Word Puzzle For Kids-Cats

Missy, my American Shorthair

Like I've said in previous posts, I love the way word scrambles can teach kids spelling. In this puzzle, unscramble these words relating to cats.  If you want to see pictures of the different breeds, visit http://www.cat-breed-info.com/index.html.

Lifene              __ __ __ __ __ __

byabt                  __ __ __ __ __

dloragl             __ __ __ __ __ __ __

srusian lebu       __ __ __ __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __

emseias         __ __ __ __ __ __ __

kihwsers             __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

cloiac              __ __ __ __ __ __

ramecian raihshrto       __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

tnkite                __ __ __ __ __ __

nxam            __ __ __ __

itletr            __ __ __ __ __ __

pciatn             __ __ __ __ __ __

sottichs lfod         __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __

sumoe                  __ __ __ __ __

pshyxn                __ __ __ __ __ __

wlasc                 __ __ __ __ __

naime ocon               __ __ __ __ __     __ __ __ __

mrubese                 __ __ __ __ __ __ __

tixoce rhaortihs            __ __ __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

roschiatngc tpos         __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __    __ __ __ __

Answers: feline, tabby, Ragdoll, Russian Blue, Siamese, whiskers, calico, American Shorthair, kitten, Manx, litter, catnip, Scottish Fold, mouse, Sphynx, claws, Maine Coon, Burmese, American Shorthair, scratching post

What To Expect When Adopting A Pet, Part II

(continued from previous post)

What exactly it takes to feed a pet. This is especially important when getting an exotic pet. For instance, do your kids really want to handle the maggots a sugar glider eats or see the python swallow mice? Would you want to feed live insects to a lizard? I certainly wouldn't. Even if you don't have a problem with insects, live crickets are really noisy!

Like I mentioned above, some animals will require special food to meet medical needs. Slater's food can be really expensive since his particular issues need more help than 'store-bought' urinary-health food provides. Some people will feed animals from the table, but that isn't always a good idea.

Your living space. Can your house 'handle' a pet? Big dogs often don't make good 'apartment dogs' because they need a lot of space to move. Don't even think about having them in the house if you have 'nice things'! Even cats or small dogs such as shih-tzus or chihuahuas can do a lot of damage if they put their minds to it. Cats-especially breeds such as the Manx or Sphynx-can climb and jump on pretty much anything,. You might be able to train them not to get on your counter or table, but anyone who has cats knows that they don't follow directions well!

Also, puppies will chew on everything that doesn't move and some things that do. My roommate's beagle once chewed through the adaption cord for her laptop. He wasn't electrocuted, but she had a heck of a time finding a new one on her social worker's schedule. That leads me to my next point.

Time. Does your family have the time to spend with a pet? For instance, can your busy family make time to walk or house-break a dog? Between our jobs, soccer practice and ballet lessons, your family might not. Can they give a dog or cat the attention they need? Even hamsters will need exercise time outside of their cages. Does your family have time for this? If not, it might be best to wait a bit.

These are just a few of the things you and your kids should consider when getting a pet. As I said above, you've probably already thought of these things. Your kids, however, might get caught up in the excitement and forget about them. Ask your children about these things to make sure they know what they're getting into! When taken care of, pets can add a lot of joy and love to our lives. Enjoy your new pet!

What To Expect When Adopting A Pet, Part I

“Mommy, this followed me home. Can I keep it?”

“Aww, but it's sooooo cute!”

“But Johnny down the street has a dog. Why can't I have one too?”

“Mom, if you get this for me, I'll take care of it. Pinkie swear!”

Have you ever heard these things from your kids? The likely answer is yes. You may be tempted to say yes, but adopting a pet isn't something to be done on a whim. For this reason, I'm going to give you a few things to think about when you're getting a pet. You probably have already thought about these things, but your kids may not have.

Cost. I'm not just talking about the initial costs, although I highly advise getting your new pet from an animal shelter rather than buying from a pet store. Think of what it will cost to feed your pet, general vet bills, maintenance items such as litter boxes, things to line a cage, fences, etc. These expenses can add up over time, especially when you have multiple pets or have to buy things like cat litter on a regular basis.

