Putting a Cat Down Because You're Tired of It - Prudence Says 'Do It'

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by ranchlandsselling

The logic is if you think there's a chance you won't like a pet down the line you DON'T get a pet.

Why would there be a guarantee that you'll like your dog/cat as it grows up? Not every animal is going to be a great pet as it matures. There are bad animals. If you get stuck with one, why would you keep it if it was tormenting you or your family? There's always a chance you won't like it as it grows up. I don't think you're being realistic if you can't acknowledge that.

[Traditional_Ale]

+1 for a "Dear Sliver" thread.

CP might not be big enough for the official launch, but you could get some practice first!

[monkeyman]

Sliver, Judging by your attitude, I'd say it was in the cats best interest not being in your care. Also, I believe the actions of pets are often a reflection of the care they receive from the owner. Good owner, good pet. ####ty owner, ####ty pet. I don't think your luck with pets will change until you do.

[WhiteTiger]

Yeah, I'm thinking you aren't ready for a pet.

If you absolutely MUST get another cat, consider adopting an older cat. You know what they are going to look like, you can talk to the previous owner/shelter about it's temperament so you have a better idea of what to expect instead of rolling the "kitten dice" and seeing what comes up and abandoning it if you don't like the roll.

But I will tell you this. Animals are like people, as they grow they change, often in unpredictable ways. Since you seem unable to handle that, I'd recommend that you stay away from the companionship of animals.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Well, my favourite life-advice columnist, Dear Prudence, strikes again with an interesting topic. A lady wrote in to tell her that she's sick of her old cat that caterwauls, and just generally annoys her. The lady wanted to put the cat down, but her vet refused as the cat is still in good enough shape with manageable health problems. Prudie suggested dropping the cat off at the local Humane Society so they could kill it. Holy crap, I love this lady's advice.

I've been in a similar situation as the letter writer. 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.

What are your guys' thoughts on her advice? I know there are a lot of animal lovers on the board, but Prudence claims to be an animal lover as well. The heart of her advice on this topic - as I interpret it - is if the animal's life is negatively affecting your own, get rid of it.

Aha ha ha...and the best part is people take you seriously! If any of your op were true I would be worried if I was your kids. Hell even your wife should be worried, but whatever, I think you're full of crap.

[Hockeyguy15]

More than likely it's the owners fault if the pet grows up and has poor behaviour.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

+1 for a "Dear Sliver" thread.

CP might not be big enough for the official launch, but you could get some practice first!

For a Dear Whoever column, you need a very large audience and the audience needs to be anonymous. I bet there's like one degree of separation between all of us on here. It would just be a joke here and would undermine any future endeavor for me. I don't think anybody here would actually post any legitimate questions. And I don't blame them with the fragile anonymity we have on this site (all being from the same city, lots of us know one another, etc.).

[Harry Lime]

In a general way, pets tend to take after their owners.

Joke deleted, for fear of derailing crazy Dear Prudence letter thread.

Seriously, though, don't buy any more cats.

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Why would there be a guarantee that you'll like your dog/cat as it grows up? Not every animal is going to be a great pet as it matures. There are bad animals. If you get stuck with one, why would you keep it if it was tormenting you or your family? There's always a chance you won't like it as it grows up. I don't think you're being realistic if you can't acknowledge that.

Well for starters (like someone said above) this probably isn't a real situation and you're merely doing your bit again.

Regardless, you're not talking about a "Bad" pet, something that's torementing your family. You're talking about physical and typical cat attributes that became something "not cool" to you.

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.

Basically you're the most immature person around because either 1. the above is true and you aren't responsbile enough to have pets (and I'd also wonder about children) 2. the above is complete crap any you're trolling, which again confirms the above about your immaturity.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by Sliver

For a Dear Whoever column, you need a very large audience and the audience needs to be anonymous. I bet there's like one degree of separation between all of us on here. It would just be a joke here and would undermine any future endeavor for me. I don't think anybody here would actually post any legitimate questions. And I don't blame them with the fragile anonymity we have on this site (all being from the same city, lots of us know one another, etc.).

