Please don't take this the wrong way, no offence meant. In my view you should not even be contemplating getting a kitten each for children of 5 and 3. Kittens aren't playthings and most young children will pull them about. Given the nature of your older cat and the time it has taken to adjust to the children why upset it? Just my opinion
Hi. I understand what you are saying, and no offence taken. I was brought up with cats, having a kitten myself at a young age. My parents were careful to ensure that we treated them with respect and not as toys. Many years later I can reflect that it wasn't having the cat that taught me how to treat animals, but my parents and their guidance that taught me how to respect animals. I would like a similar opportunity for my children, as well as letting them enjoy the simple pleasure, as I did, of getting to know and love a cat, and to grow up alongside it.
First of all can we have some piccies of your NFC please
Secondly why do you think your children having a kitten each would 'do them good' and that they 'could learn a lot from having one'? There is nothing they will learn from a kitten that they won't learn from your current cat. Please don't take offence but I also very much doubt that a reputable breeder or rescue would home kittens to you with these being your reasons for wanting them.
Has your cat ever lived with another cat since leaving her breeders? It's always hard to predict how a cat will react to living in a multicat household if they have not lived in one before (or for 11 years anyway) as some cats just do not like living in multicat houses and others might take a few months to get used to the new cat but then be perfectly happy.
Also some cats might not be overly keen on children but love other cats. One of my boys Pinball had never met children or dogs before I got him and he has since met our neighbours quiet well behaved young children who he's scared of but yet he made friends with a random woofing Alsation at the vets!
Have you thought about what would you do if you introduced a new kitten(s) and after several months your cat was not adjusting to the new addition at all?
Once cats are neutered (the earlier the better) whether they are male or female makes very little difference to their personality but I personally prefer boys.
I'll certainly try and oblige with the pics of our cat...she is certainly very beautiful!
Again, no offence taken, and I may have already answered some of your comments up above. I didn't think to say on here, as in my mind I guess I took it for granted, that we would provide any pet with a very comfortable and appropriate home. I certainly feel that any cat would get plenty of good care and love in our household, without any chance of it getting mistreated, albeit without intent by young hands.
For the first three or so years that she was with us her son and daughter lived next door and they were perpetually in and out of our house to see her. She enjoyed playing with her son, but did seem a little threatened by her daughter, being keen to show her who was boss! This has lead us to thinking that if we did get kittens, two boys might be best, from her point of view.
We have considered, as you ask, what we would do if after a few months our existing cat had not got used to the new cats, but without conclusion.
Welcome to Purrs.
Obviously others will not agree with me but we are willing to place kittens where there are young children, although I agree that kittens or cats are not play things and need to be adopted for the right reasons. With us it depends on the family as a whole and their attitude. Only very occasionally has a kitten or cat not got on with a resident cat and visa versa, the art is to introduce them properly and not try to rush things.
Having said all that this comes from someone who when she has kittens it reminds her why she doesn't want one.
I would also agree that kittens need to be neutered/spayed as soon as possible.
Thanks for the greeting, and thanks for your comments. We would certainly do our best and accept guidance to make the situation work.
I agree with kittens being neutered/spayed.
Many thanks to all.
Alex