decisions, decisions

So. I might be getting a kitten. This is a very long story, and revolves around both of my sisters, rather than myself. Typical, really.

First of all, Small, having been a good and responsible hamster owner for the last year and a half, was told that she could maybe have a kitten or a puppy after the summer holidays, if she was good. Now, Small has wanted to have a kitten or puppy all of her own for years, but my parents always held off because they already had the two cats and the fish, didn't want more pets. Especially since children often lose interest pretty quickly. But the Calico cat has gone now, and Small has never lost interest in her hamster, adores him as much today as the day she got him. So they've caved on the bigger pet. What Small really wants, has always wanted, is a puppy, but she'd settle for a kitten otherwise. Dogs are more labour-intensive as pets, but don't live as long, so the parents are leaning toward the puppy idea. So Small has set it for herself as a project for the summer, and she's really been working hard on this project. She's gone around pet shops pricing up everything she thinks she might need for a puppy, is trying hard to save her pocket money to help pay for it - if nothing else, it's good for her mathematical and budgeting skills!

Second of all, Deb had that little kitten Nutmeg last Christmas, who only lived three months before having to be put down because she had some terrible illness that she'd caught from her mother in the womb. That kitten was taking the place of the baby Deb can't have, so losing it was a real blow. And then one of her colleagues had kittens they needed to find homes for. Perfect. This week they went to collect one of these kittens, now 8 weeks old, only to find that the family had one last kitten they couldn't find a home for and were going to have to send to a rescue shelter because they didn't want to keep it. So, D&R took both these kittens, thinking that they could have one and Small would have the other. They were already planning to take their kitten on our family holiday at the end of the month, because it'll be too young for the Cattery. So they could hand it over to us to bring back to Cardiff then.

No problem, except that Small really wants a puppy, and was devastated at the prospect of not only having the choice taken away from her, but the responsibility of prospectively condemning this kitten to life at a rescue centre. I'm not sure it would actually come to that; I think D&R would keep it now they've got it, but they've already got two cats, and two kittens on top of them would be quite a houseful.

So this last kitten might end up coming to live with me after the holiday at the end of August. I'm...oddly relaxed about the uncertainty. I've always resisted the idea of getting a pet because my flat is so small; certainly it would have to be a house cat and not go outside very much, because I can't have a catflap in the back door. It would be a bit of a bind for future holidays and whatnot - easier to find someone willing to come and feed a cat for a week than to clear up a litter tray and check for little presents elsewhere in the house! But on the other hand I do miss my little Calico cat. So we'll see what happens. Since no decisions are likely to be made any time soon - Small is going to stay with D&R next week, and might fall in love with the kitten and want it herself after all - I'm keeping my options open. It's a wait and see for a few more weeks!

Anyway, here is a pic of the two kittens, Mackerel and Poppy, one of whom might be coming to live with me next month:

decisions, decisions

So. I might be getting a kitten. This is a very long story, and revolves around both of my sisters, rather than myself. Typical, really.

First of all, Small, having been a good and responsible hamster owner for the last year and a half, was told that she could maybe have a kitten or a puppy after the summer holidays, if she was good. Now, Small has wanted to have a kitten or puppy all of her own for years, but my parents always held off because they already had the two cats and the fish, didn't want more pets. Especially since children often lose interest pretty quickly. But the Calico cat has gone now, and Small has never lost interest in her hamster, adores him as much today as the day she got him. So they've caved on the bigger pet. What Small really wants, has always wanted, is a puppy, but she'd settle for a kitten otherwise. Dogs are more labour-intensive as pets, but don't live as long, so the parents are leaning toward the puppy idea. So Small has set it for herself as a project for the summer, and she's really been working hard on this project. She's gone around pet shops pricing up everything she thinks she might need for a puppy, is trying hard to save her pocket money to help pay for it - if nothing else, it's good for her mathematical and budgeting skills!

Second of all, Deb had that little kitten Nutmeg last Christmas, who only lived three months before having to be put down because she had some terrible illness that she'd caught from her mother in the womb. That kitten was taking the place of the baby Deb can't have, so losing it was a real blow. And then one of her colleagues had kittens they needed to find homes for. Perfect. This week they went to collect one of these kittens, now 8 weeks old, only to find that the family had one last kitten they couldn't find a home for and were going to have to send to a rescue shelter because they didn't want to keep it. So, D&R took both these kittens, thinking that they could have one and Small would have the other. They were already planning to take their kitten on our family holiday at the end of the month, because it'll be too young for the Cattery. So they could hand it over to us to bring back to Cardiff then.

No problem, except that Small really wants a puppy, and was devastated at the prospect of not only having the choice taken away from her, but the responsibility of prospectively condemning this kitten to life at a rescue centre. I'm not sure it would actually come to that; I think D&R would keep it now they've got it, but they've already got two cats, and two kittens on top of them would be quite a houseful.

So this last kitten might end up coming to live with me after the holiday at the end of August. I'm...oddly relaxed about the uncertainty. I've always resisted the idea of getting a pet because my flat is so small; certainly it would have to be a house cat and not go outside very much, because I can't have a catflap in the back door. It would be a bit of a bind for future holidays and whatnot - easier to find someone willing to come and feed a cat for a week than to clear up a litter tray and check for little presents elsewhere in the house! But on the other hand I do miss my little Calico cat. So we'll see what happens. Since no decisions are likely to be made any time soon - Small is going to stay with D&R next week, and might fall in love with the kitten and want it herself after all - I'm keeping my options open. It's a wait and see for a few more weeks!

Anyway, here is a pic of the two kittens, Mackerel and Poppy, one of whom might be coming to live with me next month: