I don't want an old cat, though. The best shot I have at making this work is getting a kitten, loving it, and then still loving it as it grows up into a cat. A full-grown cat will just gross me out right out of the gates. Plus I don't want a cat from the SPCA. They come with too much baggage (e.g. they were probably dropped off for a good reason in the first place) and I'd be concerned about all their exposure to diseases and stuff while in the SPCA.
Would it kill you to inform yourself? Cats from the Humane Society are extremely well cared for, are vaccinated and not put up for adoption if they are sick. You're more likely to run into problems buying from a bad breeder.
That said, if you were to be honest with the folks at the Humane Society they probably wouldn't let you adopt.
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The CHS endeavours to ensure that all animals, having met the criteria of the Calgary Humane Society Adoptability Guidelines, are placed in loving, caring, stable and lifelong homes suited to the animal. It is of the utmost concern to the CHS that the physical, emotional and behavioral needs of the animal are met in their new homes. Since the animals do not have the ability to choose their owners, we must act in their best interests. The CHS or its representatives assist adopters with the selection of a companion animal suitable to their lifestyles. All potential adopters must complete a formal matching process (“Lifestyle Survey”), which also gives the CHS an opportunity to educate potential adopters on responsible pet ownership. All adopters must sign the Animal Adoption Contract and abide by the conditions therein. The Calgary Humane Society reserves the right to refuse an adoption.
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Potential adopters must not have a documented history of neglect or abuse of animals. As well, potential adopters must not exhibit intolerance of or aggressiveness toward the animal or express unreasonable expectations of the animal being considered for adoption.
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All adult household members, related or unrelated, must be informed and must consent to the adoption of a companion animal from the CHS. Members of the household will, with regard to dog adoptions, be required to come to the CHS to meet the prospective new companion animal.
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BEFORE YOU ADOPT
Think you are ready for a pet? Consider these questions first.
Will you be a responsible pet guardian?
Will you ensure that your pet is spayed or neutered, to decrease the problem of pet overpopulation? Will you provide them with permanent ID such as a microchip and tattoo? (Adoption fee from CHS includes all of the above mentioned surgeries) Will you ensure your pet has access to veterinary care, food, water, shelter, love, exercise, training, grooming, and nail care? Will you abide by city bylaws regarding your pet (licensing, picking up after your dog etc.)?
What are your living arrangements?
Do you own your own home or are you renting? Moving frequently can be stressful to pets. If you are renting does your landlord allow pets? Secondly is the space large enough for the pet and breed that you want? Do you have a fenced backyard?
What is your lifestyle?
Are you a couch potato? Are you active and enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and camping? Do you work late or go out after work? Ensure that the pet, or breed, that you are seeking matches what you like to do.
Do you have time for a pet?
Animals require varying amounts of time. Depending on the animal, and even the breed, how much time you have to dedicate to walking, training, exercising and mental stimulation for your pet will vary.
Is it the right time?
Are you planning a move? Going back to school or work? Pregnant? Will something in your life affect the introduction of a pet into your home? Then maybe it is not the right time.
Can you afford the costs?
Are you able to afford the costs of pet care? The average cost for dogs annually is $1,550 (not including one time costs such as adoption fee, spaying, microchipping etc.) and the average for cats is $850 annually. Also remember replacement costs of things such as your favorite shoes. Check out our pet calculators for more info.
What is the lifespan of animal?
Are you prepared to commit to your pet for its lifetime? Most cats and dogs have a lifespan of 15 years. Thinking about a parrot? They can live up to 80 years and they may potentially outlive you – who will take care of your parrot in this case?
Who will be responsible?
Trying to teach responsibility to your children? Understand that a family pet is a family decision and children will not take on all of the duties involving the pet, even though they will be enthusiastic at first! It is recommended for children to be seven years old to actively take part in pet care.
You've made it clear in other posts that you consider these animals disposal and have no qualms about ridding yourself of the the animal if it bores you or becomes inconvenient.
You have no business being a pet owner.
The Following 23 Users Say Thank You to longsuffering For This Useful Post:
Old - as in adult cat, not a geriatric cat, although the cats that have been surrendered to the Humane Society that are over 10 years old, are cats that need homes more than any. They have usually been in a home since they were kittens and suddenly are given up, either by elderly owners or people like you that just don't care anymore. It's extremely sad.
