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Look at Zorro and me : we have responsible humans, who are very attentive to our needs and to our well-being ; they play every day with us, let us eat food of good quality, we have a well kept litter box, we have some room to live and amuse us, and a veterinarian watches regularly our health. Claire and Momo adore us, and we also like very much them. We’re happy cats.
Cats are adorable companions, but we’re not “objects” which we offer in present. Why ?
First of all, does the person to whom you offer a cat really want it ? Or do you assume the fact that this small cat is going to land in the shelter with more or less brief term ?
Then, will she know how to take care of him correctly during long years ? A cat likes having clean bowls to eat healthy food ; he appreciates a litter box emptied several times a day of his excrement ; he needs to play with his toys, but also with his human, and to be regularly petted.
Has she the financial means to take care of an animal ? A cat is a living being who has specific needs, and it has a cost. It’s necessary to count the expenses of food, veterinarian, litter, diverse accessories and toys during several years, what represents a not insignificant amount every month.
Are you sure that she’s not allergic ? It would be the height all the same that a badly chosen present makes your friend or his child have to go to the hospital, isn’t it ?
Does she have the right to hold an animal in her apartment ? Certain owners don’t authorize animals in apartments, and we’re not sure that a human moves for a kitten-present for which he didn’t ask …
Finally, the adoption of a human by a cat, it’s the story of a meeting, a mutual choice, for the common path which should last for long years…
Then please, don’t offer an animal as present : rather let him adopt the person who will be really ready to welcome him.
Those are good points.
people should get kitties because they want them
and are willing to make a long term commitment 🙂
Purrs Georgia and Julie,
Treasure and JJ
We kitties ARE gifts, we aren’t meant to be GIVEN as gifts! So I am glad you wrote this post.
Pixie and Zorro, you two look awesome playing with your toys. I really think the idea of giving someone a cat as a gift is ridiculous. This is something that should be done by the person that is going to live and raise the animal. What if their karma doesn’t jive….among various other things you have named. No, it is more personal than just grabbing a kitty and sending it off to a home.
(((Shoko)))
Great post- so many people think it is fun to give pets as gifts, but the person that will care for the pet really needs to pick him or her out. Most shelters will not let you get a pet from them unless it i for you.
This is such an important topic at this time of year. Thanks for sharing!
I really like the last point– the mutual meeting of a human and its new kitty — you just don’t know if you give one as a gift if it will be love at first sight. Great points!
Oh it’s the same thing with dogs too. People really need to stop buying pets for others at Christmas time, far too many end up at the shelters after Christmas 🙁 Great post, thanks for sharing!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
This is such a great reminder here at the holidays. I see so many cats roaming the streets probably as a result of this 🙁
when our rescue gets these requests, we suggest getting a gift certificate and giving that with some supplies then letting the person choose their own pet….once the holidays are past
Gosh, THANK YOU for sharing this! *shivers at the thought*
What great reminders about why cats and kittens just like dogs and puppies do not make good presents. They are a lifelong commitment not a game to play with until the next best thing comes along.
Very good points… puppies also don’t make good presents 🙁
Pawsum posty gawjuses. Yous so wight, a livin’ bweevin’ bein’ shuld not be given as a purresent unless all pawties awe in agweement.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
Such great points. I try to stay off of animal classified sites at this time of year because I just get so angry with the amount of people looking for animals at gifts. In February, most of them are looking for new homes : /
Sigh. When all people truly understand that animals are living beings that require financial and time commitments, no one will ever consider giving an animal as a gift again! 🙂
the critters in the cottage xo
grate post guys N veree troo…de same can be said for puppies…peepul over heer go see a movie
see a cute puppy and get one for …or as…a gift, not having researched a thing bout de breed, then
sure enuff…6 months later…de poor dog ends up in a shelter 🙁
♥♥♥
This is a really timely post! We have a post scheduled for tomorrow looking at the statistics about whether cats given as gifts are relinquished to shelters more often, and the results surprised us.
Totally agree and ditto for any other pet. It’s okay to give a pet the gift of a forever loving home, but not to give the pet as a gift.
Hear Hear! And so say all of us! Excellent post. Thank you Zorro and Pixie xox
Good points! Delilah was a Christmas present. BUT Mom had been wanting a kitty for FOREVER. And she wasn’t physically given as the gift. Mom got a card that said “We are getting you a kitty! You get to go pick it out yourself!” So Mom went to the rescue and Delilah picked her. 🙂
All excellent points as to why animals should not be given as Christmas gifts (or other occasions). The last one is most important – kitty (or puppy, or whatever) should meet so they can choose each other.
This needs to be tattooed on the heads of some people. Well done and thanks for getting the word out.
I couldn’t agree with you more! It is okay to offer to pay the adoption fee for someone as a present, but not to give the cat as a present. Cats turn out to be a huge commitment. They deserve to go to homes where they are welcomed with open arms 🙂
Excellent points! I especially agree that even if a person wants a cat, they’ll probably want to be part of the process of picking it out. I’ve had pets given to me when everything else lined up, but it just wasn’t the best match.
Of course a cat – or a dog – cannot be a Xmas present!
If a child really wants a cat, or a dog, parents have to bear in mind that the animal will become THEIR cat or THEIR dog at the end of the day! Therefore, if they are prepared, the animal will certainly live in a good family. It is NOT a matter of children being fed up with the “toy” but, supposing a cat or a dog live for 15 years, how old will the 5-year-old “child” be 12 or 15 years later? The “child” will have other things in mind – studies, boy/girl friends,etc.
The problem is the same for elderly people. A pet is certainly a comforting presence for a person who lives alone. But what will happen to the animal if his/her Master has to spend some time in hospital, or to leave for an elderly people’s home, or stay forever in a churchyard?
Excellent blog post!
Purrs xx
Athena and Marie
Not just for Christmas, indeed!
We completely agree!!! Adopting a pet is a big decision and not something to be entered into lightly. Although I was actually a gift for Glogirly from Gloman…and I was a surprise too… he knew without a shadow of a doubt that Glogirly wanted a kitty VERY much. And now Gloman and I have a very special relationship because it was him who adopted me.
xo Katie
Good point! People really need to consider adopting an animal as a family, and not adopting/buying a puppy or kitten and bringing them home as a “surprise”.
Yup, adoption is ADOPTION. The peeps doin’ the adoptin’ have to want to adopt. Peeps should never give a cat to someone who might not want to adopt that cat. Not fair for the cat, at all.
Purrs,
Nissy