You say your dad doesn't like cats. Is he allergic to them or just doesn't care for them? Certainely if you tal with him and explain your feelings he may reconsider?

My dad had always had a no pet policy growing up. We lived in a show case home and an animal, evencaged, would ruin that. I wanted these hamsters so bad and after I pleaded and told him how broken hearted I would be if I didn't get them, he said no. Rose, Daisy, and Iris were the only furry things to set foot in that house ever!