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Okay, so I've been planning on adopting a cat from the Humane society since...
A) It was going to happen eventually so might as well get it over with (get it out of my system, so to speak).
B) I would like a cat that's a little more cuddly than my current cats.
C) To be a playmate for Bug, who could really do with a friend that actually plays back instead of sits there ignoring her as she chews on their hind leg.
D) If mom can have five dogs (technically four since Sara isn't long for this world, stubborn about it as she's being) then I can have four cats!
There was a kitten I had my eye on but who, for some reason, isn't up for adoption yet (it's been four days, people! She has her friggin' personality card and she's not in iso, what more does she need!). There's also Stevie, the blind cat who was born without eyes. And of course I had to tell my mom about the blind cat and of course she's all "awww! Adopt it!" (thinking that it won't be adopted since it's blind, but trust me when I say most of the handicapped animals get adopted pretty quick *cough!*three-legged spaniel named Sophie*cough!*).
But seeing as how I'm the one doing the adopting, there was and is much dithering that is driving me crazy. For one, I had my heart set on the kitten, not simply because it's a kitten but because it's young enough that I feel it would adapt better than an adult cat and would be a more fun playmate for Bug. It was also so cuddly it was difficult to put down. The blind cat, being four years old and blind, I've been worrying about how it would react to the other animals, who pretty much all get along mostly by ignoring each other, in which case the blind cat would probably fit in well. But, the cat having been a stray, it might not be all that accepting. I don't want to bring this cat home only for it to end up hiding under the bed for the rest of its life. I asked the shelter staff about this and they said most blind cats do quite well around other animals and adapt well to their surroundings. And also that some animals tend to be more friendly toward handicapped animals.
So I went to visit the blind cat, sat with him, pet him. He's an utter sweetheart. Difficult to pick up since it makes him nervous but very loving and likes to play. But sweet as this cat is, my immediate gut instinct was "no." I just didn't feel comfortable about bringing him home.
Now that I'm home and had time to think on the matter... I want to go back and get him!
But, well, the kitten kind of had me at meow, and it's so utterly cuddly.
But Stevie is such a sweet heart and I think he'd be a good cat for my mom (we had a blind cat before. She was my mom's baby. But she got sick and we had to put her down).
But would he be open to the other cats or just like my other cats who mostly ignore each other (I would really like a friend for Bug)?
Also, kittens cost $99, adult cats are pick-your-price. But I don't really care either way.
Ugh, so much to think about. And the thing is had this been a cat we found out on the street or in some barn we would have taken it home in a heartbeat. We've never adopted before because we never had to since our cats always just... showed up in our lives.
I think my main problem is conflicting desires (if I could get both cats, I probably would) warring with practicality (because there's merits and anti-merits to both the kitten and the cat) and I can't tell what's gut instinct and what's me being indecisive. One moment I'm all for the kitten, the next I regret not adopting Stevie. I'm so all over the place that I'm actually hoping Stevie gets adopted and the kitten gets put up for adoption by tomorrow. Life would be so much easier if that happened :/
ETA: I think the other problem is that once I adopt a cat it will be the last we get for a very long time. As I said, cats always just happened with us so getting one wasn't something we ever had to think about. We just went with the flow. But since this involves not only adoption but the final cat I will adopt for some time, it's not something I'm going to just up and do. My general attitude about the adoption has been that I need to be smitten with the cat or kitten and smitten hard, that the bond must be special, and I think this attitude has resulted in me over-thinking the matter. There have been quite a few cats and kittens I was smitten with, but I refrained from adopting them for various reasons. I got so fed up with all the dithering that I made myself a promise that the next cat I fall head-over-heels for, I'm getting. That cat was the aforementioned kitten. It was cute, it was cuddly, and I said to myself "what the heck, I'll just get this one."
Aaaaand then came Stevie.
So now I can't tell if I want the kitten because I bonded with it more, or want the kitten simply because I said I was going to adopt it. In other words, is it love? Or is it simply a matter of having set a goal and wanting to complete that goal? I can be very stubborn when I make up my mind about something.
I'm thinking I need to find out the state of this kitten, because for all I know one the staff ended up calling dibs on it and all my waiting for it to be up for adoption was in vain. I can't think of any other reason why this kitten isn't up for adoption, because this cat was ready to go (as in had its personality card and no apparent issues that would require it to be fostered or stay on a little longer).
A) It was going to happen eventually so might as well get it over with (get it out of my system, so to speak).
B) I would like a cat that's a little more cuddly than my current cats.
C) To be a playmate for Bug, who could really do with a friend that actually plays back instead of sits there ignoring her as she chews on their hind leg.
D) If mom can have five dogs (technically four since Sara isn't long for this world, stubborn about it as she's being) then I can have four cats!