They could just PM you, and you could post their question without their name on it along with your advice.

Then if they know you, they don't have to PM you a question.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

Yeah, I'm thinking you aren't ready for a pet.

If you absolutely MUST get another cat, consider adopting an older cat. You know what they are going to look like, you can talk to the previous owner/shelter about it's temperament so you have a better idea of what to expect instead of rolling the "kitten dice" and seeing what comes up and abandoning it if you don't like the roll.

But I will tell you this. Animals are like people, as they grow they change, often in unpredictable ways. Since you seem unable to handle that, I'd recommend that you stay away from the companionship of animals.

Honestly, I was half joking about fourth time being a charm. I don't want another cat. Been there, done that. I'm a little sad for my kids that they'll grow up in a petless house, but such is life. They really want an animal, but I just don't think there is one out there that would be a good fit for me.

So yeah, don't worry all, I'm not getting a cat.

[monkeyman]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

+1 for a "Dear Sliver" thread.

CP might not be big enough for the official launch, but you could get some practice first!

No! It would only function as a forum to give him credibility. In his mind anyway...

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

They could just PM you, and you could post their question without their name on it along with your advice.

Then if they know you, they don't have to PM you a question.

It's just not something that I want to do and I don't think it would work out well, either. I think you guys want me to because you think it would be a shat show, but that doesn't sound very fun for me.

[ResAlien]

I'm not sure about pets but the thing about stray cats is that if you keep feeding them they keep coming back. Maybe putting them down is the right choice, they probably carry radies.

[DuffMan]

Is it OK to trade my kid for a Hibachi, I don't really like her anymore since she got into her teens.

[Nyah]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I like good cats. Like I said, I've just had duds. Well the last one was okay, but after we had our first kid he kind of got ignored for a while and it just sort of broke the owner/pet bond irreparably. I think it's very nice to find a good home for unwanted animals. It's cruel to keep a pet you don't want, thus denying them of a loving home.

I found this from earlier because I have nothing else to do right now:

Originally Posted by Sliver

It's not that I don't like them...more that I get tired of them. I'm a great cat owner for a couple years then I lose interest. That's why if I can look after kittens then give them to somebody else as cats it would be a good fit.

I think it's cruel to adopt an animal you know you'll eventually tire of. With what I've seen of your attitude, you should not own animals at all.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Honestly, I was half joking about fourth time being a charm. I don't want another cat. Been there, done that. I'm a little sad for my kids that they'll grow up in a petless house, but such is life. They really want an animal, but I just don't think there is one out there that would be a good fit for me.

So yeah, don't worry all, I'm not getting a cat.

Good, as it doesn't seem that you are capable of caring for a pet through it's lifespan.

However, that's no reason for your kids to not have pets. I think that being responsible for a pet is a good thing for a child (granted, I am not a parent, so who am I to be giving parenting advice).

What it means is that you have to be smart in the choice of pet for your kids. Preferably, since you want (or shouldn't) nothing to do with the animal, look at getting one that tends to live in a cage or aquarium. A hamster or gerbil is a good 'starting pet' with relatively low needs and costs. A small aquarium (~10 gallons) is much the same. The animal can live comfortably in the childs room and for you, out of sight, out of mind.

There are plenty of options for your kids, if they want to experience pet companionship, we just need to keep you out of the picture.

[Igster]

We were going to put our cat down because he's a bit of a dick, but then I remembered all cats are dicks, so he's still with us.

[bizaro86]

I'd like to volunteer to be the anonymizer for a "Dear Sliver" thread. People could PM me and I'll post it in the thread, and then Sliver can answer them. That way it's anonymous to Sliver and CP as a whole.

If people prefer, I could also create a disposable email address so I don't know your CP handle.

Totally anonymous, no-nonsense advice. Sounds like just what CP needs.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Sliver

It's just not something that I want to do and I don't think it would work out well, either. I think you guys want me to because you think it would be a shat show, but that doesn't sound very fun for me.

Everything doesn't have to be about you....................oh wait.