[Mommy K]

Our daughter loves our cats--we have 2 and they are very gentle balls of fluff, very passive.

But I have not allowed our daughter to sleep with them.How old do you think a child should be before they can handle sleeping w/a pet?

She's 3 years old-and she is gentle with them too, and knows how to pick them up, pet them and I have never witnessed any roughness.

[cmfayz]

If the door to your daughter's room is left open and the cats are free to leave, it sounds like it would be o.k. to let the cats sleep in her room.

[Dawnb93]

I think it's awesome that your daughter and cats have such a friendly relationship. My cats are scared of my kids (ages 29 mos and 19 mos). Not that the kids have done anything to the cats to hurt them, that's just the way they are. If the cats would want to sleep with the kids, however, I wouldn't have a problem with it when they(the kids) are about 3 or 4 years old. The only thing I would worry about is that the cats have a tendency to sleep on or around my head or chest. So, I'd have to keep an eye on them.

Dawn

[luv2teach2]

I would now allow cats to sleep with her until she was older. As the previous poster said they have a tendency to sleep around the neck area, and if they get startled in the middle of the night they could accidentally scratch or bite her.

[EZ2Luv]

My cats have been sleeping with my boys since they were in their toddler beds. Cats are pretty in tune and know enough not to strangle or scratch. Also depending how sound a sleeper your DD is, the cat won't last long if your DD moves around alot. As long as the door is open and the cat has an escape route I would allow it.

EZ

[CaddoRose]

We are a cat family. When our first DD was born, our female cat decided to "adopt " her. She would sit by the baby during the day and hop into her crib while she slept. She really kept watch over her and followed our DD everywhere until she passed away( the cat) at 13 yrs old when DD was about 8.

Every cat is different, but if you know the personality of your cat and know she doesn't have any jealously of your child, then sleeping with her should be ok. I think it's great that your cat wants to sleep with your DD. It shows she is at ease with your child.

[Mommy K]

Thanks for all your replies- They aren't declawed-and scratching was a concern but since they grew out of kittenhood did they ever scratch anyone. But there is always that chance.
For the cat lovers--one cat is so gentle-she purrs when I clip them too-that is very unusual, I don't have to tell you!
It makes sense to keep her door open-so I will start with naptime & check in and see how it's going & take it from there-
Thanksagain!