fear of cats

Question
Hi! I am a 25 year old girl who adores all animals. So far I have a 1 year old Golden Retriever doggie and two 5 month old bunnies. We have a friend who owns a beautiful persian cat, this is the most quiet, sweet and affectionate cat I have ever met. She never bites or scratches even if the woman's little son likes playing rough with her. This cat has had kittens and my boyfriend (we live toguether) absolutely wants to get a female kitten. My friend told me she will give me the most quiet one, but I am very afraid of cats since as a little girl I saw a cat from the street atacking my aunt without any reason. Is it any possibility of educating the kitten not to bite and scratch us? Is it true that cats smell people's fear? I would really like to have a cat like my friend's so sweet and calm, but I will not be able to put up with an agressive one. I am even afraid to pass near a cat. Is there any useful tip to educate a kitten to be calm and affectionate? My boyfriend thinks that owing a cat would be good for me to overcome my fear. Will influentiate their character the fact that only the mum is persian and the dad is an unkown street cat?
Also, these kittens are around 2 weeks old. Which is the best time to take it home and separate it from its mum?
Could you help?
Thanks a lot"


Answer
Hi Leia.  For a person who's afraid of an aggressive cat, a Persian is defintely the way to go.  They are the most docile and one of the  most affectionate of all breeds.  You can't always predict the personality of a cat, but I think a Persian mix would be excellent for you!  I have five Persian mixes, and they are the sweetest, quietest cats I have.  Very calm, loving, and never biting or scratching.

The one main thing you should do to prevent the cat from becoming aggressive is to NOT declaw her.  Declawed cats turn to biting.  The other thing would be to have the cat spayed or neutered at about 4 months old.  Unspayed or unneutered cats are more likely to be aggressive.

I really don't think you will have a problem with scratching or biting if you allow this kitten to stay with her mother until 12 weeks old.  If kittens are taken from the mother earlier than this age, they do not always understand that biting and scratching hurts.  Playing with their mother and siblings intensifies between 8 and 12 weeks old.  As play gets rougher, they realize biting and scratching hurts, and this causes them to stop biting and scratching.  So the best time to get your new kitten will be when he or she is 12 weeks old.

If you really are nervous about scratching, you should try a great product called Soft Claws.  These are soft, rounded tips that you glue over the cat's nails.  If the cat DOES happen to scratch, it will not do any damage.  I use this product and highly recommend it.  You can buy them at pet stores, or through their site, www.softclaws.com.

It is true that cats can sense fear.  Hormones are released into your blood when you get scared, and cats can smell them.  But that doesn't usually cause them to pick on you.  Normally, fear spreads.  When you get afraid of them, they will usually get afraid of you and avoid you.

I think once you own your own cat, your fear will go away!  Cats are really very sweet creatures.  They are usually misunderstood by people who have never had one.  People who own housecats more often than not end up completely in love with these animals.