Wow. You really don't get it. A pet is not and should not be disposable. It is another living breathing life that is depending on you. It's not some toy or possession that you get rid of when you're tired of it. It's a responsibility that you obviously have no business taking on. You keep mentioning that it will not be your cat, but your wife and kids'. Does this mean in every respect? Will you feed the cat if they are not home? Will you give it away the first time it has an accident on the floor? If it has an emergency will you be driving it to the vet at 4am or will you tell your wife and kids "not my problem, you wanted the damn thing, not me."? Will you be willing to give it shots if it develops diabetes?
Think about this, these are things that can and will probably happen. You may say to yourself that it's not your pet, but unless you live in a completely separate reality it will fall upon you to help take care of it. You can't just wash your hands of responsibility and say "not mine".
lol, yes I can guarantee you I would not be giving a cat shots if it developed diabetes. Is that even a thing? My wife and I both just had a chuckle at that.
lol, yes I can guarantee you I would not be giving a cat shots if it developed diabetes. Is that even a thing? My wife and I both just had a chuckle at that.
Yes, it is a very, very real thing. You have to give a diabetic cat injections a couple of times each day.
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Location: A simple man leading a complicated life....
Exp:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sliver
lol, yes I can guarantee you I would not be giving a cat shots if it developed diabetes. Is that even a thing? My wife and I both just had a chuckle at that.
What is diabetes mellitus?
Diabetes mellitus — also known as "sugar" diabetes — is a complex but common disease in which a cat's body either doesn't produce or doesn't properly use insulin. During digestion, the fats, carbohydrates, and proteins that are consumed in the diet are broken down into smaller components that can be utilized by cells in the body. One component is glucose, a fuel that provides the energy needed to sustain life.
lol, yes I can guarantee you I would not be giving a cat shots if it developed diabetes. Is that even a thing? My wife and I both just had a chuckle at that.
Okay, well I don't think you can draw a line there and say you are a worthy pet owner if you give the shots and unworthy if you don't.
These statements are why most people keep repeating "you just don't get it" but whatever... I'll bite, is it a monetary issue?
It may not be your cat, but unless the kids all go out and get part time jobs you'll still be supporting it. Treatment costs anywhere from $30 to $50 a month for feline diabetes and your kids have fallen in love with... "Sphincter" the family cat. So $500 extra a year for insulin is a line in the sand?
Sorry kids, Daddy needs fast internet, we'll just get a cheaper cat.
In most normal family situations that wouldn't go over all that well Sliver.
Edit:
Last edited by Old Yeller; 12-09-2014 at 12:06 AM.
I have cats and I don't think I would keep a diabetic cat. I got a cat because they allow you to be independent with them. They don't need to be let out or walked like a dog does. They aren't the same level of commitment.
If a cat exceeded that level of commitment it would be time to let it go.
I know some people think that's terrible but at some point in time people should be selfish. If they aren't getting out of a relationship what they put into it they should end that relationship.
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I'm now seeing this thread in whole new light. It's starting to remind me of some of slivers other threads, like the 'things you do to be an a-hole' thread.
They're kind of like public service announcements. Educational in their own weird little way.
I'll agree 100% that a pet is a for life commitment. Now sometimes things happen and you do have to move the pet. It has happened to us when we moved and it was going to be very difficult for us and our dog at the time (we had a major family sickness/death when we were moving that we couldn't feasibly figure out how to bring him). But we took time to find him a fantastic home...it wasn't a drop him off at the shelter and leave him type of thing.
Our first cat we adopted 24 hours before her date with the executioner. 5 years old when we got her but a fantastic cat from the get go. We unfortunately had to put her down two years ago now at 15 years old because she was literally wasting away and losing bladder control. We couldn't figure out what was wrong with her or get her to eat enough no matter what we did. It was a rough day.
Last Christmas we adopted a new cat and a new dog. I wasn't particularly happy about a cat but really wanted the dog. The dog is a beautiful lab cross that was a neglect case (owners left her out when cold so she was confiscated). About 10 months old and excitable. Some issues with being scared of the shadows and dark but she's over that. Just a wonderfully intelligent and kind dog...if still a little rambunctious.
The cat was a stray and he was a major handful for the first few months despite being very friendly during the visits we had with him prior to adopting. He liked to try to take swipes at people and we honestly thought we'd have to bring him back after he clawed my daughters face. But we persevered, well my daughter more than anyone, and she hugged that cat into submission. Just a complete suck 100% of the time now a year later. He is a very vocal cat (VERY!) and hates his dish to be empty (even if he doesn't eat when you fill it). So we adjusted his eating schedule to avoid an empty bowl at night and hes now quiet when the house is quiet. He is also vocal in greeting so as soon as that alarm goes off he's in your face meowing. And he knows that as soon as I'm done my shower he can head up stairs to wake up his favourite person in the world (my daughter). I went into it as a guy who just wanted to support my wife and kids in their desires and honestly can't imagine the house with out that furball now. Though I do like cats but I just didn't really want another cat yet.
I would not recommend a rabbit to a poster with a pet history like Sliver. He's likely to just let it loose when he gets sick of it and add to the feral rabbit problem in Calgary.
These statements are why most people keep repeating "you just don't get it" but whatever... I'll bite, is it a monetary issue?
It may not be your cat, but unless the kids all go out and get part time jobs you'll still be supporting it. Treatment costs anywhere from $30 to $50 a month for feline diabetes and your kids have fallen in love with... "Sphincter" the family cat. So $500 extra a year for insulin is a line in the sand?
Sorry kids, Daddy needs fast internet, we'll just get a cheaper cat.
In most normal family situations that wouldn't go over all that well Sliver.
Ok, it's funny in an ironic way that a poster who's name is synonymous with putting a sick animal down would have such a problem with putting a sick animal down.
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Update: I've put a cat from the SPCA on the table. Not saying we're going to go that route, but you guys have swayed me enough to not dismiss it without looking into it a little further.
This is a really good idea. Get a cat that is about to be put down anyways, and you can always have the moral high ground.
Also, something I've learned over the years, the cats that "look" the coolest aren't always the best animals, and the cat that I like the most with the best personality, is probably the most boring, generic looking cat ever.
Ok, it's funny in an ironic way that a poster who's name is synonymous with putting a sick animal down would have such a problem with putting a sick animal down.
disease that can not be treated after symptoms occur and makes life for the animal a living hell for the brief time it is still alive (death 2-10 days after first symptoms)
vs
manageable disease that does not tangibly affect animal quality of life
