"Our children have a cat."

Translation: I nostri figli hanno un gatto.

[Elena18]

Why do we need the definite article? I thought that with family, it was omitted?

[mukkapazza]

With family members, the definite article is omitted, except when: 1) there are multiple family members (Loro sono i miei fratelli) 2) the family member is somehow modified (La mia sorella più piccola) or 3) it is the family member of loro (Lui è il loro zio)

[Puett]

Is not figlio "son"? So children, to include both sexes, should be bambini?