As you all know, I have two cats, Russell and Esper. They're both indoor cats and are both cared for lovingly. And it's general knowledge that I have two cats and that I adore animals and hate to see any without a home. At the moment, I'm in the process of trying to befriend a feral cat that visits my yard, one that I've named Caped Crusader, so really, it's like owning three cats at the moment. Not many people know this.
Anyway, just recently someone from my fiance's work asked me whether I would take a kitten from his recent litter. Well, he didn't so much as ask, but tried to force me to accept a kitten. My fiance asked how old they were. To this we didn't get a satisfactory reply. He said and I quote, "Five weeks." We both said "Too young." I went further to say that I won't accept a kitten under 12 weeks of age when I know the mother is taking care of them. Then he went to say that the kittens were eating meat and running around and doing their own things. And because of this, they were weaned and fine to give away.
He also went on to say that it was just one more cat. I already had two, what would one more mean. I replied that looking after a cat is more than giving it a home than running free. He looked at me oddly and told me to think about it. I said that we probably wouldn't be able to take on another cat.
The bit that peeved me off the most was that the mother hadn't been spayed and that it was her fault that she became pregnant with the litter. It wasn't their fault that they let her out while she was calling during her heat cycle. It was unfair that they now had kittens to look after and that the kittens weren't their responsibility and that if they found a home, it wouldn't matter if it was a good home or not. And there's no plans to spay the mother after the kittens are weaned or taken away from her which is probably more the case.
We can't take any more cats in at the moment. We're responsible owners and with that task, it costs money. And right now, we're saving money for the future. We also put aside money each year for each cat for vet bills and any possible accidents or illnesses that may occur so we're not caught short. I would have loved to have said yes and given the two kittens a home but it wouldn't be a good one. I know that we would not be able to provide the same level of care for all cats if we did.
If there was ever a proposal for people requiring a licence to own ANY animal, I would be the first to support it. I would also recommend that any unregistered breeders would have to sterilise their animals. There's too many without homes and without people who love them for what they are.
Anyway, just recently someone from my fiance's work asked me whether I would take a kitten from his recent litter. Well, he didn't so much as ask, but tried to force me to accept a kitten. My fiance asked how old they were. To this we didn't get a satisfactory reply. He said and I quote, "Five weeks." We both said "Too young." I went further to say that I won't accept a kitten under 12 weeks of age when I know the mother is taking care of them. Then he went to say that the kittens were eating meat and running around and doing their own things. And because of this, they were weaned and fine to give away.
He also went on to say that it was just one more cat. I already had two, what would one more mean. I replied that looking after a cat is more than giving it a home than running free. He looked at me oddly and told me to think about it. I said that we probably wouldn't be able to take on another cat.
The bit that peeved me off the most was that the mother hadn't been spayed and that it was her fault that she became pregnant with the litter. It wasn't their fault that they let her out while she was calling during her heat cycle. It was unfair that they now had kittens to look after and that the kittens weren't their responsibility and that if they found a home, it wouldn't matter if it was a good home or not. And there's no plans to spay the mother after the kittens are weaned or taken away from her which is probably more the case.
We can't take any more cats in at the moment. We're responsible owners and with that task, it costs money. And right now, we're saving money for the future. We also put aside money each year for each cat for vet bills and any possible accidents or illnesses that may occur so we're not caught short. I would have loved to have said yes and given the two kittens a home but it wouldn't be a good one. I know that we would not be able to provide the same level of care for all cats if we did.
If there was ever a proposal for people requiring a licence to own ANY animal, I would be the first to support it. I would also recommend that any unregistered breeders would have to sterilise their animals. There's too many without homes and without people who love them for what they are.