There was a kitten I had my eye on but who, for some reason, isn't up for adoption yet (it's been four days, people! She has her friggin' personality card and she's not in iso, what more does she need!). There's also Stevie, the blind cat who was born without eyes. And of course I had to tell my mom about the blind cat and of course she's all "awww! Adopt it!" (thinking that it won't be adopted since it's blind, but trust me when I say most of the handicapped animals get adopted pretty quick *cough!*three-legged spaniel named Sophie*cough!*).
But seeing as how I'm the one doing the adopting, there was and is much dithering that is driving me crazy. For one, I had my heart set on the kitten, not simply because it's a kitten but because it's young enough that I feel it would adapt better than an adult cat and would be a more fun playmate for Bug. It was also so cuddly it was difficult to put down. The blind cat, being four years old and blind, I've been worrying about how it would react to the other animals, who pretty much all get along mostly by ignoring each other, in which case the blind cat would probably fit in well. But, the cat having been a stray, it might not be all that accepting. I don't want to bring this cat home only for it to end up hiding under the bed for the rest of its life. I asked the shelter staff about this and they said most blind cats do quite well around other animals and adapt well to their surroundings. And also that some animals tend to be more friendly toward handicapped animals.
So I went to visit the blind cat, sat with him, pet him. He's an utter sweetheart. Difficult to pick up since it makes him nervous but very loving and likes to play. But sweet as this cat is, my immediate gut instinct was "no." I just didn't feel comfortable about bringing him home.
Now that I'm home and had time to think on the matter... I want to go back and get him!
But, well, the kitten kind of had me at meow, and it's so utterly cuddly.
But Stevie is such a sweet heart and I think he'd be a good cat for my mom (we had a blind cat before. She was my mom's baby. But she got sick and we had to put her down).
But would he be open to the other cats or just like my other cats who mostly ignore each other (I would really like a friend for Bug)?
Also, kittens cost $99, adult cats are pick-your-price. But I don't really care either way.
Ugh, so much to think about. And the thing is had this been a cat we found out on the street or in some barn we would have taken it home in a heartbeat. We've never adopted before because we never had to since our cats always just... showed up in our lives.
I think my main problem is conflicting desires (if I could get both cats, I probably would) warring with practicality (because there's merits and anti-merits to both the kitten and the cat) and I can't tell what's gut instinct and what's me being indecisive. One moment I'm all for the kitten, the next I regret not adopting Stevie. I'm so all over the place that I'm actually hoping Stevie gets adopted and the kitten gets put up for adoption by tomorrow. Life would be so much easier if that happened :/
ETA: I think the other problem is that once I adopt a cat it will be the last we get for a very long time. As I said, cats always just happened with us so getting one wasn't something we ever had to think about. We just went with the flow. But since this involves not only adoption but the final cat I will adopt for some time, it's not something I'm going to just up and do. My general attitude about the adoption has been that I need to be smitten with the cat or kitten and smitten hard, that the bond must be special, and I think this attitude has resulted in me over-thinking the matter. There have been quite a few cats and kittens I was smitten with, but I refrained from adopting them for various reasons. I got so fed up with all the dithering that I made myself a promise that the next cat I fall head-over-heels for, I'm getting. That cat was the aforementioned kitten. It was cute, it was cuddly, and I said to myself "what the heck, I'll just get this one."
Aaaaand then came Stevie.
So now I can't tell if I want the kitten because I bonded with it more, or want the kitten simply because I said I was going to adopt it. In other words, is it love? Or is it simply a matter of having set a goal and wanting to complete that goal? I can be very stubborn when I make up my mind about something.
I'm thinking I need to find out the state of this kitten, because for all I know one the staff ended up calling dibs on it and all my waiting for it to be up for adoption was in vain. I can't think of any other reason why this kitten isn't up for adoption, because this cat was ready to go (as in had its personality card and no apparent issues that would require it to be fostered or stay on a little longer).
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no subject
Date: 2013-01-19 01:48 am (UTC)From:And honestly, I agree with you that bringing an adult blind cat into a household with several other pets is probably not the best thing for the cat. It would, like you say, be different if the cat had simply dropped into your lap. But I think he would probably be happier in a home where he can have a quiet only-cat routine and get lots of one-on-one attention from his owner.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-19 02:20 am (UTC)From:I may have to go with my usual ultimatum - if the cat isn't adopted by Monday, it's mine ;)
no subject
Date: 2013-01-19 02:23 am (UTC)From:I frankly feel you ought to go with what you felt initially
BUT if you opted to adopt them both would your mom be looking after Stevie? or would you be taking care of them both?
no subject
Date: 2013-01-19 02:33 am (UTC)From:I wish I could get them both but that would really be pushing it since it would mean having five cats. We've drawn the line at four, so whoever we get, it'll be the last cat for a very long time.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-19 02:40 am (UTC)From:By reading between the lines I figured that your
initial feeling might be best to follow
I have found over the years that that normally turns
out best.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-19 11:44 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2013-01-19 08:42 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2013-01-23 04:19 am (UTC)From:Go with the kitten, since they'll most likely be the most adaptable.