I want a kitty...

[beating.indigo.heart]

Hola!
So.
I've given it a lot of thought, and I've come to realize that I want a pet cat in the worst way. I'm willing to pay for all of it's needs (I have a job), I'd get it from the humane society or SPCA, before I buy it I'll make sure it's litter trained and all that jazz, but all in all I really want a cat.
The major problem is my parents.
They WILL say no.
Their main arguments:
-Two years ago I had a pet that I rarely held (because it bit me everytime I fed it or went near it) (They assumed I just forgot about him even though I took good care of him)
-The smell (which I'd make sure there was none)
-Me cleaning up after him/her
-My stepdad's music studio in the basement
-The cost
-they don't like cats.
-THEY travel alot (I do not/do not have to)

I never do anything wrong, no drugs, no alcohol, no partying, and I hang out with responsible people and do all my chores without argument. Anytime they say anything I do it without arguing. I respect them in every way I should and have never actually had an argument with them, so I don't see why I can't get a cat.

So.
I really need some advice as to how to convince them to let me get a cat.

[Running on Faith]

hey Kerra.
i know how parents are with pets,just stubborn.
did you tell them YOUR arguments? your side of the story? try convincing them into getting you a cat. like you said,you will pay it...then you might add that only you will take care of her,you wont let her out of your sight,you wont let her get near them and you will clean her and after her.
i dont get what your stepdad's music studio has to do with a cat. not like a small creature can destroy it.
if you dont travel as much as they do,you can keep the cat. more people just leave their pets at neighbours house to take care of 'em while going away,or bringing them along if its allowed,like in a backpack.
and tell them that thats all you need,you wont bother about anything after you get a cat.
did you ever had an argument of your own against their thoughts about this? i just made an example,you gotta be careful with how you speak to them. not too mad.

and if this turns down anyways,you can always get a cat when your 18 and alone. it shouldnt be much of a problem. just be patient.

i wish you luck at it overall. hope things go great. just show your responsible.

[jelli1224]

I was looking at this post and going to respond and then i saw that the person before me said it exactly! She is right. if you want a cat you need to show them your side of the story. Explain to them that you have a job, and reasons why the cat won't smell. You need to take the things there telling you and change them around. And just like she said, when your 18 you can always get a cat yourself. Cat's are a lot of fun and i can understand why you would want one. I have an awesome kitty who i love a lot. Anway's if you ever need anything PM me! I would love a good chat!

Angel22

[Anna Skye]

Try presenting your best arguments to your parents, and make sure they know how much you want this cat - sometimes the emotion behind the words means more than the words themselves. Best of luck!!! <3

[falling_x]

Can I add to your arguements?

Cats look after themselves - you just have to feed her and give her attention -on her terms though! lol They do not need walking, cleaning, training etc etc
They are excellent hunters ... Therefore you will not have mice/rats or other small vermin in and around your house
Finally, they come trained - their mother teaches them how to eat/ hunt / use the litter tray / wash / etc etc ... Therefore you don't really have to do anything.

However - from your parent's point of view - if they say no to having a cat, they do mean it. They are not doing it to be mean. Plus if they don't like cats, well that in itself is a pretty good argument. Even now (we have a total of 3 cats and 4 kittens (the kittens are going to be re-homed though) and I am 22!) if I want a pet (my main one at the moment is a rabbit, dog and horse(!) my mum always says the same thing "Grow up, leave home then you can have whatever you want!" That is an answer I am willing to take and respect.

Maybe that's what you need to do ... wait 'till you leave home and then get one!

falling_x

[morningstory.42]

If you do end up getting a cat, make sure you adopt one that's declawed. I adopted a cat of my own two years ago, and she isn't declawed. I named her "Amore" after that song, but she doesn't live up to her name. She attacks any female including me, and now we're trying to find her another home as no one wants to pet or play with her. She can be the sweetest thing sometimes, but the next second she could be full out attacking arms, legs, fingers, anything within reach. Not exaggerating, the last time she attacked me I had to get a few stiches on my arm. So maybe visit the shelter a couple of different times before you adopt a cat to make sure it has the personality you're looking for.

[falling_x]

I'm sorry - what?

Also, how old is she? Cat's tend to attack things - that's what they are like! Is she neutered? That usually makes cats settle down and calm down a bit.

Kerra - please don't adopt a de-clawed cat - it is just cruel and unnecessary. Neutering your cat, however is a good idea - males smell, females get pregnant and there are far too many unwanted cats out there.

[Awakening]

Hey Kerra,

Have you tried telling them why it is you want the cat? Also you could try explaining that you'll take care of it and prove that your responsible.

Also it may have to do with the age of the cat. Kittens are cute and adorable but their a lot of work, I have a kitten and I love him to death but he's a handfull. He's very very playful and needs lots of attention and he has very sharp little teeth. You also have to train them to use the litter box.

If you get an adult cat its not as hard. They tend to be a bit more relaxed and if they aleardy know how to use the litter box then it shouldnt be to hard to get them to know where the new one is.

Goodluck and I hope your parents let you get one

[falling_x]

[font="Century Gothic"][color="DarkGreen"]

Originally Posted by yaitsme

You also have to train them to use the litter box.

