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What would you do if your twelve year old daughter with green eyes who likes to read and climb trees and who has a best friend whose name starts with W begs you to let her have a kitten as a pet for 77 days in a row? I don’t have a daughter, so I wouldn’t know.
If you don’t want it, just say no. You don’t need to give explanations for every decision you make as a parent
Say no 77 days in a row.
Unless you choose to teach her that you will eventually give in – in which case, be prepared to agree to many more demands in the future.
tell her to stop being friend with the girl whos name starts with w, she’s influencing her negatively
i have not read any of these posts and don’t plan to but i will say that in my house it is the mother who wants the cat and the daughter who is protesting.
I think this thread might have gotten more responses had the subject been “What to do when your daughter wants a car”.
I want one, too. I like cats. I always wanted a cat. Cats are cute.
But our landlord doesn’t allow pets. Oh, well.
Why would you make your daughter ask 77 days in a row. When my princesses asked for kittens or puppies, the answer was Yes darling, when would you like to go choose one?
Then again, I live in a large home in the suburbs, not a NYC apartment, and keeping dogs and cats as pets is the norm.
BTW>>>Thank G-D she asked. My eldest daughter, now grown and on her own brought home two kittens and a puppy over the years without asking. She brought home our 4th dog two years ago, introduced him to me and announced: Happy Father’s Day!
That means poppa gets to pay the food and vet bills, get up at 4AM to let him out, etc.
But I wouldn’t trade my daughters for anything or anyone and we love our 4 dogs and two cats
Looks like she is really pushing her “luck” here. (pun intended) You do know 77 is the Gematria for Mazal, wink, wink, so whose luck is she trying to change, the cat, hers, or yours?? Because after 77, either, you will end up hating the cat or will never want to part from it.
Cats(and all animals) are a responsibility. Are you prepared for the vet bills. Are you getting it already altered? Because halachically you may not alter an animal. You can obtain one already altered from a shelter like Bideawee. It would be irresponsible to bring a cat in and her have kittens. There are already too many. And trust that shelters do not need anymore. They will euthanize any cat brought to them, even if it sneezes. Cats have a need to scratch things. Male cats will spray to mark their terroritory. Then there is the litter box to clean up. Making sure to feed the animal before yourselves, Not touching an animal on Shabbos. davening with the animal in the room.
“Because halachically you may not ‘alter’ an animal.”
I don’t think that applies to females (female animals, that is).
When I was a young ‘un, ’bout ten or so years ago, I used to want a tiger. Like, really badly. They’re really gorgeous, and fluffy, and they looked friendly in the kids’ magazines. I would dream about letting it sit in my lap when it would be still a cub, and about sitting in ITS lap when it would be a full grown plush throw.
Needless to say, my parents weren’t too supportive of my dreams and wishes. My father said that when I get older, and have an apartment of my own, I could get a cat and paint it to look like a tiger.
Unless your landlord prohibits it, or there is someone else in the family who is allergic, go to a shelter and get her a cat. Make sure that it has already been spayed or neutered to avoid any possible halachic problems. And make sure that she accepts the responsibility for cleaning the litter box, and seeing to it that the cat is fed all the time. Also make sure that you have several scratching posts around the house. Cats can make wonderful pets, and you will never, ever, ever have to worry about rodents in your home.
“There are ways of preventing kittens without altering a cat. “
True. And if you get an unaltered female cat who goes into heat you will be rushing to the nearest posek to find a heter to alter her. That actually happened to us.
Also keep in mind that cats live a long time. These are other things to keep in mind for any animal. Who is going to continue to care for it after she goes off to seminary, gets married etc…? Animals are living things, and shouldn’t be treated like toys. Animals even though they aren’t on the same level as humans on many things, have feelings and feel pain. I’m sure you probably all think I’m crazy for this.
You tell the daughter in question that a dog is a better family member than a cat, and get her a Keeshond puppy from a reliable breeder.
Charliehall
We have had cats for all the years of our marriage (40+).
Never had kittens, never altered a cat.
HOW? We have indoor only cats and only have females. Yidden don’t believe in immaculate conception…no problem
Or just get male cats. Hope that noone in the house is allegic.
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