The Family Pet & Mental Health

I know a woman who's therapist wrote her a prescription for a cat. The therapist thought that the cat would bring the woman comfort and companionship during a difficult divorce. The woman got the cat and for 20 years she was able to use the cat's expenses as a tax write off.

Pets can be great therapy. They love unconditionally and they require little more than food, shelter and love. Another wonderful side effect of having a pet is that caring for and connecting with a pet teaches the owner empathy and compassion. Children who grow up with a pet in the home are more likely to learn these lessons than those who do not.

However getting a pet while children are under the age of 5 can be a risky situation for the pet. Although children will eventually learn empathy by interacting with a pet the learning process takes time and it is important for parents to closely supervise the interactions between the child and the pet.

When the child does something that hurts the pet it is important for the parent to react in a way that helps the child understand that the pet has both physical and emotional feelings. Children as young as 2 years old can begin to understand the connection between hitting (or pulling a tail) and the sensation of pain in others. The parent just needs to take time to explain it calmly.

So go ahead and get that family pet. But don't expect the child to be responsible for it. Just help them learn how to love it.