What are the advantages and disadvantages of raising a cat for children

If you are a cat lover but have children at home, you may have this question: “Can I still keep a cat if I have children at home?” In fact, this question is not a simple “yes” or “no” “The answer needs to be considered comprehensively based on the specific circumstances. Next, let us explore this issue.

If I have children at home, can I still keep a cat?

If your little one loves animals, getting a cat is a great choice. Not only can children learn responsibility and love, but it can also promote children’s physical and mental development. At the same time, cats are also very good companion animals that can accompany children to play and grow together.
However, if your child is allergic to or afraid of cats, then having a cat is not a good choice. At this point, you need to consider the health and safety of your child rather than keeping a cat purely as a hobby.

Benefits of raising cats

Promote children’s physical and mental development

Cat ownership can teach children care, responsibility and patience, while also improving their emotional intelligence and social skills. Children can learn how to deal with and solve problems by taking care of cats, and they can also improve their communication skills by interacting with cats.

Reduce stress and improve mood

Research shows that playing with cats can reduce stress and anxiety in people, while also improving mood. For children, playing with cats can relieve the stress in study and life, allowing them to grow up more relaxed and happily.

Reduce the risk of allergies

Cat ownership is less risky than owning a dog. Studies have found that owning a cat can enhance a child’s immunity and reduce the risk of allergies. Of course, if the child is already allergic to cats, this benefit does not apply.

Disadvantages of raising cats

Cat scratches and bites

Cats naturally like to scratch and bite, which can cause harm to children. Especially for younger children, they may not have learned how to interact with cats correctly and require adult guidance and supervision.

Cat excrement may spread germs

Cat’s excrement may contain germs, which may cause infection if children come into contact with these excrements. Therefore, in the process of raising cats, you need to pay attention to regularly cleaning the cat’s feces and urine to keep the environment hygienic.

Cats may cause harm to children

Some cats may become cranky or aggressive, especially when they are frightened or uncomfortable. This can be harmful to children, especially if they are interacting with the cat.
Whether you can keep a cat if you have children at home needs to be considered comprehensively based on the specific circumstances. If children like cats and parents have enough experience and knowledge to manage and monitor cats, then raising a cat is a good choice. However, if the child is allergic to cats, is afraid of cats, or the parents do not have enough time and energy to take care of cats, then careful consideration is needed.

Finally, I would like to remind all parents that before raising a cat, you must understand the cat’s habits and preferences. At the same time, you must educate children on how to interact with cats correctly to ensure the safety and health of children.

The answer is yes, and there are many benefits. These are all scientifically based and will be analyzed in detail below.

1. In 2017, the scientific journal “Microbiome” mentioned that if newborns keep pets at home, good microorganisms in the body will increase, helping to prevent allergies and obesity.
Exposure to pets in the first 3 months of life is most effective in improving a baby’s immunity, even while it is still in the mother’s belly.
A team led by a Canadian doctor of pediatric epidemiology conducted a study. They sampled 746 babies. Some families were raising pets, some had pets during pregnancy but did not keep them after the baby was born, and some did not keep pets. Families, studies have found that children with pets at home have twice as many Ruminococcus and Oscillator bacteria as other children, helping to lower the chances of childhood allergies, asthma and obesity.
The study also mentioned that in families with pets before the baby was born, these beneficial microbiomes were indirectly transferred from the mother to the unborn child, and this bacterial exchange occurred regardless of whether the baby was born by caesarean section, natural birth, or whether the child was breastfed. In addition, expectant mothers who keep pets during pregnancy may also reduce the spread of B streptococci during delivery, thereby reducing the chance of neonatal pneumonia.
In addition to having a positive impact on health, keeping pets in children can also cultivate a sense of responsibility, build self-confidence, cultivate empathy, relieve stress, and make them more willing to go out with their furry children. These added values are equally valuable.
Owning a cat may even relieve anxiety and reduce the risk of several heart diseases, including stroke. Another study found that cat owners were 40% less likely to die from a heart attack than non-cat owners. It’s not clear whether keeping cats reduces people’s anxiety, or whether people with calm personalities are more likely to keep cats.

In addition, there are some studies on cat raising that you can learn about:

1. Cat’s purring can heal injured bones and muscles in humans. Studies have pointed out that vibration frequencies between 18 and 35 Hz have a positive impact on the flexibility of injured joints. 25 and 50 Hz are the best frequencies to increase the strength of muscles and bones. The next best frequencies are 100 and 200 Hz, while cats purr. Sound, with frequencies between 20 and 140 Hz, falls squarely within these ranges and can treat infections and swelling, injuries to muscles, tendons and ligaments, and vibrations are also helpful for cartilage tissue.
2. The Mayo Clinic Sleep Medicine Center in the United States confirmed that 41% of people said they would sleep better when sleeping with pets, and only 20% thought it would cause interference.
3. Men who keep pets are more attractive to women. A survey by the famous pet researcher Joan Mai Nicholas shows that compared to men who do not own cats, up to 90% of single women believe that men who own cats are gentler and know how to take care of others.
4. Immunize children against allergies. Some people are allergic to cat fur, but a study released by the National Institutes of Health points out that infants and young children who have been exposed to cats since childhood have stronger immunity. Marshall Platt, head of the Allergy Mechanisms Department of the American Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, also said that high-density contact with animals in childhood can not only protect children from pet allergies, but also other common allergies such as dust mites, hogweed pollen and grass allergies. etc. are also resistant.
5. Just watching cat videos will make you happier. A survey of more than 7,000 people at the Indiana University Bloomington campus showed that watching cat videos online can increase viewers’ vitality and positive emotions while reducing negative emotions.
6. Cat ownership helps people cope with failure and recover quickly from it. Cats can be a social support for humans in tough times, and people can easily confide in them about anything because they don’t respond or judge others like humans do.