Do you regret your pets?

[LittleLottieChaos]

I know there are regular threads on people regretting their children… but I’m interested to know, are people similarly regretful of their pets? I currently am looking after my old childhood cat - he’s an old gent now, poos/wees inside and randomly vomits after eating. He also has to be securely locked downstairs at night or he’ll come up and wake us all for food/drool on our heads.

After spending years thinking ‘yay I want a dog and a cat, in fact a whole menagerie’ now I’m thinking ‘no, I’ll just have my kids…’

YABU - I never tire of my animals

YANBU - I sort of regret them at times

I love our cat to bits but do hate the hassle of arranging a cat sitter when we go away. Also not enjoying battling with insurance co over hefty recent claim. And I hate cat poo in my veg plot

@TheCrowening

We have four cats and no regrets. Even our ten year old girl, who we’ve had for two years - she spent the first eight years of her life in a pen in the garden before we got her, and her house training isn’t always reliable. She will sometimes poo on the rug or the sofa, I’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve had to deep clean. But she’s the happiest, most affectionate thing and I’m glad we can provide her with some fuss and comfort in her later years.

That's really lovely, you are hood people.

Good

@ClareBlue

I absolutely adore my goats. They just make everyone's day more fun. Fearless, intelligent, fun, effectionate and just enjoy being in the moment. My only regret is that I didn't get them years ago.

Somewhere with a mini herd of goats is my dream -I love them

I have two rabbits. The first one we got I very much bonded with and love him to bits however since having my daughter having him free roaming around the house isn't an option and he's currently in a cage in the kitchen (let out for exercise in the garden daily). I would be much happier with him outdoors permanently to be honest but my partner won't have it.
The other rabbit we got in hopes to 'bond' with our boy and allow him some company. She's very nervous and so far they don't seem to get along. I definitely regret getting her sometimes as its just more mess and no reward.

I regretted my ducks... mostly because they destroyed the garden. I literally have no grass in a third of the garden and patches missing elsewhere. Also one male was a right berk. I didn’t realise how grim drakes can be. I feel awful for saying that.

I don’t regret the cats, chickens or dog.

Yes two dogs and regret them
Massively

@LittleLottieChaos

I know there are regular threads on people regretting their children… but I’m interested to know, are people similarly regretful of their pets? I currently am looking after my old childhood cat - he’s an old gent now, poos/wees inside and randomly vomits after eating. He also has to be securely locked downstairs at night or he’ll come up and wake us all for food/drool on our heads.

After spending years thinking ‘yay I want a dog and a cat, in fact a whole menagerie’ now I’m thinking ‘no, I’ll just have my kids…’

YABU - I never tire of my animals

YANBU - I sort of regret them at times

Have you had his thyroid checked??

Jusr got a £2k vet bill the insurer won’t cover. Cat already cost £1k this yr.

Yeah I do a bit.

Thank you for this timely thread. I am about to get cats. I am nervous about it, not an animal lover. But I have researched a lot and it feels right for the family. Nothing I have read here has put me off (apart from the cost maybe!).

Thank you for this timely thread. I am about to get cats. I am nervous about it, not an animal lover. But I have researched a lot and it feels right for the family. Nothing I have read here has put me off (apart from the cost maybe!).

I mean this in the nicest possible way but Please don't get animals if you're not an animal lover. There are so many 'regretted' pets on this thread.

Perhaps you could start out with a pet that just lives a couple of years, for the kids, before committing to perhaps 16 years or more with animals despite not being keen?

@Wheresmybiscuit3

I regretted my ducks... mostly because they destroyed the garden. I literally have no grass in a third of the garden and patches missing elsewhere. Also one male was a right berk. I didn’t realise how grim drakes can be. I feel awful for saying that.

I don’t regret the cats, chickens or dog.

I have always fancied having ducks. I wouldn’t get them unless I had a bigger garden though, as I’ve heard they are very messy. What is the thing with Drakes? Are they bad tempered?

I also have dogs, cats and chickens (and fish)!

Ha ha, after saying nice things about them, one escaped around the front of the house and ate all the mint and parsley. She merged back with the others and tried to look inocent, but the minty breath gave her away.
They really are fun to have about the place but you need a bit of space and some really secure fencing and something to keep them interested and stimulated. We've started taking ours for long walks which they love and walk on a lead no problem.

That's the goats btw

I found our dog very hard work. She was fear aggressive and very reactive. Taking her anywhere was not fun despite a great deal of hard work and professional help. We had her long before the children and although she never ever showed any aggression to them, with her history we NEVER left her alone with them, always a door or baby gate between them or we were right there with them. She lived to 13 and whilst I was sad when she died I was also relieved that we could finally relax and let our guard down at home. 5 years later I am JUST starting to think about maybe having another one one day. Our cats are a pain in the arse in standard cat ways but nice to have around and so far have never toiletted indoors, they do bring in very random wildlife but one is also a good ratter which is a bonus where we live.. the sheep on the other hand has nothing at all to recommend him and is the only thing likely to convert me from vegetarianism....my god he is a total pain in arse ! Like many of my animals he was someone else's unwanted animal.. I can see why...

@DipSwimSwoosh

Thank you for this timely thread. I am about to get cats. I am nervous about it, not an animal lover. But I have researched a lot and it feels right for the family. Nothing I have read here has put me off (apart from the cost maybe!).

@DipSwimSwoosh - as @Bluesheep8 said, please think carefully if you’re not an animal lover (nothing wrong with that, lots of people aren’t).

You say it feels right for the family, but honestly think about who will do the “work” involved with them. I can probably guess who it will be!

It’s a common thought that cats are “easy” pets. It’s very often not true. Best advice I can give is to start a new thread on The Litter Tray board on here. Give general outline of your family dynamic, house/garden set up and there’s lots of people who will give advice. From what type of insurance to look for, what to buy in the beginning, how to interact when they first come home, etc).

I guess I’m trying to say - don’t get one because you think you should - get one because, despite what you know what needs to be done, you really want one.

They are cute, funny, cheeky, loving, infuriating and manipulative bastards - and I’d never be without one!