To get another cat even though DH says No?

[AndyWarholsBanana]

We have a delightful soppy very friendly cat which we got from a rescue centre 7 years. This was DH's idea.he's no bother at all and the 3Dcs adore him.
Recently, DD went through this long phase of being desperate for a dog. I did consider this but decided that it wouldn't be fair as we're all out all day. as a compromise, I said that we could get another cat. DH said No and his explanation was that our cat would kill the new one (?)
Me and the Dcs recently went to an open day at the same rescue centre, they took our details and we had a look at the kitties with lots of cooing and ahhing from Dcs. The centre were quite happy for us to get another cat and gave us some tips about how to introduce them to each other but saw no problem with it.
When i told DH this, he got really angry and said "I've said no and that's that" and has made it clear that the subject is now closed. i just think he's being completely unreasonable, especially as it was his idea to get our cat!
DH can be controlling at times but this is more about him being stubborn and just refusing to back doen. I'm seriously tempted to just go ahead and get one anyway as the Dcs are desperate and i don't see why his view should override the other 4 members of the family.

[Hoppinggreen]

I am an animal lover and have 2 cats at the moment.
We used to have 4, 2 of which were strays and at some point we will be getting a dog. I would NEVER bring an animal into the house without all members of the family being on board with it, even a hamster!!
He wanted a cat - not necessarily lots of cats, stop going to rescue centre open days, it's nt fair for you, the children or the rescue centre.

[BadLad]

This exact same dilemma came up about two days ago. Do a search and you will get a preview of your responses

[steff13]

Has he offered any other reason why he doesn't want another cat, other than that your existing cat might kill it? I've had cats my whole life, and I've never personally heard of one killing another one. I'm guess it happens, but it's certainly not typical, I don't think.

I would not just get a cat if my husband didn't agree, but I would also not accept him just saying no and refusing to discuss it, either.

[haggisaggis]

It is really difficult to introduce a 2nd cat to an existing cat - and doesn't always work out (even if you follow the rescue centre advice to teh letter). Whiel your existing cat is unlikely to kill the newcomer, he may be distressed if you introduce another one. We got a second cat around 2 months ago when one of our cats died suddenly. The rescue centre said he was "good with dogs and cats". He's not. It has taken us a lot of work to get to the stage where he and the existing cat and dog can be in teh same room. He peed everywhere for a while (probably due to stress). In retrospect we should have taken him back after a week or so. I agree with your dh on this one!

[mollypup]

Although I completely understand your frustration, I wouldn't just go and get another one without him at least being relatively ok with the idea i.e. just needs convincing.

It may be difficult to introduce a new cat depending on how territorial your current cat is. I was able to introduce our male kitten to my female when she was a few months old (they are now the best of friends) but I wouldn't dream of attempting to introduce another cat to him, he would go berserk as he is is very protective of his surroundings and hisses at any of the hundred cats around us who dare set foot in the garden!

[Stellaface]

Sorry, I love cats but YABU. You discussed it, he said no, and instead of discussing it further, you went behind his back and worse, brought DCs into it. Not fair re getting their hopes up or giving them fuel to pester your DH, let along undermining your DH. If you want another pet, work on a compromise with your DH and then do something about it.

[catsmother]

I've had at least 2 cats for the past 20 years - and mostly, 4 or 5 at a time. Multi-cat households are possible - but they require a lot of dedication and effort (e.g. with careful introductions and ensuring they all get attention), a lot of patience, care with feeding so more dominant animals don't get all the food, the "right" house (as in plenty of spaces for individual cats to "escape" to and feel safe in, as well as ready exits so they don't feel "trapped"), the "right" neighbourhood so cats feel happy to go out when they need to get away from the others, commitment to lifelong care and vet's bills .... and of course, the "right" cat(s) because not all of them are capable of living with other cats, however dopey they are with humans, and on this, you must be guided both by the observations and recommendations of the shelter as well as your own gut instinct.

But overriding all those considerations, and this applies to any pet - whether it's one or twenty (not that I'm advocating 20 cats) is that ALL the family have to be on board 101%. No reputable shelter would let you take a cat if they knew your DH had reservations - however unreasonable you think he is. And if you get a cat from elsewhere - potentially for example, an advert out of a local paper, you'd not only possibly be encouraging the twats who breed for profit and/or who can't be bothered to get their poor cat(s) neutered, but you'd also be storing up a huge heap of trouble in your relationship.

