Fox_Gal - I think you're dead on. If I want to be treated equally and have my wishes and ideas accepted, I have to be willing to do the same for my partner.

Sam was not crazy about getting another cat, but he eventually saw the light. However, he says two animals is his limit. I respect this totally. I do not want any resentment in our house.

If he suddenly turned into the kind of guy who wanted pics of naked chicks on the walls of our house (thank God he is not!) I would want him to listen to my ideas about how our house should look and what is allowed inside it. Same goes for me. It's pretty simple, really.

As it is, we only have a one bedroom apartment and the lease only allows two pets, so it's just not feasible to have more. And I don't think I want more, either. I like having two to concentrate my love on. Anymore and I can't guarantee the same quality/quantity of attention.

As for the husband always having the final say, I think Sam and I would both die laughing over that rule.