I made the mistake of letting my son get a cat. Have you made that mistake?

@onlydia (2808)
United States
August 29, 2009 3:17am CST
I let my son get this kitten. There were rules clean cat box everyday and feed and water him. Shots for kitten and he has to be fixed. OK MOM Now I'm yelling clean the cat box. Are you saving money to have him fixed. You need to be home more he needs attention. Have you ever made the mistake of letting them get a pet and you ended up caring for it? Have a nice weekend.
4 people like this
15 responses
@ackerdog (41)
• United States
30 Aug 09
yeah same has happened to me, treated that dog like it was mine from the start
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
1 Sep 09
Yeah things go that way. But that is one thing I will not do now as he will take care of the cat. Or get rid of it. YOu have a wonderful day.
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
1 Sep 09
It's good to see you on here again. I was worried about you. Well, I think that goes without saying. Everytime we have gotten a pet for the family or for the kids I end up taking care of them. I got a cat for my son 8 years ago and it is like pulling teeth for him to feed him. That is ok though, it is not that much to put out the food and water for him. But everytime my husband says let's get a dog I tell him I do not want to have to potty train a puppy and that it would be his responsibility. So far we have not gotten a dog yet. I think though that we will get one though within the year. The kids keep asking for one and I think it would be nice to have a dog around. I just don't know how the cat will feel about that as he has been the only pet here for the past 8 years (all of his life). Have a great day and happy myLotting!!!
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
1 Sep 09
Yeah your right don't get a dog. No more pets. I'm thinking of charging mine everytime I have to yell at him as I won't change the cat box and if my house starts to smell because of it. Oh bites to be my son. Mom is done with pets. I try to come on and do somethings but life has been so yes. But you have a great day. And take care of yourself. Your friend onlydia
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
30 Aug 09
I'm facing the same issues with my 11yr. old daughter and her dwarf bunny. Poor Bugsy is always begging me to let her out of the cage or to play with her as well as giving her a carrot, apple, grass, whatever. Not to mention cleaning out her litterbox.
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Sep 09
Believe me, Bugsy is HER responsiblity. I'm just tired of constantly reminding her to take care of the lil gal is all. If the cage was on wheels, I would take her away from my daughter but it's not and I can't get down inside it to clean it up every day.
1 person likes this
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
1 Sep 09
Oh start now on making her take care of it or you will end up like me. OH NO you don't want that. Trust me.Have a nice day.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
30 Aug 09
After reading the other responses, I was surprised to learn that your son is 19!! The first thing I would do is inform him that you are no longer going to yell at him to clean the litter box. Then move the box into his room. I assure you that it won't take long before the smell gets to him!!! I also would sit him down and have a chat with him about the fact that animals are like having a small child. You take on a responsibility to take care of either. Even though cats are more self sufficient, they still need shots, neutering and or spaying, feeding, and attention. Inform him that there is a product called "Litter Maid" It is a self cleaning litter box that scoops the "big chunks" that the cat leaves in the box. You use clumping litter so the urine forms a ball and is scooped out as well as the poop. It is dumped into a receptacle at the end of the box and once a week you can either throw out the box or you can do like I do and simply dump the used litter in the dumpster. It is either battery operated and also it comes with a electrical adapter so you can use it either way. Your son needs to learn that the small furry animals need to be respected and cared for. I have four cats and four dogs and I spend a couple hours a day cleaning up after them and feeding them. That doesn't include the amount of loving time I give to them. I have always taken care of the animals in my household. Even when my daughter was small and when my daughter and her family stayed with me. I assumed responsibility for feeding their cats too.... But at his age there is no excuse for his not taking care of the animal that he adopted.
1 person likes this
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
4 Sep 09
Kittens will poop a lot more because they are eating more since they're growing. Also there is more food value in what they eat, so they eat more and poop more. The point of this is, your son is 19 and is more than old enough to accept the responsibility for his actions and choices. He wanted the cat, so it is up to him to accept the real life responsibility of taking care of the cat. If he can't take care of a small animal, what is he going to be like when he gets married and has children? Children need a lot of caring and upkeep.
1 person likes this
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
1 Sep 09
Thank you Thank you for everything you just said as other people think I'm being mean. Well, no it is not my cat I didn't want it and the cat box is in his room.So that was the first thing. But if I smell it then I do yell. I mean for a kitten he sure does poop alot. Have a great day.
