my toddler and neither cat seem too afraid of my son, but they do keep their distance from him most of the time, while other times they play a little. My son loves playing with our dog the most because she ALWAYS plays back (she is a 7 lb Yorkie so she will always look like a puppy). Dogs are very loyal pets. Getting a dog at a young age will increase the loyalty between the two since toddlers and puppies love playing all day. Dogs are more work than cats, and more expensive. Cats can be extremely loyal too - I had one before my son was born and she followed me everywhere and laid with me everytime I was on the couch. Either or, both make great pets for children. It could be fun to have both at the same time. If you don't want a puppy you can adopt a dog at the Animal Care and Control or the ASPCA...they also have kittens, cats, and puppies. Good luck in the addition of your family!

I would advice not getting a kitten. We have a couple of cats (outside now) and two children nearly 4yrs old and 2.5yrs old. They have been around the cats all of their lives and started out picking them up by the necks then switched to being very gentle and now are just "curiously mean" they pull their tails etc. Not to mention cats can be pains, they are pretty tempermental and most of the time independant, they go through the mean stage when they are "teenagers" no matter how cuddley they were as babies. And the worst part in my opinion is the hair on the counters because they alway snoop around and claw sharpening on the carpet and furniture. The cat would probably want to play when your son did not and would not be around when he wanted to play. I would suggest a medium sized dog possibly a "designer dog" I only say this because we aquired a malte-poo (maltese toy poodle mix) he was 1yr old crate trained and house broken when we got him. He is very good with the girls, he plays with them and tolerates them when they are "mean" to him. He is just big enough the kids do not hurt him but small enough he doesnt "get in the way" and best of all he has hair not fur so he does not shed. Keep your eyes open and maybe you will get lucky and come across something that will fit your family, check the local paper daily and maybe even the animal shelter. You might be able to leave a "looking for" slip at the shelter and they would call you if something turned up... you never know when a family will have to move and won't be able to take their pet. Also try petfinder.org

Our kitty loved our 2 year old grandson to death. She curls up next to him when he is sleeping. She lets him pretty much do whatever he wants to her. He also is very gental. Our boxer loves him too. Braydon tries to ride him. It's so funny. I would be careful of small dogs. They might pee on your child if they feel they are not getting enought attention. We had a small dog growing up and when I had my oldest we could not lay him on the floor. Snoopy peed on us so he certainly would have peed in Michael.
A puppy can be house broken easily you have to pay close attention to the body language. Even kitties are housebroken and need to be trained.

I'll preface by saying I love dogs and cats and have too many! I have 6 children, 5 grandchildren, and have had many foster children in my home over the years and have to say that there are pros and cons to both dogs and cats.

Cats are very independant and are sometimes very loving and gentle, but can still bite or scratch if they have their tail or ears pulled. I am blessed with two very laid back cats that my younger kids and grandkids carry and take with them everywere they go. The cats just run away without trying to scratch or bite when the kids get a little rough, but it is always a possibility. One is declawed and the other is not. I suggest, if you do decide on a cat, that you think about getting it declawed. I know there is a lot of controversy about this, but if you plan on your cat being an indoor cat, it will not only save your toddler from scratches, it will also save your furniture. My declawed cat seems just as happy as my cat that I did not declaw, so it might be a choice to consider. I would also suggest a male cat rather than a female, as I have found female cats to be much more tempermental than males, but be sure to spay or neuter your cat by 4 months as this also helps with temperment.

Small dogs can be great, but they can also be a bit snappy if they feel threatened, or if a child pulls their tail or ears. One small dog that I would suggest is sturdy, loving and gentle and has always been a big favorite of all the kids who have come in and out of our home. It is the pug. They have great personalities and really have a loving and gentle temperment. Some small breeds are more known for their gentility, but if the pug doesn't appeal, I would suggest a medium sized dog if a dog is your choice. They are not as fragile as a smaller dog and most of them love to play with and interact with children. You can look on the AKC website to learn more about the temperment of the different dog breeds to see which kind you think might fit your family best. And remember, you can always adopt a dog that is already potty trained if your husband truly wants one that's housebroken before it enters your home.

Either way, I know another pet will not only enrich the life of your 15 month old, but of all the family members as well. Have fun deciding and best wishes to all of you!

