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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To consider getting DD a cat for Christmas?

82 replies

HeathcliffMoorland · 21/12/2010 20:02

Out neighbour's cat has some beautiful tabby kittens. We have been talking about getting a cat for a while.

DD1 loves them, and has proven herself to be quite responsible at looking after her goldfish.

I think it'd be a lovely Christmas gift. I mentioned this to one of my sisters, and she thought I was mad and I should never get a child a pet for Christmas.

I explained that we wanted the cat anyway, and even if DD didn't feed it, it wouldn't go hungry. She still looked a bit sceptical. Tbh, I'm not sure why.

So, am I being R, or U? And if IBU, please explain why.

OP posts:

ChippingIn · 22/12/2010 01:14

There is nothing wrong with taking the kitten the neighbour has. The OP hasn't gone to a breeder for a specific breed paying daft money. She is giving a kitten that needs a home, a home.

Monty27 · 22/12/2010 01:16

Heath get two if they're available. It is so lovely having two, they play together and clean each other, and provide hours of entertainment and company for each other. :)

methsdrinker · 22/12/2010 01:19

Go for it I got a cat for my 3 year old for xmas. She loved her and still does. Her face was a picture.
We put sooty paw marks and said Father xmass brought her down the chimney.

The real story was I got the kitten for myself really, I tried to do it the good way and get a rescue kitten. Neither the local pet rescue of the RSPCA would give one to me for xmas, so had to get one privately. Really peed me off.

My argument is its really for the adult no child will ever look after an animal properly so it always really for the adult.
I was off all xmass I work full time so I could help the kitten settle in.
The little fluff bucket is at the moment wedged on the radiator tapping my head at this minute as i type. Aren't cats brill

narkypuffin · 22/12/2010 01:23

Nope. I have actually wrung a chicken's neck. I don't avoid the reality of meat.

A neighbour who hasn't bothered to neuter her pet so it has kittens is fine then because she's not a professional breeder?

narkypuffin · 22/12/2010 01:25

" Neither the local pet rescue of the RSPCA would give one to me for xmas, so had to get one privately. Really peed me off."

I wonder why? Maybe they don't want them given as presents?

ChippingIn · 22/12/2010 01:28

Narky - so it's OK for you to kill an animal (or rather have it killed for you) to eat it, but you dislike animals being treated as objects - I fail to see how that works tbh.

I'd sooner the kitten was called a present, than it was killed for you to eat (I'm sure you don't eat kittens really, but it's the same principle whether it's a kitten or a lamb).

ChippingIn · 22/12/2010 01:30

They don't want them given as presents to people who are unprepared to have one for longer than the Christmas period and it's hard for them to tell the difference - the OP wants this cat for LIFE not just as a novelty present - why are you refusing to see the difference here?

Monty27 · 22/12/2010 01:33

Play nicely.

NP you can't incarcerate cats, you just can't. (But you can spoil them rotten, lol, but that is not a choice, they make you):)

I'd say the reason the RSPCA wouldn't give one for xmas is that it would be a difficult time to home a kitten what with all the fuss that xmas brings.

But they settle in really well, they're amazing. :)

narkypuffin · 22/12/2010 01:38

Not on a regular basis.

I know that the OP will look after the kitten. It's just something I really loathe. I'm sure her DD will love it and tell all her friends about her lovely present.

methsdrinker · 22/12/2010 01:40

Narky the RSPCA missed out on giving a unwanted kitten a good home. Pointless as I got one anyway. Why i didn't wait is because I had 2 1/2 weeks off to sort her out, with house training and all that sort of thing.

Really bugged me when the local cat rescue was then in the paper about 2 weeks later saying they had loads of kittens.

Also may I say in a really peeved way what fuss about xmas?? One day of paper up to your ears and thats about it in our house, since the kids have arrived. Gone the days of gently seeping into a fragrant glass of mulled something and wafting around till the wee hours drunk and lary

ChippingIn · 22/12/2010 01:43

Narky - so you have said, but you didn't answer my question, how can you justify eating meat but claim not to like animals being treated as objects?

narkypuffin · 22/12/2010 02:01

If they were just objects then it wouldn't matter how they were treated. I don't eat dairy or eat eggs or chicken because I don't like the way they are farmed. Or pork or lamb. Or beef. I eat line caught fish. I buy meat for my family from places that have high welfare standards.

Animals are raised for food but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be treated with respect and kindness whilst they are alive. I'm sure some people find that hypocritical but it works for me. People are never going to stop eating meat but that doesn't mean that animals shouldn't have a good quality of life whilst they are alive.

nooka · 22/12/2010 02:24

My big sister gave my mother her last dog just before Christmas. To be honest I am amazed the rescue people let her take him as they obviously didn't home check my mother, and he was very much a Christmas present. Anyway he was her much loved dog for 15 years.

I totally understand the no pets for Christmas line that many rescues take given how many people make stupid decisions about having pets at the best of times, but it's a pity that in order to deter the stupid they can't rehome to those that really do want a pet and are ready to provide an appropriate and loving forever home.