I do see why you think it's unfair when most of you want another cat and he doesn't. But really, it's the adults whose opinions count here and this is a similar(ish) dilemma to the old chestnut where one person wants a baby and the other doesn't because there isn't a compromise. It's either one thing or another.

From the cat's perspective, and that's both of your cats I mean, it wouldn't be fair to instigate this when there'll almost certainly be tension in the house as a result. Cats are extremely susceptible to stress and their getting to know each other won't be helped if they sense an atmosphere. Worse still, what if your DH "takes against" the new cat .... as in ignoring it, pushing it away, or (and obviously I don't know him) taking out his frustrations at you on the animal. I know that sounds extreme - but it does happen, and it's not fair to potentially expose an "unwanted" (by DH) cat to any of that.

The only way you should get another cat is if DH buys in. So you have to talk to him - sensibly and objectively. And for his part, he should at the very least be prepared to properly explain his objections to you rather than saying "I've said no so tough". If he truly fears the existing cat would kill the new one, you need to talk it through sensibly. As others have said it's very very rare for one cat to kill another. Unneutered toms are the most likely to have terrible fights - but I currently have 4 neutered toms (plus a girl) and they all get on fine, they really do. Has your existing cat ever shown any aggression to neighbouring cats for example ? .... or does your DH have past experience of owning a cat who got into bad fights ? Or, is the "killing" thing the first thing he could think of to block the idea ? ...... does he have other concerns really, like the additional cost and responsibility, the extra work. If so, he owes you an honest explanation.

But at the end of the day, there's no law which says you have to have x number of cats, even if you do have one already. Agree that for their sake you shouldn't raise the kids' hopes while their dad says no.

[catsmother]

Meant to add as well .... if he is genuinely concerned about how they'd get on, there's loads of advice about multi-cat homes out there from various shelters. He might be more reassured by "official" advice than by taking your word that everything will be okay (obviously no-one can predict how two or more animals will get on together until they actually meet).

E.g: from Wood Green Multi-cat households

(that's my black girl in that pic BTW when she was a kitten!)

[WorraLiberty]

Me and the Dcs recently went to an open day at the same rescue centre, they took our details and we had a look at the kitties with lots of cooing and ahhing from Dcs.

Why did you do that if your DH doesn't want another cat?

YABVU. If any family is to get a pet, everyone needs to be on board with it.

[WooWooOwl]

YABVU.

If I were in your DHs position I'd be digging my heels in too if my husband decided to completely ignore my perfectly reasonable opinion and then get our children all excited about the idea of the thing I really don't want.

You are accusing him of being stubborn and refusing to back down, I think you need to take a look in the mirror!

[WooWooOwl]

And you really shouldn't have told your daughter she could have a cat without discussing it with your husband in the first place.

[Terrortree]

My husband said 'no' to the first cat. She's gorgeous.
My husband also said 'no' the a second cat. He's rather stupid, but gorgeous (the second cat that is).
Now I want a dog. My husband has said 'no'.

They are cats, having one or two does not make a massive difference to your life. Having twelve, I could see being a problem. Two - no!

[Bootycall]

not the point. you both have to agree. wouldn't dream if doing this if my dh was so adamant and I think it's awful to bring your dcs into this 'on your side' so to speak.

very disrespectful. maybe it's the vet bills and food bills etc.

sorry op you sound a bit like a child yourself.

[mayorquimby]

Completely unreasonable

[WorraLiberty]

They are cats, having one or two does not make a massive difference to your life

Of course it does. It's double the vets bill for a start.

[AndyWarholsBanana]

I went to the open day because I wanted to hear it from them that they are perfectly happy to rehome cats to homes with other cats so I could feed that back to DH as that was the only reason he gave for not getting another one. I was hoping that, once he was reassured about that, he would change his mind. I just don't think it's fair that he won't even discuss it. I don't want to drip feed but he does this sort of thing a lot. He sees himself as the head of the family and his word is final and he doesn't see why he has to explain himself. We had 4 cats pre DC and he loved th.