Hi S.,

Either would be a good choice. I have 4 small dogs and 1 cat. My 2 1/2 year old plays with both. If you get a cat make sure you get a male. Male cats are more loving and wants to be around you at all times. Female cats are more when I want you I'll come around if I don't leave me alone. I have had alot of cats and dogs growing up. Anyways my daughter loves both with the cat she drags a string around and he chases it. With the dogs she can run they chase her, throw toys for them to get, they interact more together. Good luck

We have a 17 month old daughter, a 3 month old kitten and an 8 week old lab puppy. The puppy definately is more playful than the kitten, but she's rougher too. Our animals are outside, so I don't have the house training thing to worry about...thank goodness! I've had several cats in my lifetime and I've found them all to be very well behaved. My males cats were the cuddlers. They loved to snuggle! I think it really depends on what kind of relationship you want your 15 month old to have with an animal. In my experience, cats lay around more and won't be as fun to play with. I'm sort of new at the whole dog thing, so I can't really comment on that. There is no guarantee that if you get a new pet, it will bond more with your 15 month old than your 4 year old. Maybe go to the animal shelter and see what he likes better. There are lots and lots of free kittens and puppies available right now. If you need an older dog, animal shelters always have a lot of them and most are housebroken and have their shots. Have fun picking out your new pet!

If you are wanting a pet for your 15 mos old so he has some play time with an animal and some attention that he is seeking from your current dog than a cat is NOT the way to go. One, cats are loners and two believe it or not the hurt kids a lot more than dogs. I would say get the small dog if you want your son to interact with an animal not a cat. My friend has two cats we never ever see them and they run away from her kids all the time. They are just loners.

S.:

I have a large dog and a cat and it's a nightmare with children. The dog and cat chase each other all the time and it's difficult to let the babies play on the floor for fear they might get stepped on. I just wanted to mention this to you before you add another animal to the mix. Best of luck to you in your search!!

N.

I am a dog lover but in my old apartment they didnt like the idea of a dog, so i took my son to the humane shelter let him pick out "his own" kitten and name it. Let him help feed and water the kitten and the kitten should attach to him really good. Ours really did. Good Luck!!

Hi S.,
In our home, we've always been so busy with kids and pets. We have 3 girls ages 12yrs., 10yrs. & 2yrs. of age. We have 2 dogs, who've had a litter each and 4 cats, a male and 3 females and also have 5 fish. One of the cats had just strayed into our yard and never left. (We started off with one cat, who was abandoned and abused), she wasn't fixed (we didn't know) and ended up with 2 kittens which we kept! As for our dogs, we had taken a puppy in, which was alone since birth, due to the fact that her mother was ran over. As for the other dog, she strayed into our yard and never left. Her and my other dog got along just great, their like sisters and bestest of friends! Our youngest daughter had pretty much grown up with the dog who was left alone when its mother died. They are best friends. My daughter is really gentle with the kittens and rough with the dogs. But they don't mind, the dogs love the attention and will follow her every where. My two older girls perfer cats, so the cats are pretty much theirs. So I think the dogs (which are between medium sized and large) are a good thing for a toddler, because they can crawl and wrestle with them and they tolerate the ear pulling and tail biting....lol. When smaller dogs love attention, but not the rough housing. And the kittens scratch and claw, so if you do decide to get a cat/kitten, I'd get it declawed so it can't hurt your little one if he does decide to squeeze it to love it. Not saying he's rough..just at times cats don't like to be held when they want to go. where dogs don't mind at all.Good Luck!

I would go with a kitten. Cats pretty much take care them selves. We have 2 children and 2 cats and have not had any issues. We tried getting a dog and ended up having to give him away after a year. He was way too rough with my children. When you get a dog so much depends on their personalities and how they have been trained and treated before you get them. A kitten will grow with your kids and does not demand as much time.

Personally, I think you have to make the choice with a lot of consideration. Kittens grow up to be cats that are more independent than dogs. Which means less work for you, as far as letting the dog out to go to the bathroom. I have 6 cats. They all have their own personalities. Most cats don't like loud noises so it may hide most of the time, especially since you have 2 children. Young children tend to be a little rough with cats causing them to scratch. 15 months old is a little young to have your own puppy/kitten. I just fear that it won't work out and then the dog/cat is the one that has to suffer. Getting any animal is a huge responsibilty. There are many things to consider. If the dog/cat doesn't work out, what will you do with it? (shelters are crowded now with dogs/cats that didn't work out) You said it must be potty trained (what happens if it has accidents in the house?) Don't buy a dog from a Petshop,(it just promotes more breeding) Vet bills are not cheap. You have to think heartworm, fleas, vaccines, medical issues, spaying and neutering. Cats are the same. I am sure you know this, since you have a dog. Dogs bite when provoked, so you have to be careful. If it were me, I would just wait until your son gets older and let him go with you to pick out an animal that best suits your family. He is still very young.