@fifileigh (3615)
• United States
30 Aug 09
that is typical. nothing new. women always do all the work for the kids and the husband. i am into animals anyway, so i dont mind taking care of my cat. cats are easy to take care of if they are indoors. all he needs to do is feed it, make sure it has clean water, and clean the litter box. and maybe get the a cat some scratch boards and scratch post as well as a cat tree. maybe even get a little mat to place the cat's food and water bowls on. my cat sleeps in his cat tree, in my bedroom, by a window all day. when he is hungry or needs to go to the bathroom, he comes down on his own and does his thing. and then either sits by me on the couch or goes back to his cat tree and spying out the window at everything outside.
1 person likes this
@fifileigh (3615)
• United States
1 Sep 09
i hope she finds happy homes for all of them.
1 person likes this
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
1 Sep 09
Waiting for my son's girlfriend to come over and clean up after it as well, as it was found in her garage. There was 5 kittens she still has two so she did find a few homes. And she doesn't know who the parents are. Just stray cats.
• United States
29 Aug 09
Well, it's gone one step further for us in that each one of us now has a cat. My daughter has had her cat for 17 years and we have been working together to take care of her cat during a little illness. It has actually drawn us closer as a family. Yes, I know what it is like to take care of cats, but I have really grown to love ours and instead of thinking about who should clean the cat pan, I concentrate on how much I love this little animal and how much joy they bring to our house. I can't think of anything in my life that I truly enjoy that does not involve work. I don't think I would yell, I would just not be available for anything this boy needs until he cleans the cat pan and keeps his word. It seems that it doesn't take long before our kids need something. That's when you lower the boom and say, "Why should I help you, when you don't keep your word?" I then would calmly tell him to get his job done and then you will be glad to help him with whatever he needs! This is sort of an idea from the latest child rearing book for kids of any age by Kevin Lehman. The book name is "Have a New Kid By Friday: How to Change Your Child's Attitude, Behavior and Character in 5 days." The local library should have a copy.
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
29 Aug 09
Do you think that book will work on a grown man if so I mite have to go check it out.As my roommate is as bad somedays. It is a male cat I have never had one and he is so needy. wants me to hold him a lot. My Old cat God rest her little self. was crazy and would lay on the floor and then we would go to bed. Boy cats are nuts I think. I did say my son is 19 right. I told him to clean the cat box before I had him fixed. It worked.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Aug 09
My sister is using the book on her two kids in their early twenties with good success and also on the two in high school. She has always been a parent who pretty much loses her backbone when it comes to discipline. This book has helped her a lot. When she gets done with the book, she will pass it on to the rest of us. I have heard Kevin Lehman talk about this book and tried a couple of his suggestions which have worked. He was really a bad kid when he was young and has a great sense of humor along with the advice.
1 person likes this
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
29 Aug 09
I mite have to give it a try. But he has cleaned the cat box two days in a row now. scared I will get him fixed or put the cat litter on his couch in his bedroom. Will have to get a copy for my girlfriend at work her kids run over her like a old rug not even a new one. You have a good night.
1 person likes this
@nancyrowina (3850)
29 Aug 09
I have 2 cats and no kids so I have to look after them myself, it is expensive taking them to the vets to get shots and be spayed etc, I had a charity that helped me pay for the spaying. They are very loving animals so it's all worth it in the end when they sit on your lap and purr.
1 person likes this
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
29 Aug 09
If he sat on my lap and not up on my neck. For a min. is ok but then get off me and go play or lay on the floor. I just call him needy cat. My old cat was independent not this one. pet me hold me take me out to the front porch. I told my son no more. If he was a dog I would take him to school.You have a great weekend
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
29 Aug 09
WHen the kids are little I did the same thing......but it turned out okay as the pets eventually became mine! The last dog I had was supposed to be my sons....turns out he was my dog in the end! A very good companion!
1 person likes this
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
1 Sep 09
Yeah but my son is 19 and I told him you keep it in your room when your home and take care of it. show it love and att. and empty the cat box.and Feed it. Well, have to yell about the cat box still. But he is the one that has to sleep in there and then can't breath. As he shouldn't be around cats. You have a wonderful day. Your friend onlydia
1 person likes this
@klaudine (3650)
• Indonesia
29 Aug 09
Maybe that what my mom's mistake when we adopt a puppy. LOL. I mean, I have the point of view from the children. It is cute when they are little, huggable, clean and healthy. Not when they are piss, sh*it and sick. It is cute when we can play with them but it is not cute when we have to take care of them. I know it is the lack of the responsibility, but kids really needs to understand what a responsibility is. I think I can understand you now like I understand my mother now. She didn't allow us to adopt a pet because she wasn't sure enough about our ability to take care of the pets and the cleanliness of the house. LOL I just hope you're patient enough to take care of your son and his pets.
