I want a kitten!!

[catnapper]

Originally posted by gotalonglildoggie
LOLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!! I posted that thread on my first day on here and already caused a commotion!! Wow!!

I appreciate everyone's advice!! I am starting to regret posting it though because I didn't mean to stir up trouble!! I want everyone to get along!!! We all are here because of our love for our pets and animals so lets just be friends!!!!

I try to get along! We are all very in love with our cats and don't want to see a potential problem. Thats all... hopefully I'm not speaking for too many people here! I know that when I read your post I was concerned because - no matter WHAT you say - having an active puppy, baby AND kitten in a new home is going to be way way overwhelming. Life has taught me (and many others) these experiences.

Perhaps its your exhuberance and optimism of it all that makes it seem exciting and wonderful and that you'll be able to handle it. But PLEASE listen to a voice of reason here: new house, baby, puppy, kitten.... if you look up stress tests online - these are all top stressors! When I married and "inherited" 3 wonderful step-kids and moved an hour away, I purposely did not leave my job for a year because I knew that new marriage, new house AND new job would have killed me! All of these things were positive! All of these things were things I'd dreamt of having and couldn't wait! Even positive changes cause stress.

I think you are a wonderful person who has, in your few posts, displayed sensitivity, friendship, optimism, joy... everything that a wonderful human being should be! Being, human, I also know that we have limits and adding a kitten to the lists of all these new experiences for you might topple the foundation you have. You don't seem to be the type of person who would get a kitten and then give it away... I know that you'd love this cat with all of your heart and no sooner part with it than your child. I can tell this from what you've written inresponse to this and other posts. I just don't want to see your happiness and optimism hurt by taking on too much at one time.

[gotalonglildoggie]

That was very sweet of you to say all of that! I do realize how hard it will be, but I would love to give all I have to taking care of my 'family' no matter how hard it gets. I don't work, I am home all day and I have plenty of time and love to give. Having grown up with cats, I almost feel like I have a void in my life. I am thrilled with my pup and baby and hubby, but that void needs to be satisfied. I am MORE than willing to do everything I need to to make sure every one has a good and happy life. We don't plan on getting our kitty until after we move and are settled in. Possibly even a few months after the baby is born. That should give us enough time to develop a routine. Then when we do decide to throw a kitty into the mix we want to make sure it is young enough to adapt to this. Kittens are more likely to adapt to a new life than a slightly older cat who is already kind of set in it's ways.

But anyways, You are all great people!! Please don't think I came here to stir up trouble!! I appreciate you all!!!!!!!!

[PayItForward]

ROTFLMAO.......At least people are reading my posts, even if they do not understand them.

I find this so funny, I don't argue, I state facts and I ask questions, when people ask advice I say what I think.

How can someone so direct, be misunderstood... LOL

LOL. If I was spilting hairs, arguing, assumming bad things, holier than thou attitude (Does this one mean I get wings ) I *think* I might have noticed. Well to be honest I would state it very loudly.

PS. Hands up if you don't understand me, email joker98 s(he) will translate the *real* meaning later


So as my posts are so very difficult to understand, I appoint joker98 as my personal 'attitude monitor'.

joker98,

Just post after I have and using quotes from my posts, write the *real* meaning behind my words, as I am so incapable

How did I cope for the last year without you, my new best buddy.

You had better look at my last 2500 posts and rewrite those too.

Originally posted by joker98
*sigh* I am so tired of forum arguments. Maybe negativity was the wrong word but that was what I felt when I read the posts. Maybe the word I should have used was without such a condescending attitude? I might be splitting hairs or making mountains out of molehills but this is what I felt when I read these posts.


If you knew anything about cats??? Please...


Why are you automatically assuming that she has not though of the responsibilities that come with a baby and owning a pet? That she is not prepared or educated to deal with the situations and difficulties that might arise? And why not present some of those challenges that she might face that lead you to suggest that she wait until the baby is older? And how old should the baby be? I know many groups that will not adopt kittens to families with children under six. There are reasons behind this. Why not present some of these reasons to support your suggestion?