Originally Posted by falling_x

Cats look after themselves - you just have to feed her and give her attention -on her terms though! lol They do not need walking, cleaning, training etc etc
...
Finally, they come trained - their mother teaches them how to eat/ hunt / use the litter tray / wash / etc etc ... Therefore you don't really have to do anything.

Sorry - but really you don't need to train them to use the litter box - you need to show them where it is and eventually teach them to go outside, but cats being clean animals get taught by their mothers!

[chelsealyn3994]

You definitely want him to be declawed. I was attacked by my own cat, and I have to scars to prove it. I mean, he was scared because we were moving but still, it would have been less painful to not have been bitten and clawed at. Good luck!

[rac146]

Please, dont get your cat declawed. If it comes between getting it declawed and not having a home, well maybe, but do you know what the declawing surgery intails? Click here for details, it involves actually cutting off part of the toe and is quite painful. My grandmother had her kittens done and they were clearly in alot of pain.

As for your parents, call a meeting and talk to them about it calmly so they know your serious. You never know they might say yes. It took me a year to finally convince my parents to let me get my first dog, and now they love dogs as much as I do.

Also, I got my kitty by accident. Someone left her on my doorstep when she was too young to even be away from her mom. Maybe you get yours the same way? not if that would piss your parents off, I'm just saying....

[iHEAVENn]

We have a kitty, who is now a little over 3 years old. We got her from the humane society when she was about 6 months old.
She is NOT declawed, she IS litterbox trained, she does NOT bite, she IS neutered, and she IS just a big fluffy cuddle kitty.

Most cats learn very young to use the litterbox, so as long as you show them where their box is at their new home, they'll be fine.
If you get a Scratching post, the cat will go to that to stretch out their claws, and leave your furniture alone. You CAN teach your cat not to scratch you. Yeah they may have an accident now and then, but that's no reason to take away their nails.

Cat's wont smell, unless you don't clean up after them regularly.

Our dry cat food for 3 months is $60 (but that's because we buy her the expensive crap.)
Our canned cat food is $10 a month (But that is also because she's a spoiled little buttmunch. Cat's do NOT need canned food)
Our cat litter is $13 a month.

If you go to your local store, and write out the costs of food/litter present it to your parents to show you know how much money the cat will need on a monthly basis.

[her_beautiful_mistake]

Please don't declaw your kitty! No one does this in the UK, my cats are all absolutely fine with their claws.

[rac146]

Originally Posted by her_beautiful_mistake

Please don't declaw your kitty! No one does this in the UK, my cats are all absolutely fine with their claws.

Im so glad to hear that, I didnt know.

Honestly, we have had three cats that were not declawed and it was never a problem, it was about how they were trained and raised. Yes I said trained you can train your cats!!!

[Toast]

If you're worried about being scratched you can get the vet to put these rubber things on their claws so they can't scratch but they also don't need to be declawed.

[Alrex]

I like cats.

But they tend to leave a LOT of hair everywhere.

Onetime a cat peed in my dinner when I wasn't looking. It was funny because I didn't know.

[Cosmo]

Originally Posted by Alrex

I like cats.

But they tend to leave a LOT of hair everywhere.

Onetime a cat peed in my dinner when I wasn't looking. It was funny because I didn't know.

That's even funnier with your signature! xD
He's right about the hair though. I always get asked if I'm malting LOL :P

[Lexo]

I like cats!

I would like one of my own tooo...they're soo cute. They even go to bed with you too...they keep you company when you're in your house!

I would like company

[~CourageousSurvivor~]

DON'T declaw! My argument is that if your cat EVER gets out of the house it won't have any means to protect itself or find food. A cats claws are like its main source of protection and food. I had a cat that got out and it was gone for a week if it would have been declawed she might not have ever found her way home.

I had three cats. My one cat never scratched at all. The other two did a bit but it didn't hurt that much and I would rather get scratched then have to feel responsible if my cat got out and didn't have means to take care of itself. The main time a cat will scratch is when it is scared or wants to play. When they are younger their playing will be rougher but you can teach them not to hurt you. When they scratch you tell them no and then push them, gently, off the bed to indicate you no longer want to play and that goes for biting. With time they get the message (or at least mine did).

How many hours are you home a day? Cats do not do good on their own for a long period of time. Yes, they take care of themselves but they need interaction or they go kind of crazy. If you get a cat and are going to be gone for vasts amounts of time I would suggest you get it a playmate.

As for your parents; talk to them and really express yourself. Let them know why you want a cat and if you have to prove to them that you will be responsible. If you really want a cat then work for it, you know? Show your parents that you are responsible and maybe they will let you get one.

[Ghost On The Highway]

Yeah, declawing is pretty much cruelty to animals.

What kind of cat would you get if your parents let you? I'm partial to Abyssinians and Russian Blues, though I think I'll stick with my Border Collies until I get an apartment.

[niente_]

Well I have a cat, and we hardly see him! He fends for himself, but he'll ask to be fed whenever he's in, even though practically the whole neighbourhood feeds him. Whenever we go away we give a box of food to the neighbours and tell them we'll be away, and the cat is always fine. If no one is in and the weather is bad, he has a little bunny hutch type thing outside that he can take shelter in.

Cats are good at looking after themselves. It's not like getting a dog where it relies on you. I don't think they cost a lot either, apart from food. You probably might buy litter for a litter tray but mine prefers to go outside.

But I suppose in the end it IS your parents decision ... if they say no then it's a no.