The Following User Says Thank You to bigtmac19 For This Useful Post:
don't even respond to this guy, this is his schtick, and it stopped being mildly amusing after the third thread he made doing the same thing, he constantly does the same boring threads where he gives a purposely ignorant view about something to rile everyone up.
he will make another dumb thread in a week or two unfortunately.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
none of these things are real he makes it all up
Exhibit A: Has had three cats that he had given away for no particular reason already. One of them was traded for a hibachi!
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Originally Posted by Sliver
First, I had a cat that I got tired of after a few years so I traded it to a family friend for a hibachi. Second, I had a cat that was driving me nuts with its caterwauling, so I told a soft-hearted friend of mine that I was going to put the cat down if nobody took it. She took it. Finally, I had a cat that I got tired of because he was getting fat, not cute anymore and just sort of annoying so I gave him to a friend of a friend.
Exhibit B: He gets tired of them once they are no longer kittens. Of course he blames both luck and the cat for this.
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Originally Posted by Sliver
The problem is I've just been unlucky with pets. Sometimes cats grow up to be pretty cool. Mine always seem to be duds after the kitten phase.
Exhibit C: He wanted to keep a cat on a leash in a garage.
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Originally Posted by Sliver
We don't want an animal in our home (we're pretty clean people), but we were going to get one and let it live in the garage - almost like a farm/barn cat. It's a heated garage so it would be comfortable. Where the plan fell apart is we'd have to leash it to one of the shelves during the day so when we came back at night it wouldn't run out the big door when the cars returned home. Obviously that would be a pretty lame life for the cat and potentially risky with the leash, so we abandoned the plan. But as for just spit balling the thought of it, we were pretty excited for an hour or two.
Exhibit D: He has had three cats and apparently they all were "duds" but he sees that cats (rather than himself) as the problem.
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Originally Posted by Sliver
And sometimes good pet owners have bad pets. This is basic stuff. And undeniable.
Exhibit E: He still likes the idea of a "garage cat" (not a thing).
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Originally Posted by Sliver
Meh, my aunt and uncle have what I would call a garage cat. I still like the idea TBH, but the escape attempts would drive me nuts.
Exhibit F: He has no interest in understanding either the physical or emotional reasons that a cat might be having issues.
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Originally Posted by Sliver
Okay. I guess I just wouldn't be interested in psychoanalyzing my cat while it shat and pissed all over my house. If you would, fair enough.
The shocking amount of ignorance that you show when you talk about cats (or pretty much anything else) is pretty damning evidence that you should not be having a cat anywhere near your house.
Society needs less people like Sliver owning cats and more responsible pet owners.
The Following 11 Users Say Thank You to ben voyonsdonc For This Useful Post:
Some of the replies in this thread are hilarious. It's a freaking cat. We have two, and I despise cats, but it doesn't really affect the cats. They ignore me, I ignore them, and we co-exist nicely. The kids and wife are plenty of company for them. People in here are so bent on getting trolled that they're making it happen to themselves.
The Following User Says Thank You to V For This Useful Post:
I plead guilty to all of the above and commend bon boyonsdonc on his thorough research. I will actually show my wife this thread, because you guys have done a better job articulating my position than I have to her.
The only thing I will remind you of is that this will not be my cat. It will be my wife and kids' cat. I don't want it, but that doesn't mean I'll kick it either, FFS. It can do its thing and I'll do mine.
Surely I can't be the only one on the forum that will be in the position of living with a pet that I'm indifferent to while others in the house love and care for it.
Some of the replies in this thread are hilarious. It's a freaking cat. We have two, and I despise cats, but it doesn't really affect the cats. They ignore me, I ignore them, and we co-exist nicely. The kids and wife are plenty of company for them. People in here are so bent on getting trolled that they're making it happen to themselves.
Seriously, eh? I feel like these guys are frothing at the mouth and having an absolute freak out. I'm about to get a kitten. BFD. The SPCA kills hundreds a year because people don't want them. I'm letting my family give it a shot. That's a better fate than a lot of kittens get. I just don't see where the crime is here.