1 person likes this
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
29 Aug 09
Well, my son is 19 and he made these I will do this and that. As we ended up having to put my cat down.So I told him no more pets that I couldn't take it. Well, here I go again. First it was the dog then the cat. Now anohter cat. Yeah sure he is cute but cute is getting on my nerves. I told him take care of him already not my job. So far this last two days he has taken care of the cat box. He was scared I would fix him or put the litter on his couch. You have a good weekend
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Sep 09
MEOW... sorry woman, my fault
1 person likes this
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
2 Sep 09
That is ok I told him to give one of the other one's left to you.So there you go. You mite end up with one as well. Have a nice day.Onlydia
@Archie0 (5636)
30 Aug 09
Well i think my dad made a mistake of this kind some years ago.But we never kept my dog uncleaned but many times i kept giving him bath regularly but since i have gone to hostel there is no one to look after my dog and i think it is a mistake of my dad because i dont like to trouble any animal i want them to be comfortable but now i dont time to give them bath or take them to vet.
1 person likes this
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
1 Sep 09
Yes we love to tell are childern yes and then we as parents kick ourselfs. You have a good day and I hope your dog is doing ok.
@saki13 (95)
• Philippines
30 Aug 09
you'll end up loving it as well. Kids have very short attention span and are distracted by new fads easily. you'll get used to it don't worry
1 person likes this
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
1 Sep 09
No I won't get used to it. As we have been down that road he will take care of it or get rid of it. Them are the rules. I like the cat but yeah no more. You have a good day.
@vingyan06 (2486)
• Malaysia
29 Aug 09
Hello Onlydia, I know how you feel! I have my niece who keep pestering my sister to buy her rabbits. My sister was telling her it is not easy to keep rabbit at home and more ever they already have a Shi Tzu dog at home. My sister just know the little girl of her ( which is only 9 years old ) is not ready to take care pets on her own. The Shi Tzu dog is still under caring of the maid. But due to my niece keep pestering, end up she have got the rabbits bought from pet shop by her father. For the first few days, my niece is still exciting to play with the 2 rabbits. But after 1 week, she get bored and never bother about the rabbits anymore. Now the rabbits are die for don't know what reason. My sister felt so sorry to the rabbit and my niece was sad too. I think they have made the mistake to buy the rabbits whereby no one at home is willing to take good care for the animals.
1 person likes this
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
1 Sep 09
Yeah that is sas But rabbits are hard to care for and they do get sick. If they are wild it is better. But then they eat your garden. I just don't want to care for anymore pets.I know I will end up taking care of this one more and more. Have a nice day.
1 person likes this
@pphelan (17)
• United States
29 Aug 09
I made the mistake of agreeing to a dog, ugh and what a rock head she is too. Maggie(our dog) is super lovey but man is she lacking intelligence. Then she went out and got a cat from her aunt, like we needed a cat. Oh well now I have two more mouths to feed.
1 person likes this
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
29 Aug 09
Yes that is how this happened and they are saying we still can't find homes for the other two. Mom you sure you don't want one? Me heck no. didn't want yours. So get it fixed keep it all clean so I don't smell it or he is out of here. I'm not taking care of a cat again. I want to go places with out worrying about a cat. You have a nice weekend. Good luck on the Look honey it's a hamster.
1 person likes this
14 Sep 09
apparently you didn't follow through with the rules...don't mean to offend you. you are the parent; he is the IRRESPONSIBLE child. gotta teach them responsibility EARLY in live. put the unemptied litter box in his room so he smells it. and, yes. you're saving money by having them fixed because the last thing we need in this world are more unwanted cats who don't have a choice of growing up and becoming great pets. this just makes me want to slap your face for not meaning what you say.
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
18 Sep 09
Well, now you want to slap me. How nice is that. But here is the up date on the cat. He is fixed and has his shots. My son now takes care of the cat box as well as the cat. The litter box is in his room. Oh you mite have missed that. Have a nice day. I don't want to slap you by the way. And I did say what I meant.
18 Sep 09
didn't mean that i really wanted to slap you...just a euphemism. so, it's good to hear that your son is doing well with the new kitten