That was made in response to the "Cats are fairly low maintence that's why we'd rather get one more than a dog." And it is true, when compared to dogs, cats are IMHO, lower maintanence than a dog. Why does this statement worry you? I got my first cat because I live in a townhouse and I did not have the room for a dog to run nor the time to walk it. And I am so glad because I realize how wonderful cats are.



Once again automatically assuming that she has no idea cats.

If we look at guster girl's and catnapper's post they address the same issues but they put in their personal experiences as an example as to why one might reconsider or at least examine their reasons for adopting a kitten, especially one so old.


Is there something wrong with wanting to adopt a younger cat? Yes, the difference between 12 weeks and 24 weeks is minimal but there is nothing wrong with wanting a kitten that young. The younger they are, the more dependent they are on you. And maybe that is what she is looking for?


I know I am opening myself up to a lot of flak but I believe there is a way to educate and question without the holier than thou attitude

[PayItForward]

Originally posted by gotalonglildoggie
But anyways, You are all great people!! Please don't think I came here to stir up trouble!! I appreciate you all!!!!!!!!

You have not made any trouble, don't think for one minute you did.

I wanted to make sure you understood the work and committment level you are taking on and you do and that is great.

I reserve judgement when people first post as you don't know if they are real cat lovers or not but I believe you are and I hope you stick around and post plenty.

I am still confused why a 24 week old kitten is too old but that is just my opinion.

The important thing is that you have thought about this seriously and I do believe that you will love this baby, puppy, kitten and hubby (notice he came last) for life !!!

[catnapper]

Originally posted by PayItForward
So as my posts are so very difficult to understand, I appoint joker98 as my personal 'attitude monitor'.

You are too funny! I was thinking the same thing too. I notice he/she stated how they hate forum arguments, yet they seem to be the one who started it. Gosh, I felt so bad later about what I said. I honestly tried to be nice and ascertain that gotalonglildoggie understood the magnitude of adopting a new pet with all of her other new experiences. It seems she does, which makes me feel good. I'm glad she has decided to join PT and I hope she continues to stcik around after all of this hubbub!

[PayItForward]

Originally posted by catnapper
You are too funny! I was thinking the same thing too. I notice he/she stated how they hate forum arguments, yet they seem to be the one who started it.

LOL, great minds think alike.

I just think some people are determined to read bad attititude into posts where it doesn't exist.

I honestly tried to be nice and ascertain that gotalonglildoggie understood the magnitude of adopting a new pet with all of her other new experiences. It seems she does, which makes me feel good. I'm glad she has decided to join PT and I hope she continues to stick around after all of this hubbub!

Here Here. That is what me & Donna were doing too, making sure she understood the committment level needed.

PS. Catnapper, I think you are the nicest poster on Pet Talk and very friendly with it

[Sirrahsim]

i just made a post, but it has been deleted because it's becoming increasingly clear to me that there is too much pride in here for the efforts at cooling things down to be effective. A new poster should not be greeted with rude and condescending remarks. It makes me sick that she was. End of story.

[gotalonglildoggie]

Ha Ha ! Im starting to feel really popular on here or something! Sometimes the posts make me laugh so hard because it seems everyone is just all confused!!! Please everyone (especially you PayitFoward and Jokerman) GET ALONG!! Just forget about any angry feelings!!

PS. It's funny that somebody actually noticed how hubby came last! LOL!! I didn't know if anyone would!

[PayItForward]

Sirrahsim,

Please add me to your ignore list and you will never have to read any of my English advice again, you are now on mine and that is the whole point of the button.

joker98, If you need a deputy try Sirrahsim she also can read my mind.

