i had to

Thats could have ben avoided. The kitty looks young and didnt know any better. You should have atleast tried. Maybe your son did something the cat didnt like. Pinched it or pilled on it. Im sorry but cats scratch, thats no reason to get rid of them. If you get her another pet it will do something and then what? You will get rid of it too? I wouldnt get a pet that could bite, scratch, jump. Get a fish. They wont hurt anyone.

that is sad. i understand how your daughter felt and i do understand how you feel also. i do have a cat, too. and whenever we play, he scratches me. but i am a grown up and i don't care to get scratch. but i am not as sensitive as your babies, so, it's okey if i keep my cat. your situation is a different story. kids are really sensitive and should be taken cared of. and cats usually scratches people. good that you explained it to your daughter. i think if you really have to get another pet for her, it is better to find her a dog or a puppy. puppies and dogs are really friendly to their owners. anne

I think you over-reacted. It is not impossible to train the cat to have good behaviours, but you decided to punish the animal, and YOUR DAUGHTER without considering this. Please try to find her a pet as soon as possible.

That just sounds like too hasty decision IMHO. Cats, like all other pet animals that can be handled (this pretty much includes every kind except fish), will need training to know how to behave. If you do not have time to train and take care of a pet, then do not get another for your daughter. Like you said, kids forget easily. It will be much easier on her if you don't get another for her, than if you get another that you also make up a reason to get rid of when it does something inappropriate in your eyes.

I am a huge animal lover but I think some of these comments are just a tad harsh my god she gave the cat to a good home its like she dumped it off on some gravel road. I too would be upset if one of my cats scratched my four month old baby.And as to lying to her daughter sometimes a white lie for the sake of the child's feelings is necessary.. If your are going to get her another pet though I would think long and hard animals need time and attention and there arent too many that fit in with being a single Mom and working two jobs. I know where you are coming from though. my recommendation would be a couple of female guinea pigs(be sure they are both female though lol) they are low maintenance as long as you keep their cages clean,fresh water and food(I am adding all that not because I think you don't already know but because i don't want anyone jumping down my throat about the low maintenance comment) Two of them will keep each other company.They are much less spazzy then rabbits I learned that one the hard way but its more like a pet then a goldfish. I raised guinea pigs for awhile and really enjoyed them as pets as long as you make sure you find out what they all need, they have some special needs like chewing blocks etc. Anyway just wanted to add a comment to your post that wasn't completely negative. Its hard enough to make that kind of decision and maybe cats are just not right for you in your current situation.