May 5th I had to have my 18 year old long haired calico put to sleep. This past Saturday I adopted a wonderful young adult male kitty named Sammy (see him in my intro post).
Sunday, I go by my local petstore and they have....a long haired calico kitten. I fell head over heels in love with her, and two cats isn't any more difficult to keep than one. She's the calico in the first picture:
http://www.animalatlanta.com/kittenpage.htm
The problem is this. My long time boyfriend of 12 years (you may as well call us domestic partners) thinks we have enough pets. We've got a dog and a cat, and a menagerie of herps (geckos and ball pythons) as well as some pet rats.
I concocted a plan that backfired on me. I went by there, and paid for her and brought her home (he works second shift). I told him when he called me that Diamond (the dog) had found a kitten that looked like Chynna (the kitty we had PTS) and that I wanted to keep her. Figured I'd play on the "fate - it was meant to be" card. Figured it was better to ask forgiveness than permission.
He went "NO! Absolutely not! You don't know WHAT that kitten would bring into the house!". So...back to the pet store I went with her and told him that's where I'd take her. No refund. But I knew that was a risk I was taking.
Both Sammy and Diamond loved her and all three got along (for the hour she was at the house).
So, my heart has been aching - and I call the petstore and they'll hold her today for me if I decide to come back and get her.
I talk to him this morning and ask him to just hear me out - how I normally wouldn't be pushing the issue, if it were any other kitten that didn't look like Chynna, I wouldn't keep pressing the issue. He got mad and said "do what you do - this is YOUR apartment anyway, your name is on the lease - do what you do - get the cat!"
But I know that he's super upset. I feel like he'd love her, but probably remain mad and harbor some resentment.
Am I being selfish? Would you get her anyway? I know I'm asking a bunch of cat lovers what they'd do - but really - what would you do? Love the kitty you have and not get the second? Or go ahead and get her?
I don't want to disrespect him - we really do have a great relationship or we wouldn't be together all these years. I know ultimately I'm the only one who knows what I should do - but I would like some thoughts from the members here. Maybe even someone to knock some sense into me.
Financially, no problems with a second cat. Spacewise - we're in a one bedroom apartment. At one time we DID have three cats and a dog (I had the cats before we met).
Should I get her for a trial period and if he still feels strongly after a week that he doesn't want her, take her back? They do have another gal who's been coming to the store every single day to see her and trying to decide if she wants her. I could even get her name and offer her to her. Although I feel like once he gets to know her, he'll fall for her too.
I'm torn apart inside, my heart says to get her, but my head says - is this the right decision?
_________________
Robin
Sunday, I go by my local petstore and they have....a long haired calico kitten. I fell head over heels in love with her, and two cats isn't any more difficult to keep than one. She's the calico in the first picture:
http://www.animalatlanta.com/kittenpage.htm
The problem is this. My long time boyfriend of 12 years (you may as well call us domestic partners) thinks we have enough pets. We've got a dog and a cat, and a menagerie of herps (geckos and ball pythons) as well as some pet rats.
I concocted a plan that backfired on me. I went by there, and paid for her and brought her home (he works second shift). I told him when he called me that Diamond (the dog) had found a kitten that looked like Chynna (the kitty we had PTS) and that I wanted to keep her. Figured I'd play on the "fate - it was meant to be" card. Figured it was better to ask forgiveness than permission.
He went "NO! Absolutely not! You don't know WHAT that kitten would bring into the house!". So...back to the pet store I went with her and told him that's where I'd take her. No refund. But I knew that was a risk I was taking.
Both Sammy and Diamond loved her and all three got along (for the hour she was at the house).
So, my heart has been aching - and I call the petstore and they'll hold her today for me if I decide to come back and get her.
I talk to him this morning and ask him to just hear me out - how I normally wouldn't be pushing the issue, if it were any other kitten that didn't look like Chynna, I wouldn't keep pressing the issue. He got mad and said "do what you do - this is YOUR apartment anyway, your name is on the lease - do what you do - get the cat!"
But I know that he's super upset. I feel like he'd love her, but probably remain mad and harbor some resentment.
Am I being selfish? Would you get her anyway? I know I'm asking a bunch of cat lovers what they'd do - but really - what would you do? Love the kitty you have and not get the second? Or go ahead and get her?
I don't want to disrespect him - we really do have a great relationship or we wouldn't be together all these years. I know ultimately I'm the only one who knows what I should do - but I would like some thoughts from the members here. Maybe even someone to knock some sense into me.
Financially, no problems with a second cat. Spacewise - we're in a one bedroom apartment. At one time we DID have three cats and a dog (I had the cats before we met).
Should I get her for a trial period and if he still feels strongly after a week that he doesn't want her, take her back? They do have another gal who's been coming to the store every single day to see her and trying to decide if she wants her. I could even get her name and offer her to her. Although I feel like once he gets to know her, he'll fall for her too.
I'm torn apart inside, my heart says to get her, but my head says - is this the right decision?
_________________
Robin