Читать книгу The Cat Owners Handbook - Graham Meadows - Страница 24

The majority of families that own a cat also have children. We might ask ourselves why parents coping with a growing family would want to saddle themselves with another, nonhuman member, and the answer is not entirely clear. Many of us think that having a pet cat will help teach our children responsibility: that a child who learns to respect and care for a pet is more likely to have a caring attitude towards fellow humans.

There is also an educational value. If our children learn about a cat’s body processes and how to cope with its health problems or illness, they may be better prepared for their own experiences later in life. The life cycle of a pet cat averages about 15 years, and may match the period during which our children are growing to maturity. The life of our cat might help to teach them about growing up, learning, old age, suffering and death. Caring for it during that lifetime may teach them some valuable ‘parenting’ skills.

The presence of a cat in your household can help your children to overcome anxiety, control aggression, develop self-awareness and deal with the problems that occur in life.

Research has shown that when their parents or siblings aren’t around, children will often talk to the family cat about the day’s successes or failures. It is interesting to note that the children most likely to develop social skills and empathy with other people are those who talk intimately and at length with their pets and their grandparents.