Five Life Lessons That Children Learn From Cats

Cats are excellent teachers of life for children.  Children who are lucky enough to grow up in the company of a cat, as adults, will be better people, more empathetic, more sociable and more outgoing.  

Some lessons that children learn from cats

Babies growing up next to a cat have been shown to be more robust and less likely to suffer from allergies. But, beyond the benefits that living with a cat brings to physical health, you must know that the cat also teaches the little ones of the house the fundamental values ​​of life. 

1. Respect for all living beings

It is every parent’s job to teach their children respect for animals. If you have a small child, you must make him understand that the cat is a living being and that he must be treated with kindness and respect. And that, although the cat is an excellent playmate, it is not a puppet and therefore must not:

• Pull its tail
• Pursue it
• Roughly playing with him

2. Responsibility

Having a cat at home can also be an excellent excuse to teach the little ones to be responsible with the animal. The child will understand that every day there are things to do to take care of the animal properly and that he must cooperate:

• In feeding him
• When changing the bowl water
• When changing the litter sand
• In brushing his hair

When you have to go to the vet, get your child to come too. The child will understand that it is important for the cat to be in good health and that for this it is necessary to vaccinate, deworm, etc. It is another good opportunity to teach the little ones a sense of responsibility. 

The most important thing is that children understand that the commitment to have a pet is lifelong and that the cat is not a disposable object.

3. Respect for the space and times of others

Children are naturally impatient; however, having a cat will make them understand that they must respect the times of others. You must teach your children that it is not always time to play and that the animal needs its time. Let the little ones understand that:

• Cats sleep many hours a day and their rest must be respected. 
• Kittens sometimes want to be left alone without being disturbed.
• Animals should not be disturbed while they are eating or cleaning.

4. Personal hygiene

Cats are among the cleanest animals and can be a perfect example for your children. Point out to your children how the cat spends several hours on personal cleaning and encourage them to do the same: it is a nice and cheerful way to teach them the importance of personal hygiene.

5. Take care of the environment

Kittens can also help you to make your children understand that it is important to take care of nature and the environment. Adopting a cat, in fact, in addition to making children feel responsible, will also help them understand the importance of respect for the planet and the environment. Let’s see how:

• Using biodegradable cat sand (made almost entirely of wood, paper, straw or other plant materials).
• Properly disposing of waste. You can make your child understand how important it is to limit the use of plastic and separate waste.

When the child is already old enough to understand, explain why it is so important to spay and neuter pets. Avoiding overpopulation of cats and dogs contributes to:

• Reduce pet abandonment. 
• To the general welfare of animals. If there weren’t so many stray animals, there would be fewer diseases and zoonoses.

Happy cats and children

It is clear that if the foundations are laid for a peaceful coexistence, having a cat at home can only do good for the psychophysical health of children. This is possible by explaining and reminding children of some fundamental issues, such as responsibility and respect for all living beings. There is nothing more beautiful and fulfilling than seeing children grow up next to an animal, they are the perfect playmates. Moreover, playing with the cat encourages the creativity of the little ones of the house. In short, cats will help you educate your children in the name of respect for living beings and the recognition of the rights of others.