A wrong kitten choice or am I being a snob?

[meadowquark]

Hi. Would have never considered pet, but could see how DS1 loved cats at my parents during summer holidays, and how calming and natural it was for him (he has a short fuse). So researched and decided to get a ragdoll. All good.
We went to a breeder this morning and had a choice between a colorpoint and tabby ragdoll. I set my eyes on the colourpoint, but DS1 loved the tabby. The colourpoint was and I liked that, and the tabby was a bit passive but DS1 liked it because he could cuddle it. Finally, as the cat is mainly for DS1 benefit, I let him choose. What disappointment - he chose the tabby. In my eyes it is quite bland ?? I was driving home all stressed that I am paying lots of money for the cat that I did not like in particular and gave up on the other one. I have probably done the right thing, but my heart is crying.
We will collect the tabby in 3-4 weeks. I feel bad that I feel no joy, and selfish at the same time.
Did I do the right thing?
DS1 is 7. I expect him be the cat's main friend. But eventually I am in charge. What if I resent the cat for being not the one I would have chosen?

[StillRaving]

It's a living creatures not a fashion statement. Just saying.......

[eddiemairswife]

I like the idea of your son being the cat's main friend! Cats don't have friends; they have people who feed them and people who they sometimes tolerate cuddling them. Tabbies are lovely.

[Supermanspants]

We choose pets to our liking, in terms of breed, colour, personality. Did you all pick up just any cat?

It was your DS's choice.... yes?

[TheoriginalLEM]

meadow - i think that people who buy pedigree cats are in the minority, most the cats i see at work are moggies. So i guess people do just get any cat, i find that very often people tend to end up with a cat rather than making a concious decisions - they are crafty fuckers, cats. You do have a point though, we choose types or breeds of dog, i don't think it is unreasonable to do so with cats. Just amuses me because a pedigree costs £££ and don't really look THAT different to a moggie. ITs not like the choice between a labrador and a chihuahua

[meadowquark]

It was proper ragdoll breeder and the tabby is a ragdoll tabby. I am looking at the kittens picture and starting to warm up a bit. The ragdolls are meant to be wonderful with children, for that reason I wanted this breed only.

[TheoriginalLEM]

See, i do think the OP is being a bit daft but there are some really nasty comments on here.

[TheNoodlesIncident]

You don't really come across as a cat person - is that why you haven't wanted a cat before?

Are you up to being able to read cats' body language and advise your DS accordingly, so he doesn't try to cuddle it when it doesn't want that? Some cats will tolerate it without lashing out; others won't. The cat may seem placid now in the environment it's used to, but it may be more on edge in a new setting. How would your DS, with his short fuse, cope if the cat scratched him?

[TheoriginalLEM]

ragdolls ARE lovely, i am actually

[TheoriginalLEM]

ragdolls ARE lovely, i am actually

[meadowquark]

It is all very emotional as I did not work out to my 'favourite' color. I hope it will subside.

[RachelZoe]

Yes we all pick cats in terms of their characteristics etc, and if they are visually appealing I suppose that is a bonus but you're saying that the only reason you're upset is because the kitten doesn't look the way you want it too.


There are other red flags too op, re wanting the passive cat your child can do as he wishes with for example

[overthemill]

I actually did just pick any cat as I was thinking about a Scottish fold for my dd , asked questions on here and did lots more research and decided on a rescue kitten. The rescue centre had one kitten available that week that had been overlooked because he was black ( surprisingly to me , the most unpopular and hardest to rehome) and they brought him round to our house ( can't go out, very sick child) and the 8 week old kitten is of course adorable. Animals are what you make of them. Treat them well and they will repay you with love and affection. Pets aren't an accessory. They are for life. I hope your kitten gives your son joy and love and teaches him responsibility

[meadowquark]

Oh god, I did not want a passive cat specifically but DS picked the passive one.

[RachelZoe]

It is all very emotional as I did not work out to my 'favourite' color. I hope it will subside.

Mad.

[SacredHeart]

Another vote for both. As someone who has sibling kittens they are inseparable and have been since birth and it melts my heart.

When I found my kittens of course visual played a part but ultimately we picked the kittens that warmed to us the most.

They pick you, you don't pick them.

[Pipbin]

Fucking hell. It's a cat not a handbag! It's colour has nothing to do with what kind of pet it will be.

Here is my girl. I chose her, from a rescue after she had been abandoned, 100% for her personality and not the way she looks. She is just a plain black cat but to me she is the most beautiful cat in the world.

[Micah]

Agree with don't get both, cats are solitary and don't like or need other cats for companionship.

I had the other way round. My kids picked the colourpoint when I'd have liked something less obvious. Not for snob value, but because I really worry about letting the colourpoint out, and he looks like a "breed" (he's not, he's a cross with Siamese in there).

[lorelei9]

How can a kitten ever be the wrong choice?

All kittens are wonderful.

Now have a word with yourself and be ready to be worthy of your kitten

[Hurr1cane]

Ragdolls ARE lovely though! Our ragdoll (not bought from a breeder, rescued, and black and white) is amazing with my child with disabilities and alerts us to his seizures.

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

Do I just pick any cat?

No - I get rescue cats and I tend to get either all black or black and white ones because I know that these are the hardest to rehome. Many people overlook such coloured cats for some reason.

[Eliza22]

You shouldn't get either, probably.

[StillRaving]

Or get a stuffed toy instead. You are aware that animals need care, yes ?

[Flumplet]

Sorry yes it does sound like you're being a bit of a snob. The colour of a cat is irrelevant in comparison to its temperament and health. I hope your child doesn't get bored of it.

[Skullyton]

yes, i did just pick any cat. it was a rescue kitten, looks were not important, was was important was providing a loving forever home for a wonderful little creature so she could spend her life being loved and spoiled rotten, instead of being one of the unlucky ones who gets neglected, put down or left to go feral.