How to convince my parents to let me have a kitten?

korn

2012-10-20 00:00:04 UTC

Kittens are a very big responsibility! Now that we have that out of the way lets get some of those issues addressed.

1.) Cats can be indoor trained. But there are going to be times where they try to get out. My foot or a good pssssssst! Usually keeps mine from trying. (Some of my cats are not aloud outside, others are)

2.) They will scratch the furniture until trained not to. A scratch post or water bottle can help, but cats will be cats!

3.) I really didn't think we had a cat hair problem until I got a new vacuum and oh boy do these guys shed more then I knew! If you vacuum regularly it shouldn't be a problem. Also short haired cats are a little better, but they will still shed.

4.) If you litter box train them and keep it clean this will not be a problem. Usually doesn't take long to train them if you are consistent.

5.) If your Grandma comes over put the cat in your room.

6.) If you really want a cat and you love it this will not be a problem. I actually like my cats more as adults then when they were kittens.

7.) A friend? Or when we can't find someone to help we make sure we have 2 litter boxes set up and we have a food and water feeder that holds more then enough for a week. (Though it will probably be a stinky litter box when you get home.)

8.) YOU!!! you want the cat you have to make sure you are the one to take care of it!!!!!!!!

As to your concern about roaming the streets. This problem is more of a male cat and more frequent when un neutered. Also another concern about males is that that if not neutered young enough they have a higher chance to spray. (AKA marking their territory.) With females the wonder off problem is less likely. You will more likely have a few males roaming around your house once a month. (I had this problem even when my female cats were strictly indoor.)

I have 4 cats of my own and a litter of 7 babies at the moment. A kitten is a huge responsibility and you have shown great initiative by doing so much research and your parents have given you great things to think about.

I would say that in your situation with wanting an indoor cat that a female would be more comfortable .My females very rarely care to go out doors and don't try to dart for the door. As for a kitten versus and adult that depends on the kitten/cat that catches your eye! Though a healthy adult is easier to take care of , a kitten is just as awesome to have just a little more work.

Good luck with your decision and I hope that if you get a kitten/cat that it has a very happy home and life. :)

ZotsRule

2012-10-20 00:41:15 UTC

1) The kitten's gonna run out of the house when its grown, roam the streets and possibly never return.

No, because if you adopted a cat or kitten from a shelter you'll be signing a contract that it'll be kept INDOORS at all times. You really want it run over by a car, eaten by a coyote, killed by a loose dog, etc? If your parents really think that cats belong outside you have no business getting a cat. Cats kept indoors don't go into depression. That's ridiculous.

2) The kittent's gonna scratch the furniture and knock things over

Yes, kittens can be very hyperactive and destructive if left alone for long periods of time so adopt an adult cat.

3) There's gonna be hair all over the place

Not if you groom the cat regularly.

4) The poo is gonna spread germs everywhere

How? Scoop the litter DAILY and dump the pan out once a week.

5) Oh crap, my mom just said that my grandmother will also wouldn't wanna come to our house cos she doesn't really like cats or kittens

Too bad for granny!

6) Unwanted kittens will be made when its grown and it would contribute to the overpopulation of the stray cats

Cats adopted from shelter are altered so that won't happen.

7) Who's gonna take care of the kitten when we travel

That's your problem. A neighbour, a friend, a pet sitting service.

8) Who's gonna change the litter, feed it... etc

YOU WOULD, of course, since YOU are the one asking for this pet. If you don't want to do these things then you don't deserve a pet. You've done research "for weeks"? That's not very much time and with the questions you're asking clearly you don't have a clue about caring for a cat or how shelters work so do MORE research.

anonymous

2016-02-24 01:48:24 UTC

Nala would probably not like the new kitten being around the house at all. However I would keep working on your parents and helping them with the animals who aren't yours take the dogs for walks and feed and bathe them. Show that you can handle a kitten and would play with him often and keep him out of trouble. Also empty the litter box more than often and keep the litter really clean, you are going to have to empty the litter box twice as much with two cats. Good luck just stay persistant and don't whine talk to them like an adult.