[TheProsAndConsOfHitchhiking]

Yabu. How unfair to take your dc to an open day when you knew your dh had already said no.

I love cats but a cat/any pet should be discussed and agreed by all parties involved.

[WorraLiberty]

When the people at the cat's home said they'd be happy to re-home another cat with you, I take it you forgot to tell them your DH doesn't want another one?

If he sees himself as head of the family then that needs tackling

But not at the expense of a cat.

[MyBaby1day]

Well not sure, feel mixed really. On one hand ALL of you should be on board, he may have another reason he wants only one cat and have not shared it. Maybe that your existing one won't like another one coming in on it's turf! ha ha. So really he needs to be on board. But on the other hand, you are an adult with already one cat (and 3DC's)!! and are well aware of the responsibilities (both financial, care etc.) a cat will bring so think you should discuss it. Maybe when your DC's are in bed, as lovely as I'm sure they are , when they are there it makes it more of a "cutesy" and fun thing and harder to say no to, but just the 2 of you alone can have more of an adult discussion. My friends DH wanted a kitten (now a cat) and at the time told her he'de pay any vet fees, care for it etc., now they have emigrated he didn't seem so keen to pay for it to be shipped to their new home, so even with adults you need to discuss it. Animals are a big responsibility, never underestimate that......but can be a total joy too!!

[Pagwatch]

I think you were pretty mean roping the children into this.
Taking them to coo over kitties -whatever your excuses- may have felt like a good way to ramp the pressure up on dh, but if you can't resolve this you have just disappointed them and potentially made them see dh as the baddie.
Not good really.

Tell the dc you have thought it through and it's not a good idea at the moment. Then talk to your dh again without the baggage.

[SiliconeSally]

Then you need to deal with his habit of seeing himself as head of the household etc head on and sort it out with him, not use a situation where there is already a conflict and bring the children in. You could have got the info from the cat centre on your own without taking the children and cooing over kittens.

Or you could have said 'interesting about the territorial thing, inhadn't thought about that, shall we seek advice? Because it worked ok when you used to have 4, but it's true, cat1 has been here a long time on her own'.

Deal directly with your DH and don't use the children. I can see that you don't want them to see him lording himself over you, that is the situation to sort out. And I agree it is obnoxious. How has he reacted in the past if you have just ignored him and gone ahead?

I am at those saying there is no difference in having two cats. Doubling the price of food starts to look like a noticeable cost, insurance or double the potential for vet bills etc.

[kazzawazzawoo]

I love cats and have always had two. But I think it would be very dangerous to go ahead and get another without your dh agreeing to it first. It's not fair to take the children to the rescue centre when you know he doesn't want another either.

Cats don't always get on well together, they are not pack animals and may fight. They probably won't kill each other, but one of them may be very unhappy.

What you need to do is have a chat with your dh about why he doesn't want one, a real chat about the whole topic, if he still says no I think you have to accept that.

[Lolalocket]

'I went to the open day because I wanted to hear it from them that they are perfectly happy to rehome cats to homes with other cats'

Could you not have rung them to ask this? Or gone alone? There was no need to bring your kids with you and get them all excited. This was very unfair. You DH doesn't need a good reason not to have another pet. It should be enough that he doesn't want one. I don't want a dog. There are loads of little reasons that can all be overcome, but at the end of the day I just don't want one, and I expect my family to accept this.

[ilovesooty]

Getting the children involved in visiting the centre was manipulative and childish and I doubt you told them your husband doesn't want another cat. You don't sound very concerned about the potential
stress for the cats.

Sort your relationship with your husband out in a grown up way and stop using children and animals to score points.

[pinkdelight]

If you'd wanted to persuade him, you should've taken him to the open day. If he wouldn't go, then the worst thing you could do is take the kids and appear to gang up on him. And the worst thing you could do now is surge ahead and get the cat. 'Sorry I upset you' might be a better start.

Don't get me wrong, I'm totally against all the 'head of the household' thing and could never marry a man with such dumb ideas, but you picked him and have to deal with this cleverly if you want to get your way. Going behind his back would make anyone dig their heels in, even more so a man like your DH.