I’ve been contemplating disappearing back into obscurity and yet I am called to post once again. We are in the middle of a pet conundrum.
VC has fallen for a precious little kitty at the Humane Society. He was helping a friend who volunteers at the PetSmart where the pets are kept when not with the foster families.
MB was dead set against getting a pet, but he has since made a complete 180.
I am so confused!!!! Do I really need anything else to take care of? NO. I’ll have 17 credit hours this semester which will be stress enough.
MB has promised he and VC will care for the pet. We all know how that goes…
And I have some allergy concerns since 10 years ago when VC was tested for allergies he was allergic to several things, including dust, but his cat dander reading was 13 and normal is considered less than 15. His dog dander was slightly above normal at 16.
But this was 10 years ago. He hasn’t shown any signs of allergies when playing with the kitten the two times we visited but I can just see us getting the kitty in the house when things flare up.
I am sure I am making a much bigger deal of this than any other person on the planet would. That’s just my nature 
His doctor’s office recommended that he should be seeing an allergist. You know by the time I have him allergy tested the cat will be long gone.
What to do? What to do?
Please share your positive and/or negative pet experiences with me. It will be most helpful.
In the meantime, I’m busy shopping the internet to save some bucks on my school books. Glad this is the last time I will be having to do that.
P.S. I’d post a picture of the kitty but it is much too adorable and hooks me in every time I see the photo. She is a “tuxedo” cat. 13 Weeks Old.
Aww, I bet she’s gorgeous
Part of me would love a cat but we have so many birds and small rodents in our garden, and I wouldn’t like the hunting. But if you think you can fit her into your life, I’m sure it would be much better for her to be at yours than in the rescue centre.
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I’m biased. I think that a pet completes the home, so I think every family should have one. But – isn’t your son only a few years away from college? What happens to the kitty when he moves out?
Cats are a lot less work than dogs (they really only need fresh food & water, a clean kitty litter) and a few minutes of your attention throughout the day. They want to play a lot, and cats (kittens) at that age can get into a fair bit of trouble. If you’ve never had a pet before and you’re already feeling overwhelmed, I would suggest waiting until school is over.
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This is a no-win for mom, but I’d let him take the lead and get the furry friend if he wants to. At least, if he disappears when all the kitty work is being done, you can say “I told you so” a thousand times and not feel bad about it.
slamdunk recently posted..What to Avoid in the Bathtub
I can’t help a lot because I don’t really think of them as pets.
pets are loyal and love you and are excited to see you come home. Do cats actually do that?
As far as pets go they are the anti-pet.
They don’t seem to require a lot of attention, they don’t feel badly when they do something wrong, they pee/poo in a box and you don’t have to walk them for their exercise. They don’t much care about you so you can leave them alone and they don’t feel abandoned.
So as “pets” go this may work for your busy schedule. Your son sounds like he can handle that much right?
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Pets are lots of work but kitten are a little less so than dogs. I’m a sucker if I see the animal. I wan to take them home.
secret mom thoughts recently posted..I’ll Sleep Well Tonight
You know how I feel about pets…I can’t handle one more thing on my plate.
BUT
A cat does require a lot less care than a dog.
I have missed you!!! We have a dog and a cat so I am probably not the person to give advice on the matter. However, a cat is much less maintenance than a dog and when they cuddle up in your lap and purr, it’s just pure love
Hope you and the family had a wonderful Christmas and a fabulous New Year!
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We’ve had our year old puppy for 3 weeks now, and we love him. It’s been a lot of fun. But he’s also a lot of work.
I really know nothing about cats, as I’m not a cat person and think they are Satan’s minions, but they seem less maintenance than dogs.
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I wonder if there’s a way for you to foster the cat to see if perhaps you are all allergy free and if that would fit in with your schedule? Part of me really hopes you take in the kitty; I always love to see the bond form between human/animal. But then again, I’m a total sucker for any pet
*HUGS* and let us know what you decide!
I have two dogs and they are a ton of work, a ton but I here cats are easier. I love my dogs to death but there is no denying they are work, oh and both my children have flown the coop, you know the reason we have the dogs AND guess who has THE DOGS!!! So, just know you will have the cat for next 12 to 17 years!!!!
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Oh gosh I would be the LAST one to ask about a cat, I LOVE THEM. Our youngest was allergic but didn’t know until she moved out some 19 years later. But her allergies are so subtle that she now has a cat herself and I’m without…sob…
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Ok, I’m going to clear up some misconceptions about cats that I’ve been reading in the previous comments because I’m pretty annoyed now as I have cats and love them to pieces.
First, cats are not less work than dogs, it’s just different work (I had a dog growing up, so I know how different they are). You don’t have to walk them, true, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to do anything at all for them. One cat is easier than having a dog, but they are still work.
Actually, cats are loving and do care if you are around, especially when they are young. My cats greet me and Josh at the door when we get home, just like a dog.
Even as cats age, they may nap a lot, but that doesn’t mean they don’t require attention. A lot of cats are lap cats and are very affectionate, all of mine are…I think if you pay attention to your cat, it will pay attention to you in return. If you ignore a cat (figuring they don’t need or want it), it will ignore you. If you’re going to do that, then why have a pet?
Someone made a good point about your son going off to college in a few years and then you are stuck with the cat. That’s a pretty big minus in my book (even though we talked on Facebook about this…I didn’t even think about it). While I’m all about people adopting pets, I’m not if they aren’t 100% for it and I don’t think you are. Nothing wrong with that at all, I wish more people put thought into it before adopting so there would be a lot less homeless pets out there from people who get pets and then later try to get rid of them because they don’t have time, etc. If you don’t want a cat, I don’t think it’s a good idea to get one.
I do not recommend outside or inside/outside cats. Outside cats have a very short life span because of obvious dangers to them: getting killed by cars, other animals, getting poisoned, even getting killed by people and so on. I can’t tell you how many outside cats I’ve seen come and go at Josh’s Grandpa’s house since I’ve been with Josh (7 years now).
Inside/outside lowers the risk a bit, but I think it’s nasty because of issues like fleas. I don’t want fleas or ticks in my house, so my cats do not go outside.
As far as allergies go, I have severe pet dander allergies and I do see an allergist. I was tested for allergies back when Josh found our first cat and brought her home. I take Zyrtec daily, we use air purifiers and I use anti-dander spray around the house (it’s also a fabric freshener). I also have to keep the house clean and it is more housework with all the fur I have to keep off the floors and furniture.
Last, consider the vet bills and taking the pet to the vet. I’m not gonna lie, it’s the one thing I hate about the cats. I hate taking them to the vet. Dogs are better about it from what I’ve seen…at least they don’t have to be put in a carrier (Pumpkin freaks out in it like a psycho!).
I think he can get his “fill” of loving a pet by continuing to volunteer at the shelter.