Originally posted by Sirrahsim
PayitForward, I just wanted to point something out. I do not mean any harm towards you, your character, so don't jump on me. The truth is that tactfulness is defined differently depending on what part of the world you live in. What you consider to be helpful, to the point statements will be recieved by a lot of people over here as condescending and rude. You make excellent points, however- not to sound racists or anything, but they are made in a very "English" way. This is not a rude message, I am not bashing you, I am kindly pointing out that your comments seem a little harsh to most non-english ears. If someone percieves your comments as harsh (which a lot of people did) they will immediately go on the offensive and even if you do make good points it won't matter because everyone feels like they are being stepped on. So please, can you temper your comments in such a way that they will not be perceived as so rude and condescending? I'm trying to put this pleasantly, I don't know how I should write this so that you will understand where we are all coming from. I am trying to diffuse the tension that was created by some very harsh sounding posts, so don't jump on me, don't make little jokes. I think that the joke you made about joker98 was very rude and spiteful. he/she was just trying to help put things into a more helpful medium.

[Sirrahsim]

that's why that post was deleted. I knew that it would fall on deaf ears(eyes)?

[joker98]

PayItForward,
I'm very glad that you find my post so funny. Although, I did not mean it as a personal attack, by your getting so defensive, you obviously took it so. Your posts were not the only ones I quoted. I was asked to elaborate, so I did. Like I said negative was the wrong adjetive to use. Condescending, on the other hand, most definitely fits the bill. Look how you lash out at me because of the way I interpreted your post. I did not start any forum argument. All I did was comment on how gotalonglittledoggies original post was responded to. And it was a very condescening attitude which greeted her. I never challenged the meaning of your post or the thinking behind them. I challenged the way the thoughts and ideas were being presented. Can you understand the difference? They could have been done in a better more accepting manner, instead of from the high pedestal from which you view yourself. As you can tell, I was not here for your other 2500 post. I can only comment on the current ones. I have not felt the need to comment on any of the other post that you have made. You have provided me with good advice in the past, which I appreciate. It was just this instance that I felt something needed to be said. There was no opinion/advice asked for in the original post. The question was, what months are the best for finding young kittens? I said I was opening myself up for a lot of flak and I expected such a response. I am not trying to fan any fires but as a newcomer, it is very disheartening to see how unaccepting some people can be of a different point of view. You do not need me to be your personal attitude monitor. Your post says it all for you.

-James

[Desert Arabian]

Back to the subject of kittens:

gotalonglildoggie,

I have a 10 month old orange kitten named Sammy. We got him when he was only 4 weeks old, and we had to bottle feed him and wean him from the bottle. He is a terrorist, that is why my mom and I have dubbed him Osama Bin Sama. Right now he is just terrible- chewing everything in site, destroying as many things as possible, terrorizing our other cat Dudley, crawling on the screens (when the windows are open), etc. Even though he is such a little "stinker", I adore him, there is no way I could be mad at him.

BUT if he was the first cat I have ever owned, there is no way on Earth I could deal with his behavior. Since my family has owned previous adult cats, I know what it takes, I guess you could say, so I am prepared to deal with his attitude problem. He is a kitten, so of course he is going to act like this. Right now we are trying everything to deter him from doing his various "duties", but he doesn't respond to it. The vet said we just have to wait until he gets older and learns his manners.

What I am trying to say is, owning a kitten is hard; it's just like owning a puppy. Basically the only thing different is you don’t have to potty train kittens. If you are a first time cat owner it may be best to start off with a somewhat older (mature) cat that has settled down, learned its manners, and won't present a lot of challenges for you.

(Keep in mind I am talking from my perspective of owning a kitten like Sammy, I am sure there are other PT'er on Pet Talk who raised mellow kittens- not all kittens are terrors of course. I don't mean to generalize all kittens in this post.)

Best of luck to you in your search for a feline partner!

-Laura

Sammy:

May 2003:

February 2004:

[sirrahbed]

Originally posted by Twink
Sorry to go wildly off of the thread topic, but sirrahved, I have just go to tell you that your pet names crack me up! You'd better hope that they don't learn to speak English, or they are going to get very, very nervous. Especially Sushi!

hey Devon -want to explain why Sushi is named thus? I will!! He is named for his predecessor - who literally *became* sushi for Pickles
(this is my daughter-in-love and yes, the names crack ME up too!)

[PaysForIt]

*sigh*



Don't make me sic Bramble on you!

[prettykitty1]

how do you get pictures i am kinda new