The troll accusations at every one of my posts are getting absurd, too. I could post proof with emails and texts back and forth between me and my wife about the cat, but people don't care about facts and just want to be trolled or something. If you think this is a troll job, then don't feed the troll is the best advice I can give. If you live in reality and can recognize honest posting, then welcome to my thread(s).
Sliver, it is bad pet owners like you that cause so many pets to have to be put down. The fact that you don't see that is incredible. You are the problem, not the solution.
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to ben voyonsdonc For This Useful Post:
don't even respond to this guy, this is his schtick, and it stopped being mildly amusing after the third thread he made doing the same thing, he constantly does the same boring threads where he gives a purposely ignorant view about something to rile everyone up.
he will make another dumb thread in a week or two unfortunately.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV none of these things are real he makes it all up
They're all real, dude. Why would they be so hard to believe, anyway? How do you think animals end up in the SPCA, anyway? It's because people don't want them and bring them there. I've always found homes for the animals I've gotten rid of, which puts me a notch above the people that just drop their pets off at the SPCA when euthanasia is the likely outcome.
Sliver, it is bad pet owners like you that cause so many pets to have to be put down. The fact that you don't see that is incredible. You are the problem, not the solution.
Are you joking around with me? I've never brought a cat to the SPCA. I've always found homes for the three cats I've gotten ride of. Exactly zero cats have been euthanized because of me. I'm in no way part of the problem.
Seriously, eh? I feel like these guys are frothing at the mouth and having an absolute freak out. I'm about to get a kitten. BFD. The SPCA kills hundreds a year because people don't want them. I'm letting my family give it a shot. That's a better fate than a lot of kittens get. I just don't see where the crime is here.
The troll accusations at every one of my posts are getting absurd, too. I could post proof with emails and texts back and forth between me and my wife about the cat, but people don't care about facts and just want to be trolled or something. If you think this is a troll job, then don't feed the troll is the best advice I can give. If you live in reality and can recognize honest posting, then welcome to my thread(s).
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Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
Corporal Jean-Marc H. BECHARD, 6 Aug 1993
The Following User Says Thank You to undercoverbrother For This Useful Post:
I'm totally scared of how long they live. My vote is for us to stay petless. We have a fish and I don't even know its name. It's 3. I've never fed it or anything. I couldn't even tell you what colour it is, although I do know it's one of those fighting fishes. I'm just not an animal guy.
I told my wife we're going to have this thing well into our 50s thinking that would scare her, but she remains undeterred.
If you don't like your cat, why don't you get rid of it? Or do you love it, but just not really like it?
This could be the post of the year. Not kidding. I encourage slowly reading each sentence and pausing at the end of each sentence to let its meaning sink in.
Such linguistic economy to rile people up is beyond good writing. It is artistry. Seriously. I may be Sliver's biggest fan.
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The great CP is in dire need of prunes!
"That's because the productive part of society is adverse to giving up all their wealth so you libs can conduct your social experiments. Experience tells us your a bunch of snake oil salesman...Sucks to be you." ~Calgaryborn 12/06/09 keeping it really stupid!
Are you joking around with me? I've never brought a cat to the SPCA. I've always found homes for the three cats I've gotten ride of. Exactly zero cats have been euthanized because of me. I'm in no way part of the problem.
1. You started an entire thread arguing with that it is ok to kill a cat because you don't want it anymore.
2. In that thread, you specifically said that bringing a cat to the SPCA is a viable option if you don't want it anymore.
3. You traded a cat for a hibachi. A hibachi!
Face it Sliver. You are a terrible pet owner. Pets aren't a temporary playtoy. They aren't hockey cards that you can just trade away.
1. You started an entire thread arguing with that it is ok to kill a cat because you don't want it anymore.
2. In that thread, you specifically said that bringing a cat to the SPCA is a viable option if you don't want it anymore.
3. You traded a cat for a hibachi. A hibachi!
Face it Sliver. You are a terrible pet owner. Pets aren't a temporary playtoy. They aren't hockey cards that you can just trade away.
Okay, so let's say you're right and that I'm a terrible pet owner. Does that mean my wife and kids should not be allowed a pet even though I'll have nothing to do with it? Let's assume - because it's true - that I wouldn't be mean to the cat in any way. I'll even pet it sometimes and I'll play with it a lot when it's a kitten (because I really like kittens).