Ana

2012-10-20 00:11:13 UTC

Before I get into it Id' like to adress something.

Cats should NEVER be allowed to roam. Ever. Its irresponsible pet-ownership and a cat is 100% content to remain inside if the effort is put into its well-being and mental health. Both of my cats are indoor-only and go outside on a LEASH. They are both harness and leash trained and it was a breeze. Cats have single-handedly killed off entire species of birds and are a terrible nuisance to the environment. Not only that, but some places do have leash laws that cover pets, you can be fined if your cat messes in another persons lawn, and you can even be fined for your bird destroying native species. Want your cat to experience the great outdoors? Do it responsibly be leash training your cat or building a cat enclosure.

Now for your points.

1. Keep kitty inside where it belongs. Allowing a cat to roam is irresponsible. Cats that roam have an average life-span of 5 years whereas inside cats have an average of 15.

2. Train it. As for scratching furniture, if you're that worried theres a product called Soft Paws that are great.

3. Feed a high-quality diet. None of my cats shed, at all. I NEVER find fur anywhere. However, cats fed a crappy diet (Iams, Purina, Meox mix..) tend to shed like crazy.

4. Get a litterbox and keep it clean, scooping twice a day or atleast once.

5. Lock kitty up when grandma comes.

6. A shelter should not give you an unaltered cat. Kittens can be fixed as young as 8 weeks.

7. This IS something you need to think about and discuss maturely with your parents. Whether its a close family friend or a pet-sitting agency, or boarding at a vet office.

8. Another great question. Will you be the responsible one? Will you pay for any emergency vet bills that crop up? For high-quailty food? If its YOUR cat then your parents should not have to pay or do anything for it.

You need to do a ton more research and sit down with your parents and have a mature discussion. Have solid answers for ANY question they throw at you and be prepared to admitt defeat after everything they say no. Its their house, their rules.

Start researching diet. Catinfo.org is a great place to start. Start researching the damage cats do to the environment, heres another good start: http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/cats/materials/predation.pdf Even though its an 'about' article, I really like this one: http://cats.about.com/od/indoorsvsoutdoors/tp/keepindoors.htm Watch a few episodes of M Cat From Hell and pick up the book Think Like a Cat by Pam Bennett for behavior information.

Star_of_Darkness

2012-10-20 00:38:43 UTC

The closer it gets to the holidays the more spoiled brats come out of the wood work

You can't, they don't want a kitten so you can't have one. Stop asking

The kitten's will scratch the furniture and knock things over, this is a good reason not to have one

There's gonna be hair all over the place- All cats shed. They don't want to deal with cat hair every where.

my mom just said that my grandmother will also wouldn't wanna come to our house cos she doesn't really like cats or kittens- This means you cant have a cat. Grand doesn't like them and its not fair to force her to deal with a cat.

Who's gonna take care of the kitten when we travel- Boarding is expensive. Its very selfish of you to want a cat when you have no way of paying for it and your parents will be the ones who will have to pay for it

Who's gonna change the litter, feed it... etc- your parents. You can claim you will all you want, they know they will be the ones doing all the work

"Oh and my parents say cats can't be trained to stay indoors blah blah blah,"

Cats need to be kept indoors where they belong. All my cats have been indoors all their life. Cats don't get depressed when kept indoors where they belong.

Stop being such an immature spoiled brat and accept the fact your parents gave you plenty of valid reasons for them not to want a cat in their house.

Its their house and their rules and they said no. Shut up, suck it up and respect them instead of whining like a spoiled brat. Just drop it. They don't want a cat and nothing you do or say will make them get you one

anonymous

2012-10-20 02:27:03 UTC

Come up with a list of things why you should get a kitten and you could also make a powerpoint! Try and make it emotional(that works the best-lol)

Hope things helps!