For the OP I'd give some kitten related gifts and then go and pick up the kitten together so it's more that the kitten came to live with you on Christmas Day rather than he is a present perhaps? Either way I hope you have a great time with him/her :)

theevildead2 · 22/12/2010 05:37

I second getting 2 kittens. I have two from the same litter, and they are really lovely together. And when they were little and nervous (both strays) they kept each other warm and "safe". Now they play attack eachother which is nice because the last one we got as a kitten and had on his own spent all his time attacking me.. and Dh.. and the postie.. and my SIL.. and my neices. Well everyone really.

Two kittens IS really easier than one.

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 22/12/2010 06:01

I agree about getting two, though as I watched two large kittens tear up and down the curtains (half Maine coone so big) I do remember thinking never again, but it didn't last long . They were great company for each the other and the remaining cat was looking quite lost without her brother which was a big part in why I got mad kitten. Am awake at this silly hour as big cat as just hammered on the cat flap to get out.

Mad kitten is from a rescue and they didn't have any problem giving me a kitten this close to Christmas. The DC's didn't know he was coming. DD came in from school and didn't see him at first as he had curled up under the Christmas tree. I had to tell her to look under the tree then she saw him, her face was a picture. I did follow up with the whole pets aren't for Christmas speech but mine have grown up with cats, both their first words were attempts to say cat.

I still think a day or so after Christmas is a better idea or now so it can settle in. My logic about now is we're all home and have time to settle him in. But I wouldn't have wanted to do that on Christmas Day as I wouldn't have had the time to give him the attenion he needed, even though it is just the four of us and our Christmas day is quiet . Mad kitten is the 7th kitten I've had since being an adult and I've found you can never quite tell how they will react the first day or two and I think potentially it will be too much for a new kitten. Or if like mad kitten could be absolutely fine but you just can't tell, so best just after.

Monty27 · 22/12/2010 15:59

Get two Get two

chitchatinsantasear · 22/12/2010 16:06

Ooh yes, get 2 kittens!!! Also, instead of being a present for your DD, why not make it a family present? Then everyone has even ownership, including you!!!

OTheHugeManatee · 22/12/2010 16:13

If you want a cat, and you're comfortable that you'll be able to look after a kitten (they're pretty high maintenance to begin with!) then get a cat. But the other posters are right to say get it in January when everything's calmed down a bit and you're not out/visiting/receiving guests etc so much. Then you'll have more time to focus on helping the kitten to adjust to its new home. It'll also be a couple of weeks older, and so will be less distressed by the move.

You could put a picture of a tabby kitten in a little box for your DD to unwrap, along with a note saying Santa's bringing your family a cat, and then wait a couple of weeks before going to collect it?

TrillianAstra · 22/12/2010 16:16

Yes get two!!!

If you work then Christmas is a good time to get a kitten (two kittens! two!) because you'll be around ot settle them in.

I don't see the harm in getting yourself a cat (two cats! two!) if you want one and pretending it is a present for your DD if that will make her happy.

fayc84 · 22/12/2010 16:34

I wanted to get a kitten but the rescue centre said because I worked full time I would really have to have an older cat or get two kittens because they like to have company, so I second getting two kittens if your neighbour has two to give away. It's nice for them to have catty company, even if you are at home. I think it is a great present btw, and I think the reason RSPCA and the likes don't like to rehome over Christmas is more for people who will see it as a gift and not understand the reality of looking after a pet but you do.
I got an 11-month-old cat (so still quite kitten-like, if not a tiny bundle of fluff) and he destroyed my new leather sofa, likes to shred toilet rolls and spread the mess over every room in the house, and jumps on my head while I'm trying to sleep, but I love him to bits!

Shodan · 22/12/2010 16:37

Two! Get Two!

We got a brother and sister pair from our local rescue home. They hadn't been chosen because the sister was 'a bit timid'. Yeah, right. Missy Great Mouse Hunter and Loudest Demander of Cuddles. They are great company for each other when they're notscrapping

Anyhoo.

You should definitely get two.

wheredidyoulastseeit · 22/12/2010 16:45

when my daughter was 10 (as her present) we acquired two cats a girl for her a boy for my son. six years later both cats have trained my son to share his bed, open doors, rub noses, and wave string around, and the girl cat makes sure she is always sits on DHs lap when the football is on.

I am in charge of feeding vets bills etc etc, the children are in charge of loving them. of course we know that this is a 20 year commitment which i made, you cant make a catslife long commitment on behalf of a child. but i think most people who get a pet realise this
getting these cats was the best present this family had (apart from the 42" telly that is)

Supersunnyday · 22/12/2010 16:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FindingAManger · 22/12/2010 16:47

I think it's a nice idea. And the kitten can grow up next to her Mum and you know at least one of your neighbours won't be complaining about your cat crapping in their garden

Bet your DD will be delighted - make sure you get her one of those "a cat is not just for Christmas" stickers too. And please ensure you get kitten spayed/neutered asap.

VivaLeBeaver · 22/12/2010 16:50

I got DD a kitten for Xmas when she was 5, didn't have any problems with the kitten being stressed. We don't have friends/family coming to visit so apart from there been more mess/toys in the front room than usual it wasn't any more chaotic.

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