4yo and kitten advice needed

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So our cat had kittens and they are all ready to go to homes now. I wish we could keep them all, but our apartment is way too small for our zoo already. We have a chow, 2 cats and 3 kittens. So kittens have to go.

He has become very attached to one of the kittens though. I have kept telling him that the kitten will have to go to a new family but he refuses to acknowledge it. How will I address this and have it go smoothly? Any ideas?

My son is prone to melt downs and I would prefer to have him willingly take part in the placement.

A third kitty probably wouldn't hurt anything. He's a baby and he wants a baby for his own?

I hope he gets to keep it.

I agree. One more cat isn't a big deal. In fact cats are very social creatures and the best placement for kittens is with a sibling to a home- in pairs, or to stay with their mother. We have a small 3 BR house with 4 kids, 2 dogs, 3 cats, and 2 guinea pigs. We're crowded, but we adore all our pets and wouldn't even mind having more. The cats are outside cats and the dogs are out during the day unless we have really hot or rainy weather.

I wanted to keep my kittens too when I was little, so I can sympathize. Ideas... how about helping him "write" interview questions for potential adopters?

If 3 cats are too many, that's just that. He might throw a fit, but will get over it. Being involved in the adoptions may help.

After my son's dad left 2 years ago he went through a pretty rough time.

The neighbors cat had kittens at the time and this little calico one constantly came to the window and cried every time my son came out in the yard. So I decided to adopt her. The first couple weeks were difficult, she was always getting into my son's things, stuffing his crayons under the fridge, and he found out that little kittens have very sharp claws. But after the initial adjustment period she followed him around the house, sleeping at the foot of his bed everynight and wherever he was she was always nearby like his shadow.

Unfortunately when I took her in to get her spayed at 6 months we found out she was postive for feline leukaemia. We lost her just before her first birthday. It was tough for him, although I think having not have had her would have been tougher. There was a calmness she seemed to give him, I think it really helped him cope with what was going on in his life.

Anyways, when he found a stray kitten almost 6 months later and begged me to keep her, of course I said yes. She's not the same though although he loves her alot, she bonded to me and can be quite a witchy-poo to everyone else most days.

You could have him help to place the kitten, it might help. But if the kitten has bonded to him you might want to think it over carefully. You can pick a cat, but when they pick you, it's normally something special. Either way, I'd probably get the guilty party fixed promply to prevent a re-occurance of this situation.

Just one? Count your blessings. He could have gotten attached to all three kittens, and vice versa. I'd say, find good homes for the other two and let him keep the one. Cats don't take up much space. Then, if and when he gets tired of the claws and the crayons under the refrigerator, you can always find a home for this one.

I say let him keep the kitten. He's old enough to know that a kitten is a feline equivalent of himself. In other words, just as he's a human kid, a kitten is a feline kid. So no wonder he's drawn to a kitten. The attachment might weaken when the said kitten grown older (i.e. out of its childhood); or it might not. Also, your child might feel more comfortable giving the kitten to a close friend who wants a cat. That way, he can visit it regularly, knowing that it's in a safe home.

My 7 year old has just been given a kitten by his grandparents. He was out on their farm and this kitten just came up to him and would not leave his side. After much begging on his part, his father and I finally relented. This has turned out to be the meanest kitten ever but my son loves it. Last night he took the kitten onto the top bunk of his bunk beds and read 3 books to it.
We finally realized what's 1 more animal? We currently have besides the 2 children, 1 cat, 2 dogs, 2 chickens, 2 rabbits, and 2 horses. So it definately can be worse.

no matter what you decide, make sure you are consistent and don't cave into a meltdown. if the decision is to give up the cats, then he can interview potential families as someone else said, or he can come up with a list of what the kittens like so that the new owners will have good information about the kitten

What harm could one little cat do. Let him keep the kitten. Like the others said. You can choose a cat, but not often does a cat choose you.

Do any of your neighbors want a kitten, maybe they can have it. Then you son wouldn't have to miss him and he can see him or her anytime.

Maybe you could just keep one? One that he seems particularly attatched to. One more cat is not going to upset things provided there is not a limit on the ammount of pets your allowed to keep in your property. Also neuter the female as soon as she has finished nursing this litter and don't allow her to go out until she has been done, this will prevent further litters and problems. If you can't afford it a lot of animal charities offer free neutering to people on low incomes or at a greatly reduced charge as they promote it to stop unwanted young.

i say let him keep it. we have 4 cats. my son had this cat who thought he was a dog! and adored my son so much. then 6 years into his life the cat stroked out and died in front of my son. it was the worst thing of our entire lives. My son took it so bad I got him another kitten he named Nemo and he loves him but its not the same relationship. I think as my son got older he could not be the little man cooing and talking to the kitten as he did when he was 2 when I got him. he does not understand why Nemo is not like Murphy. I could see he could not bond the way he did when he was little. and it also made me realize that my son as he got older talk like a little baby or played as he did when he was a baby with Nemo. His AS really got in his way of bonding as he once did. I say let your son keep the kitten he has a very special relationship with the kitten that will be much harder to form as he gets older. Nemo is his own man but Murphy was the prince. when my son used to go to his dads for the weekend the cat used to take my sons clothes and drag them about the place and howl at the door. he would howl at night when my son was not home. sleep on his pillows. it was so funny to match Murphy take off with my sons underwear or socks. it was the worst day when he left us. almost 3 years later he still has not recovered!

I say, keep the kitty! It seems your son is already in love with it. Animals help people in so many ways. My first Siamese, Samantha, saved my life and enhanced it for 20 years.

I think you should let him keep the kitty and get the mother cat spayed. My cats never had kittens but we adopted kittens from the pet stores.