I am one of those who think that children, whenever possible, should be able to have contact with a dog or a cat, or with both, since that is how they would grow up having a different friend, a furry friend, at home, to whom they should learn to care for all the years that the animal lives. But the reality is that many times this animal is nothing more than a whim that ends up living on the street or in a shelter. To avoid it, it is essential that the whole family agrees to live with an animal, and who wants (and can) take responsibility for it.
But now I ask you a question Do you think cats and children can be friends?
Cats are smaller (except for some breeds, like the Savannah) than dogs, so they have a more fragile body. But, in addition, they have nails that serve them to climb and hunt. To this we must add that the way felines play is different from that of humans: children have a tendency to grab their tails, and do things to them that felines don't like; cats use their claws for pretty much everything, and if you feel uncomfortable or cornered, if you can't run away, will attack.
It is very important that both children and cats learn to live together, respecting each other. If a problem occurs, do not blame one or the other, as it would be useless, but you have to know why it happened, and then find a solution. For example, if the cat has hurt the child, we must teach him to play without scratching or biting, removing his hand and stopping the game every time we see that he intends to do so.
Cats and children can be good friends, as long as there is respect and trust on both sides. 😉