Borrow a cat for a weekend. I can have limited exposure to a cat without troubles, but several hours or overnight leaves me mess.

You could go someplace like the Animal Welfare League in Gaithersburg — their cats aren’t caged, but are kept in a home-like atmosphere and they interview prospective adopters carefully to find the right fit with your household. They can try to match you with a super chill, tolerant, social and affectionate cat - but you wouldn’t be likely to find an allergy-friendly cat like a Siberian.

I would be a little concerned, too. Cats can usually climb up to high places to get away from something they don't like or protect themselves, but a kitten will not yet be able to. Our kitten is 6 months and quite big for his age and still doesn't quite have the strength in his back legs to jump onto counters, let alone anywhere actually out of reach. Based on the way he's been practicing flying up into the air for no discernible reason, I expect that skill will be soon coming, but right now no. And then getting down from high places can also hurt their growth plates.

This would leave your kitten needing to hiss, swat with claws, and potentially bite if your daughter does something it doesn't like or that hurts it. Your daughter sounds lovely and well-meaning but a kitten will not understand that and will react instinctively to protect itself. They really are not like dogs and have much less tolerance. Which could result in the kitten developing into an antisocial, timid personality. Which isn't fair to anyone.

As PP said, it is also scarily easy to hurt a kitten without meaning to. They are small and fragile.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Okay the mice are gone but we still want a cat. I’ve heard that Siberian’s are less allergy inducing. I haven’t been in a house with cats for 20 years, and when I was I’d get itchy eyes when I wrapped a blanket around me. I’ve never reacted from visiting a home with a cat. So I think my allergies are mild. We just heard from a Siberian breeder that she has a litter coming up in a few weeks. We got on the waitlist and our kids are very excited. I’d like to do this but I need to know more about having a kitten. Our 14 year old is very responsible. Our 12 year old is an animal lover and autistic. She doesn’t always understand the perspective of others. Our dog puts up with her (and loves her) but she will sometimes chase her when she doesn’t want to have human company, throw a blanket over her, etc. The dog rarely sleeps with our younger one but will sleep with our older one, and I think it’s because our younger one can be loud and unpredictable. She wants to snuggle and play, when our dog is not really a snuggle dog. How will this play out with a kitten?

I would be concerned for the kitten’s safety. The bones of a kitten are like toothpicks. I predict the kitten will be scared of her because cats need people to adapt to them, not the other way around.

—-A volunteer at a shelter

You could also try fostering a cat or kitten to see if there is any impact on the mice situation, and if you end up liking the cat/kitten.
Dc's humane rescue alliance is looking for more fosters right now -- might be a good way for you to try it out.

In terms of allergies, less hair/dander generally means less allergies. I have a friend with allergies who loves cats and just takes Zyrtec and periodically gives her cat baths.

Op here. Okay the mice are gone but we still want a cat. I’ve heard that Siberian’s are less allergy inducing. I haven’t been in a house with cats for 20 years, and when I was I’d get itchy eyes when I wrapped a blanket around me. I’ve never reacted from visiting a home with a cat. So I think my allergies are mild. We just heard from a Siberian breeder that she has a litter coming up in a few weeks. We got on the waitlist and our kids are very excited. I’d like to do this but I need to know more about having a kitten. Our 14 year old is very responsible. Our 12 year old is an animal lover and autistic. She doesn’t always understand the perspective of others. Our dog puts up with her (and loves her) but she will sometimes chase her when she doesn’t want to have human company, throw a blanket over her, etc. The dog rarely sleeps with our younger one but will sleep with our older one, and I think it’s because our younger one can be loud and unpredictable. She wants to snuggle and play, when our dog is not really a snuggle dog. How will this play out with a kitten?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their litter boxes can smell.

Sure. That is easy to fix and prevent, though.

Scoop once a day, wash once a week, use Nonscents/zeolite after you scoop or if it smells and you are in a rush, and use a litterbox that is metal so the plastic doesn't absorb the scent.

If you use plastic, let Biokleen soak into it for 5min and problem solved.

I'd get a clumping litter, biodegradable like OKO cat wood litter, because it is light to carry, easy to scoop, and already smells nice without heavy perfumes. Dr.Elsey's is also nice. Pretty Litter is just ok. Haven't tried Catalyst yet.

Says the person with a cat.

They stink and the smell stays. I’ve turned down homes because of the cat box lingering smell. Their urine is horrendous and the smell is in your walls, the flooring, ducts.

You must’ve been looking at homes in trashy neighborhoods.. Just saying. I have 3 cats in my 2 million dollar home and have zero odors. Ask my mom who would definitely let me know my house stinks.

Yeah, no.

Your house will smell like cat when you try to sell it, but you will swear it doesn't because you can't smell it anymore.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have had a mouse infestation and we never want mice again. We are animal lovers and we have two kids - ages 14 and 12. We have a 5 year old mini Goldendoodle who we love. We are thinking of getting a cat (kitten?) both because of the mouse problem and because we'd like another animal, and we don't want to get another dog (money, walks). We don't know much about cats, and we think that raising from a kitten might be better than adopting an adult. We also have allergies, but I've read that there is such a thing as hypoallergenic cats.

Give me some advice (and I know I should be prepared to get blasted because this is DCUM, but please - if you don't have experienced-based advice to give just move on).

Hi OP! Cats are wonderful companions. Based on your situation, I'd highly recommend contacting a local rescue group with cats in foster care and tell them your situation. You are looking for a single cat who gets along with older children, dogs, and hunts. I wouldn't recommend a kitten in your situation. They are adorable, but you have very specific needs, and a kitten's personality isn't developed, so you have no idea what you'd be getting. You need an adult cat who you know won't just run and hide from your dog (or your mice).

Some cat basics - they need playtime everyday, and the litter should be scooped everyday (cats are clean creatures!), and they like water sources away from their food (so put a water bowl in your bedroom or something.) You need scratching posts near any furniture that cats would be tempted to scratch (put a "yes" next to a "no"), and cat trees are a great way to keep your cats feeling comfortable in your house.

The bolded is absolutely NOT true! I've had cats through my adult life and not once did I ever do that and I've never heard of anyone else doing that either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their litter boxes can smell.

Sure. That is easy to fix and prevent, though.

Scoop once a day, wash once a week, use Nonscents/zeolite after you scoop or if it smells and you are in a rush, and use a litterbox that is metal so the plastic doesn't absorb the scent.

If you use plastic, let Biokleen soak into it for 5min and problem solved.

I'd get a clumping litter, biodegradable like OKO cat wood litter, because it is light to carry, easy to scoop, and already smells nice without heavy perfumes. Dr.Elsey's is also nice. Pretty Litter is just ok. Haven't tried Catalyst yet.

Says the person with a cat.

They stink and the smell stays. I’ve turned down homes because of the cat box lingering smell. Their urine is horrendous and the smell is in your walls, the flooring, ducts.

You must’ve been looking at homes in trashy neighborhoods.. Just saying. I have 3 cats in my 2 million dollar home and have zero odors. Ask my mom who would definitely let me know my house stinks.