Top Five Similarities Between Kittens and Toddlers

In living my life I have known that both kittens and toddlers have various ways of communicating, playing, and enjoying life. It wasn't until I had both a kitten and a toddler under one roof that I noticed many similarities between them. Kittens and toddlers are alike in many ways; here are the top five from personal experience.

Everything is a Toy

If there is one thing I have learned about both kittens and toddlers, anything within reach can be a toy. I have seen shoes, pens, and bugs become an hour of enjoyment. Kittens and toddlers don't care what it is, as long as it moves, makes a sound, is smaller than them. Another idea both kittens and toddlers love is to jump onto or off of something, or climb into it. Boxes, bags and plastic bins are the norm here. Don't leave anything hanging on walls within reach as they will soon be on the floor.

Everything Goes in the Mouth

This is another of the similarities between kittens and toddlers. You won't notice this, or know about it, until you have both. The favorite things are electrical cords, stuff off the floor, paper, fingers (usually yours), food (again usually yours), and bugs. Yes, both kittens and toddlers eat bugs, or try to. Once when I was trying to entertain both a toddler and a kitten, I gave them twine (about 4') to play with. They played Tug-o-War with it with both of them pulling with their teeth. CD's and DVD's are another item you want to move out of reach; especially if they are out of the cases.

Feeding Time

This brings up the next item, feeding. One of the amazing similarities between kittens and toddlers is their ability to let you know when its time for food. When you have both in the house, be prepared to have food ready for both at the same time. If you feed the kitten, the toddler will want to know where their food is, and the reverse is also true. And they will try to eat each others food, or make a mess of it while eating. Why? If its good for one of them, the other thinks its good for them too. Both kittens and toddlers also share the method of how they can act as if you are starving them since you are not moving fast enough to feed them. It's called crying; and both kittens and toddlers can sound like they are dying from waiting. Soothing repeated words and quick action are the only solution to this.

The Attention Hog

Which brings up the next of the similarities between kittens and toddlers; the fact that they love attention and will tell you if you are not doing it right or in the right amount. I have found that kittens and toddlers will both climb up on your lap when you least expect it. And it will always be when you are busy with something else. You are not occupying their time, therefore you are not doing anything. And both kittens and toddlers know when you are simply being polite with a cursory pat or word. They will let you know that this is not what they wanted and will forcibly become the center of your attention until they are happy. If you try to put them down, they will scream and grab hold of you, and wonder why they are being pushed aside. You will continue this routine until they are happy with your ability to provide attention.

Rechargeable Energy

The last of the similarities between kittens and toddlers is the vast amount of energy they have. If you have both in the house, tag becomes the favorite game. It will not matter what they need to cross, over or under, they will go where and as fast as they want. Kittens and toddlers also have this amazing thing with running until they fall down tired. You will wish this point always comes sooner than it does. And you may want to bottle up the energy and sell it. The best way around this is to simply let them go until they wear themselves out. This is how they release the built up energy. Usually it is also when they are very tired.