To be devastated with mum's reaction/emotional blackmail which basically means my children can never have a pet?

[MrsPuddleduck]

Bascially, after a lot of thought we decided to get a kitten. My friend's cat has had kittens so we know the mother's temperament etc and both boys like cats. My Mum hates cats so I had put off telling her because I knew I would have a lecture.

Basically my Dad had a heart attack three years ago and a triple bypass three years ago. He is allergic to cats. My Mum says that if we get the cat they will have to seriously restrict the amount of times they come and the length of time they stay and how much help they can give us with the Dc's. They will not be able to stay overnight anymore (they live about 15 mins away but stay over about 4 times a year so they can both have a drink eg Christmas).

My parents are the only 'help' we get and I really don't want to upset them but on the other hand it basically means our children can never have a pet.

I feel really upset about the whole thing, especially as we had told Ds1 (4 and a half) that we were getting the kitten and he has named him George. I tried to suggest this morning that we may not be able to get the kitten after all and he started to get het up about it so I dropped the subject.

Can you please let me have your honest opinions. Sorry its a bit long.

Londoner, your link proves that pets give kids diseases and I'm not surprised. I'm not a pet lover.

I don't know that you will get many takers for the "let the kids get ill a lot and it will make them stronger' argument, but it has some merit and you might post it in one of the many MMR threads as an argument for NOT having vaccinations

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icod - Do you practice writing like that?????? You have a very, err...... unique style!!!

Good luck willmouse. As a wannabe chicken-keeper myself I hope you can make an Eglu work for you and I hope your dad stays well
Cod, don't even get me started on Lulu, a Pol Pot amongst tabbies
We do know the odd adorable cat thankfully

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I am gutted about the kitten but my dad really is the best so I feel a bit ashamed for even thinking of it.

DH will go nuts at the thought of an alternative pet. Chickens seem OK once you have them but a huge initial outlay. That said he will quite happily spend a load of money getting FA cup final tickets (he is a cardiff supporter) so it is only fair that DS's and I get something as well!

I think that it is just one of those things that people don't think about unless they have experience of someone with a pet allergy....I know that I didn't before ds developed his allergy. So don't beat yourself up about it!

Fish. Get fish, they are relatively easy

How about a tortoise?

Funnily enough, my mother is devastated by the emotional blackmail asserted by my not wanting her to smoke around my asthmatic DD.....

Especially because it "never did you any harm" and because she remembers when I used to smoke "you used to walk around with cigarettes and lighter and your puffer in your hand"

YWBU btw , but you've already realised that I think.....

Oh good on you willmouse

good for you realising the shaky ground upon which you stand

I would recommend fish .. nobody is allergic to fish

you'd eat a guppy?

i agree with everyone else re severity of allergy and i'm glad that you have decided not to get the cat

as your child is 4 1/2 i think you coudl usefully explain to him about allergies. he will be a school soon and will probably meet children with nut etc allergies, so it woudl be good for him to understand eg why he cant take nuts to school

you chicken fans are good sales people

good on you willmouse.

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this time last year we bought 10 guppies, 2 minnows and a sucky fish (and a spongebob fish tank )

as of this weekend's clear-out we have 2 guppies, 2 minnows and a sucky-fish

such be the circle of life

LOL Littlelapin - are you a portsmouth fan bychance!

More like, I better get the chickens BEFORE they get their arses kicked by Portsmouth and he descends into a bad mood!

lapin probably snaffled the other 8.

what about one of those bald cats