Hi all! Some of you may have seen my thread before ("Baby kittens!") about our friends' stray cat who has had kittens. I am totally and completely smitten with one of them. Today my mom got an email that they want to give me that kitten for my birthday (they would also be paying for neutering/shots) and I am desperately trying to talk my parents into it.
However, before I drive my parents completely over the edge, I want to make sure that any choice I make is in the best interest of my cat, Olivia, and the potential kitten. If you don't mind I'm going to list some of the Pros/Cons that I've come up with, and any extra information that goes along.
Pros
-I'm not home during the day (school), and Olivia gets lonely. I think her having a friend would be good for her.
- I want to have 2 cats anyway. I would rather get one while she is somewhat young (just over a year), rather than when she is older and completely used to it just being the two of us.
- This kitten is a nephew of Olivia's, and I think as long as I were getting a second cat, it being a relative just makes it extra special
- Olivia is incredibly bored, especially during the night. She runs around and destroys things. I can't help but think that a second cat would help her with this.
- It would help her socialize. My only other pet is a yorkie, and he doesn't get along with her. He keeps to himself. She is litterally around no one but me (she doesn't really pay attention to my parents).
Cons
- In a year, I am leaving for college and won't be able to take them with me at least for my Freshman year. The cats would be home with my parents (who aren't in love with them, but would certainly give them attention and take good care of them). However, I think this is also a pro, because they would have each other for company.
- My mom really, really doesn't like cats. She likes Olivia because she "doesn't act like a cat." But, like I said before, she really doesn't see Olivia much at all anyway, because she is *always* either with me, or upstairs. When she is downstairs, she ignores my parents.
- I don't know how Olivia would take to a new pet. As I said, she hasn't been socialized since I got her. She's very attached to me. She gets PO'd when I play with the dog, but isn't necessarily "jealous."
That's pretty much it. With those things in mind, what is your HONEST (be brutal) opinion? Should I push for the second cat? or should I just leave it alone? I also pay for all expenses (vet care, food, litter) by myself. She is really "my cat" and I'm not the type to get bored and dump her on my parents.
If you read all of this - THANK YOU. I want a kitten very badly, especially this kitten. and I knew that it would be a fight with my parents. But my priority is ALWAYS Olivia and if you guys think that this would be a bad move for her (or the kitten) then I'm not going to push it!
However, before I drive my parents completely over the edge, I want to make sure that any choice I make is in the best interest of my cat, Olivia, and the potential kitten. If you don't mind I'm going to list some of the Pros/Cons that I've come up with, and any extra information that goes along.
Pros
-I'm not home during the day (school), and Olivia gets lonely. I think her having a friend would be good for her.
- I want to have 2 cats anyway. I would rather get one while she is somewhat young (just over a year), rather than when she is older and completely used to it just being the two of us.
- This kitten is a nephew of Olivia's, and I think as long as I were getting a second cat, it being a relative just makes it extra special
- Olivia is incredibly bored, especially during the night. She runs around and destroys things. I can't help but think that a second cat would help her with this.
- It would help her socialize. My only other pet is a yorkie, and he doesn't get along with her. He keeps to himself. She is litterally around no one but me (she doesn't really pay attention to my parents).
Cons
- In a year, I am leaving for college and won't be able to take them with me at least for my Freshman year. The cats would be home with my parents (who aren't in love with them, but would certainly give them attention and take good care of them). However, I think this is also a pro, because they would have each other for company.
- My mom really, really doesn't like cats. She likes Olivia because she "doesn't act like a cat." But, like I said before, she really doesn't see Olivia much at all anyway, because she is *always* either with me, or upstairs. When she is downstairs, she ignores my parents.
- I don't know how Olivia would take to a new pet. As I said, she hasn't been socialized since I got her. She's very attached to me. She gets PO'd when I play with the dog, but isn't necessarily "jealous."
That's pretty much it. With those things in mind, what is your HONEST (be brutal) opinion? Should I push for the second cat? or should I just leave it alone? I also pay for all expenses (vet care, food, litter) by myself. She is really "my cat" and I'm not the type to get bored and dump her on my parents.
If you read all of this - THANK YOU. I want a kitten very badly, especially this kitten. and I knew that it would be a fight with my parents. But my priority is ALWAYS Olivia and if you guys think that this would be a bad move for her (or the kitten) then I'm not going to push it!