Thousands of children dream of a pet - a faithful friend and partner in all games. And parents often agree at the insistence of the child to have an animal, hoping that this will teach the child responsibility. For many future owners, the question arises: to prefer a cat or a dog?
What does the young master think
If you don't know what kind of pet to get, ask your child. It is no secret that it is difficult for young children to concentrate on the same lesson, today they are interested in one thing, tomorrow - in another. Initially, any pet will surely pique your child's interest and curiosity, but it won't last long. If a little man dreamed of a funny puppy, and they bought him an independent and proud cat, most likely, in the end, you will still have to take care of her.
Who do parents want
Although you are buying a pet for a child, all household members will have to contact the animal. And if someone from your family is afraid of dogs or dislikes cats, it is hardly worth having this animal. The new inhabitant of the house should evoke positive emotions in everyone. Gather a family council, and together you will surely be able to find an option that will satisfy everyone.
A glimpse into reality
Dreams of a cat or dog need to be reconciled with reality. Together with your child, think about what responsibilities he can take on, and what you will have to do. A six-year-old baby cannot cope with walking and training a dog, a ten-year-old can already be entrusted with a walk with a cocker spaniel or a poodle, but a child will not hold a German shepherd or a Rottweiler. In addition, sometimes children get sick and go on vacation - think about whether you are ready to spend an hour and a half on the street with your dog at this time. If you lean towards the cat, make sure that the child can feed and change the litter box, while you accept the ragged furniture.
Animals need to be vaccinated, they also get sick from time to time. Even a teenager may need to be escorted to a veterinary clinic.
Allergies
Before buying a cat or dog, it would be good to make sure that all family members are not allergic to animals. After all, if the baby manages to become attached to the pet, and later it turns out that he must be given, this will make him suffer for a single day.
There are ways to minimize the consequences of the disease - regularly ventilate the room and do cleaning, do not let the animal into the room to the allergic person, but this does not completely solve the problem, but only reduces the intensity of the symptoms.
Child's age
Small children are cruel, but they are so because until a certain age they are not able to understand that another creature is in pain, and to sympathize, no matter how hard their parents try to explain it to them. The ability for empathy appears in toddlers at the age of five or six. This should be considered when buying an animal. Your pet must be either agile enough to be able to run and hide from a naughty child (for example, a cat can successfully cope with this task), or good-natured enough to take blows (some large dog breeds, for example, St. Bernards, like to tinker with children and tolerate their careless treatment). You can also wait a couple of years and buy the pet later when you are confident that your son or daughter will provide love and care for the pet.
