How cats are good for children?

“Mom, can I have a cat as a pet, please?” Mostly a child’s plaintive cry for an animal companionship goes unheeded by parents who feel that they cannot take on the extra responsibility and not to mention the mess their house can become if they bring home a pet.

But do you know that having a cat at home can have a positive and stabilising influence on children? After all, a pet can be your child’s first and most cherished friend. Here are a few ways that having a cat at home can actually help your child.

• Children learn to be more responsible once they are given the task of taking care of a pet. They learn to be more empathetic and compassionate. They will learn to look at a cat not as a soft toy to play with but as an animal that can feel emotions. So, they will learn to be empathetic towards other people and will take into account their feelings.
• Children can share things with their pet that they cannot with their parents or siblings. Once they confide things to their pet it works like catharsis and that helps them to come out of stress and trauma.
• Children who have cats have higher self-esteem and self-confidence.
• Once you teach your child to take care of a kitten they will learn to be more cooperative and will be open to sharing their things with other children.
• Children who grow up with cats are less prone to develop allergies.
• Kids who have cats as pets have been known to have lesser sick days leave.

Cats, undoubtedly have a calming effect on us. When we are around them, we automatically feel more happy, communicative, calm and expressive. So, having a cat in your home definitely comes with more added benefits than you know!