I felt great today...woke up and my 8 year old brother helped me make breakfast. We sat and ate breakfast together and put in a movie so the morning was good. After I cleaned up I went online to some local animal shelter sites seeing if they had any new adoptable kittens. I was promised a kitten for my graduation present but because I came out 3 credits short of a diploma I never got one. I'm 18 now and have a job so I contribute to the house, my mom said that if i keep my room spotless than she sees no reason why I can't get a kitten now since I'd be paying for it. I put up a status on facebook that I was getting a kitten this month and I wouldn't let anything stop me because I've wanted one for years. My grandma then left a long comment basicly telling me why I don't deserve to get a kitten because my school attendance hasn't been great lately (due to anxiety attacks but she doesn't know that) and my room is probably messy and I probably wouldn't be responsible enough to take care of it. After I read it I just felt awful, I dropped right back down from my great mood into miserable again. I don't understand why something so small and insignificant ruined my great mood, I haven't been happy like that in weeks and I let something so small ruin it. Now I feel stupid for wanting to get a kitten, she was right I don't really deserve one. I just wanted to make myself feel better, I thought it would feel good to save a kitten from a shelter and give it a nice home for the rest of its life and I thought it would make me happy to have it around and watch it grow up. I thought having a cute little kitten would make me feel less depressed. I guess I was only thinking about myself and not what would be good for the kitten.
I don't know why this bothered me so much or why I'm posting about it, I just got really worked up over it
Last edited by Kimaru : 08-06-2011 at 03:47 AM.
Reason: spelling
"Some people get by, with a little understanding. Some people get by, with a whole lot more."
Gosh, you do deserve a Kitten.
A kitten isn't a reward, it's a gift for that Kitten to you.
The kitten will bring you so much happiness and affection.
I have a cat myself, and I've never been so happy since she came into my life.
Some people say Kittens are hard work, but I can't remember my cat being hard work.
They also bring laughing, I can't tell you how many times I laugh at my cat on a daily basis.
I hope you get one and give the kitty a loving home.
You DESERVE one and she DESERVES you!
x
thank you, Lily, for saving mummy's life*.
You are my one and only, you can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight, and you'll be alright.
I agree - I have two cats. I would be far lonelier and have less to live for, if I didnt have them. So because your room is messy (mine is most of the time) does not necessary mean you cant look after it.
The only issues I would raise is to make sure you have enough money to care for it (and dont forget to budget in insurance, which is mightly important and highly recommended), which seems to be the case. Also please neuter it when it's old enough, as well as the fact it stops it having kittens it's better all around (unneutered cats can get feline aids and leukemia), as well as preventing certain cancers. Even if you do plan to keep it indoors 24/7 please get it done.
I am glad that you are adopting it from an adoption centre rather than going to a breeder or from an newspaper ad. There are so many kittens up and down in shelters that are desperate for new homes!! Also dont discount slightly older cats, as there are many who get overlooked this time of year because people want younger, cuter kittens in shelters. Not all cats in shelters are ancient or happen to be there because they are naughty (some are just simply strays who happens to be about a year old).
In fact I would ask, do you need an young kitten? They cant be left for long when they are young, as they get bored and lonely easy. Also they are very messy and can be a bit of a handful. I volunteer for the Cats Protection (a cat charity) and I know my nerves wouldnt deal with small kittens, whereas a year plus or older would suit me better (one of mine is 8 and the other is nearly 13). It may be the case of you. If you are not sure, I would ask the shelter staff when you go to view kittens. Explain your situation and they can advise, and see what goes from there.
Wannabe CPN : -)
"He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life." - Homer Simpson "I hear those voices that will not be drowned" Sanity is a nasty disease. The world would be a happier place without it. - Rilic
RIP Kat 4th July 1987- 11th June 2013
Thanks, you're right a kitten isn't a reward, I'd just been kind of made to think of it tht way. I can easily afford a kitten so thats not a problem, and one of the benefits of adopting a kitten from a shelter is that they spay/neuter them, give them their first round of vaccinations and a vet check up, free pet insurance for 2 months, a microchip and tattoo for identification if they get lost, and a 6 month pet license all for the $180 adoption fee. I had considered getting an older cat but my vet said that since there is an older cat(8) and a dog(1 1/2) in the house a young kitten would be the best fit. I've thought about it and even if most of the people close to me don't think I deserve a kitten I'm getting one anyways.
"Some people get by, with a little understanding. Some people get by, with a whole lot more."
I had considered getting an older cat but my vet said that since there is an older cat(8) and a dog(1 1/2) in the house a young kitten would be the best fit. I've thought about it and even if most of the people close to me don't think I deserve a kitten I'm getting one anyways.
I disagree with the vet actually - it depends on the personality of both your cat and the personality of the potential kitten.
Your older cat is classified as a senior, so that means she is an older puss. Usually at that age (or older), they actually find a little kitten is a bit of nuisance, always wanting to play or wanting attention, and the older cat usually (in most cases) wants to be left alone, or sleep undisturbed. This causes resentment, and it can cause problems (either hating the kitten or messing around the house).
An older kitten (or young adult) has usually calmed down and less annoying for the older cat. They've either grown out of playing or learnt to play with themselves. They also get into less mischief and are far safer to be left alone for longer than an 8 week kitten. They also tend to be more respectful of an older cat and leave them alone more than if they were younger. If someone came into the Cats Protection in your situation, we would recommend either an older kitten or younger adult.
Of course, it is ultimately your decision, but I would have a talk with the shelter staff and explain it as you have done here (a good shelter should ask if you have any other pets). But dont be surprised if they agree with me, and steer you towards the older kitten/young adult. It's not them being mean, it's the case that they dont want your kitten to come back because your cat hates the new kitten, when an different kitten/cat could have easily prevented this situation.
Wannabe CPN : -)
"He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life." - Homer Simpson "I hear those voices that will not be drowned" Sanity is a nasty disease. The world would be a happier place without it. - Rilic
RIP Kat 4th July 1987- 11th June 2013
I have a 1 year old cat and she is perfect, in personality and laziness xD.
So I'd say get one over 1 year old, not too old though, because you want to spend a life with the cat.
:)
thank you, Lily, for saving mummy's life*.
You are my one and only, you can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight, and you'll be alright.
I have a 1 year old cat and she is perfect, in personality and laziness xD.
So I'd say get one over 1 year old, not too old though, because you want to spend a life with the cat.
:)
I agree, some 1 year old are actually calmer than 5 year olds!
When I mean older kitten, I mean 6 months to a year. When I say a young adult, I mean 1-3 years.
Wannabe CPN : -)
"He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life." - Homer Simpson "I hear those voices that will not be drowned" Sanity is a nasty disease. The world would be a happier place without it. - Rilic
RIP Kat 4th July 1987- 11th June 2013
Yeah, I agree totally.
I mean, my cat, Phoebe was never hard work as a kitten, but some may be.
But she is VERY easy now as a 1 year old cat, she sleeps most of the time :P
thank you, Lily, for saving mummy's life*.
You are my one and only, you can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight, and you'll be alright.
