Persuading My Parents to Let Me Get a Cat?

Question

For my entire life, my parents wouldn't let me get a pet. (Besides fish). The main reason was that we went traveling way too much.

Now that I'm going to be a sophmore in high school, I don't think there's going to be much traveling around. But even when I ask now, they still say that we travel too much.

How do I persuade my strict parents to let me get a cat?
Do you think adding that I would pay for everything/hold all responsibility would dramatically help my argument?

We have a neighboor that we are good friends with. They have experience with pets and we can let them take care of the pet while we are away

Answer 1

I think your argument will definitely assist you in getting a cat!

Another good suggestion I can make is that you perhaps start out using this strategy, find out from your local animal shelter about fostering kittens/cats and then ask your parents if you can do this, - using the reasoning that it will teach you responsibility (which it will!) and will prove to them that you really can take care of a cat. Fostering means that you care for a animal in your home while they actively search for a permanent adoptive home for the fostered pet. They provide any veterinary care the animal might need. You pay for supplies such as pet food and litter. Long term fosters are for those animals who are not immediately adoptable. A mother cat with a newborn litter of kittens, for example, usually requires at least three months in foster care. Kittens who are too young for adoption, or shy cats and kittens who need to be socialized usually require a month or more in foster care before they can be placed. An animal with a temporary medical condition (such as an upper respiratory infection, recovery from surgery, or poor condition due to past neglect) requires fostering until it recovers.
Short term fosters involve animals who are immediately adoptable, who often need less than a month of foster care.

They should be quite keen to let you try this, as the cats/kittens will only be with you for around a month to three months. So you can foster when you know that you won't be travelling. Ask them if you can foster for the next year, and if you prove that you can look after a cat, tell them you would then like to adopt one. Just remember that you will get attached to the animals, but that they will be leaving you and you can't be too upset by that, they are going to good homes!
Another benefit of this is that I promise your parents will develop a soft spot for cats, there's nothing quite like having a little fuzzy bundle of joy/madness/love around the house!

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 2

If you travel, you will need a pet sitter while you're gone to stop in at least twice a day - or better yet stay in the house. This is going to cost a lot of money. Also, plan on annual (at least) vet visits, and cat food and litter is going to cost you at least $30 a month (more if you want a high-quality diet). The cat will probably make messes, damage furniture and carpet, and break things.

Additionally, think about the future. A cat will live at least 15-20 years if well cared for. When you get out of high school, are you planning on college? Will you be moving into the dorms? Who'll be caring for the cat? When you move out on your own, will you be in an apartment? Have you checked to see how easy it is to get an apartment that allows pets?

I'm not trying to talk you out of a cat, just trying to prepare you for what you will be facing. It may be wise to wait until you are settled in your own home before you take on a pet. I'm speaking as one who has always loved pets. I've had them most of my life. I've had cats, dogs, horses, birds, fish, snakes, and various kinds of rodents. I can't imagine going without a pet. But they are a lot of responsibility and they are expensive. They are not disposable - you can't just dump them when you want to move. Too many pets are needlessly euthanized each year because their owners don't think of them when making decisions, and find they can't keep them in their new homes, etc. Too many more are abandoned to die on the streets, killed by cars and predators. Be sure you are ready to own and care for a pet for the next 20 years before you ask to adopt one.

Answer 3

Stop bugging your parents about it. Any amount of travel can be upsetting for a pet. Your parents are probably concerned that they'd have a lot of extra expenses, too. That can be the case. Wait a little longer and ask them around your birthday. What a neat birthday present. Sometimes the "bugging" will get your the opposite result.

Answer 4

Even if you move, you can take your kitty with you. Tell your parents you are ready for the responsibilty, you will take care of the kitty's needs. It is a great way to get used to caring for another also, I think people are healthier with pets and learning to love animals, so I never understand parenst who dont allow them. That is why there are so many mean people who hate animals and think it's OK to do things like declaw them since furniture was taught as more important than living creatures.

Answer 5

Before you get one. Think of all the bad things that can happen. Like you moving without it, it dieing, it getting hurt, no being able to support it any longer, it running away, having to give it away etc. Things like this happen with pets. As long as your prepared, present these ideas to them to, and let them you know it's not all roses, and that someday, it will die. And you will be mature enough to handle this. And if you arn't just yet, wait a litttle while longer sweetheart, BUt goodluck, i truly think animals are worth it, even those this stuff happens.

Answer 6

I think Tinz had a good idea about the fostering! I was never allowed cats as my mum was scared of them or a dog as we were all out all day but now I have my own place I have finally got kittens and it was worth the wait by far!

Answer 7

rescue one from a shelter, you can get one that's already house-trained and gentle! besides seeing all the poor cats will probably make your parents guilty, my friend volunteered at a shelter for the holidays and ended up with 4 dogs at the end! sounds like a bad way to get what you want but it works most of the time!