better. “Kittens are nice because you can


Youth W


Story by Sarah Womer


hen it comes to choos- ing the right cat for your family, experts say the younger the cat, the


kind of conform them to fit into your lifestyle,” said Erin Sitera, director of development at the Humane Society of Yuma. She noted that kittens, rather


than older cats, are also a good idea when there are dogs in the home because they will grow up with the animal and be more likely to get along with them. The same goes for children too.


“For little kids I would probably go with the smaller ones, that way the animal grows up with the child,” she said.


Especially with young children, it


is best when looking for a family cat


Although there are exceptions,


generally the older a cat gets, the more likely they may be to have attitude conflicts with small children. “With older cats, they already


have their personalities developed and if they don’t like something, they will let you know,” said Sitera, noting that attitude can sometimes be shown by scratching or biting. When adopting from the HSOY,


she explained that all family members, including four-legged ones, are required to come in and meet the animal before adoption to make sure that it’s a good fit. “Some animals are particular


toward men, some are particular toward women, some are particular toward small children,” said Sitera. Meeting the cat ahead of time


is really the best indicator as to whether or not there is a connection between both parties.


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is important to let them handle the cat and see how it reacts. “If the cat isn’t immediately


having its ears back and having its claws out, then it’s probably a good fit,” Sitera shared. Whether or not a family should


adopt a cat is also dependent on the attitude of the child. If the child and the cat do not


seem to be getting along, HSOY does have a 10-day return period, she said. But all the responsibility shouldn’t


be placed solely on the animal. “A really important thing for a


parent is making sure that the child understands the responsibility and the respect that an animal deserves,” Sitera said. “An animal is an animal - you can train an animal but there’s always that level of unpredictability.” When the cat is in the home,


children should be introduced to it gradually during short periods of time. While it is important to handle


a cat frequently, children must understand that a cat needs to be


handled gently and is a sensitive, living creature. The recommended method of


picking up a cat and holding it is by slipping one hand under his chest, holding the front legs gently but firmly with your fingers. At the same time, cup the other hand under the cat’s hindquarters. It is important to never pick the cat up by the scruff of the neck or by his legs. Children must learn not to pull the cat’s tail or ears, squeeze or poke it, make loud, threatening noises or go toward it too rapidly. Because even a small child can


look like a giant to a cat, a good way for both children and adults to play with a cat is to get down on the floor at its level to make him feel more secure. All in all, Sitera said, cats are just


like people - some of them have different patience levels than others. “That’s why it is important to take


your time and find the perfect pet for your family.”


❤


Sarah Womer can be reached at swomer@yumasun.com or 539- 6858.


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