Also, your pet may turn up to have special needs as it grows older. For instance, the beautiful feline above-Slater-has a urinary issue that required surgery and special food. There was no way for anyone to know about this when we got him, so it's not a matter of the shelter being dishonest-another important consideration. This probably wouldn't have kept us from adopting him because my husband fell in love with him on sight, but sometimes the costs can be prohibitive.

Maintenance. This is especially important to consider when adopting an exotic pet such as a lizard or rodent. For instance, chinchillas cannot be given water baths, but have to roll around in a special type of dust you get from the pet store. The dust isn't cheap! As for cats, who's going to scoop the litter box every day? I love my kitties, but this isn't exactly a fun task. Also, cat litter can get expensive. Cats tend to 'house-break' themselves, but teaching a dog to use the bathroom outside rather than on your floor takes a lot of time and patience. Your children may swear up and down that they will do all of these things, but you're probably going to end up doing the glut of the work.

Pets also need care and attention. While some pets are more affectionate than others, your kids can't stop paying attention to them just because they aren't cute anymore. The novelty of having a lizard for a pet eventually wears off. The same thing goes for chicks and baby rabbits some people get around Easter, which ends up very badly for the pet. Pets can have relatively long lifespans, which means that they will need to be cared for for several years running. Puppies don't stay puppies and kittens don't stay kittens. This is probably obvious to you, but something kids might not think of in advance. 

Since there are so many things to think of when getting a pet, this continues in the next post.

Best Cat Breeds For Kids

Toby the Manx, getting into trouble

As I've probably mentioned before, I'm a 'cat person'. I have five felines who think they are humans, three of which insist on sleeping in my bed. They like 'people food', follow me around the house and can always be found getting into something they shouldn't. In other words, they're my 'kids'! Since cats are relatively low-maintenance compared to dogs, they might make a great first pet for your children. But what breeds are best for children? Even if you get a mixed breed (which is very likely if you get your pet from a shelter), it's still good to know about the different characteristics because some show up more than others. While every cat has its own personality, there are some breeds that work better with children than others.

One important thing to look for in a cat is patience! Small children tend to be loud and handle pets roughly, so you need a cat who can 'take it'. American Shorthairs tend to have a sweet, happy disposition and are very social. My Shorthair, Slater, loves to be around people and warms up to humans and dogs easily. You won't have to worry about this cat being scared of loud noises; in fact, he's likely to create them! They are very talkative and always ready to play.

The Ragdoll is another breed that is good with children. They are named 'Ragdoll' because they have a tendency to go limp when picked up, just like a rag doll. Aside from their social demeanor, they are great for kids because they can tolerate a lot of play and noise. Since they go limp, they are good for small children who like to try to pick them up (which is most of them)! They are quite large and have long hair, though, so they'll need to be brushed regularly.

The Manx is a unique breed of cat who loves attention and lots of play. One thing that is distinctive about them is that they are born without tails. Some of them have little 'nubs' while others don't have anything at all. I have one, Toby, who is always trying to get into things and loves being petted. Manx kitties tend to be easygoing and tolerant of rough play. The fact that they don't have tails means there is one less thing for the kids to grab at!

Despite their regal appearance, Persian cats can make good pets for children. Even if they aren't all that playful, they are docile enough to be patient with young kids who are still learning to 'play nice'. The main thing to consider is that they have long, gorgeous hair that requires regular brushing. They aren't good 'outside' cats because their hair gets matted and dirty so easily, but they are perfect for kids who want a cat to cuddle with inside.

I hope I've given you a good idea of what cat breeds to look for when getting your kids a pet. As I said above, every cat has its own personality. Also, there are plenty of loving mixed-breed cats (also called 'moggies') in shelters who need homes. Even so, it's good to know about the breeds so you have an idea of what you are getting into when you adopt a cat. If you'd like more information and pictures of the various breeds, check out http://www.gopetsamerica.com/cats/cat-breed-information.aspx.