     Some cats enjoy children, but not all felines can tolerate
sticky fingers, rough tugs on the tail, or the general
boisterousness that accompanies kids. Before you adopt a cat,
find out which breeds do best with children and discuss the
decision to get a pet with your kids. They're likelier to accept
some responsibility for the pet if you lay the groundwork and
they feel involved.  Training Your Child  Small kittens are
easily hurt when mishandled by a well-intentioned but rough kid,
and larger cats can strike out when provoked. Here are some
rules to teach your children about handling a cat:  Gently
approach the kitty to see if he wants to play. If he seems
preoccupied with other thoughts or is sleeping, leave him alone
until later.  Instead of wrestling, use teaser toys, rolled up
balls of paper, or socks to play with the kitty. If you play
with your hands, the cat will think they're his personal toys
and that it's okay to attack hands and other human body parts.
Don't bother your pet while he's eating