Those Who Have Given Pets as Gifts UPDATE page 4: The cat has come home!

[BelleWDW]

Despite my strong opinions that I also have about giving a pet as a gift, I'm going to agree with Liz and recommend a female cat. I didn't get the reasoning behind getting a cat of the opposite sex.

And I'd ask the person first...perhaps they don't really want the expense of caring for a cat right now. I hate to see pets being given up because it's not working out for some reason.

No debate...just sayin'.

I agree Completely

Also think of this............in the future having a pet friendly apartment may not be in the picture.

Also-you can NEVER predict how cats will get along-a very 'touchy" thing to do if both roomates are at work during the day

Sorry-I think your KID should get a pet if they want...not you

 

[barkley]

just thought of something else you may need to check-on with the roommate-will your ds need to increase his security deposit with the landlord? it's not uncommon that even if pets are allowed in an apartment, with each additional one an increase to the security deposit is required.


i'de also suggest getting a cat carrier for the new pet owner-sometimes a landlord has to come in to do repairs and such, and they can't nesc. ensure that someone's bedroom door can be kept closed to ensure kitty won't get outside.

 

[poohlover]

I surprised my mother with a cat last Christmas. My father had died in the spring and Mom doesn't drive at all in the snow. I envisioned her sitting home alone all winter getting depressed.

This worked VERY well. I was ready to keep the cat myself if it 1. did not work out in the house with my Mom or 2. she really didin't want it.

The cat lived in my youngest DD's room until Christmas and she got very attached to it, so it woulnd;t be any problem to keep it.

We found a coffee cup with a picture of a cat that was almost identical to the one we had for her. We gave Mom the coffee cup with some toys in it and told her that we had one more present for her, my DD then went to get the cat and sat her on my Mom's lap.

Mom wasn't thrilled right at first. But we told her to think about it. She wasn't going to get her till next week if she wanted to try it. If she tried it and it didn't work we would take that cat back...ect...We also had litter box, food, & all the other cat necessities.

1 year later she LOVES the cat. My Mom agrees that it was the best present at the time, it's a companion for her, she buys it toys, it keeps her sane.

Hope your DS enjoys his kitten as much as my Mom did. Good luck!

 

[DVCLiz]

Just wanted to chime back in that I have always had at least two cats and they have always been the same sex and gotten along famously. I don't think I would ever have a mixed pair because I don't think they would acclimate to each other as well. My boy kitty group got along famously and now my female pair - although three years apart in age - wash each other every day and sleep together most of the time.

 

[Scurvy]

I'd want to choose my own kitten, one that spoke to my heart, and I think it would be better for the kitten to come straight home, rather than spending time at your home.

Given that, I'd wrap up a bunch of boxes of all sizes with a catnip mouse in one, and a litter pan in another, etc . . . and let him figure it out -- then take him to the shelter on the 26th to pick the perfect kitten.

OP, I realize you may already have gotten a cat at this point, or that you might be completely set on giving him an actual kitten on Christmas morning, but I agree completely with this! I love the idea of giving a pet as a gift. The best gift I ever got was the kitten my husband gave me for my birthday 13 years ago. But I picked the kitten out myself. Different people get along best with different cats. I would have been horribly disappointed if someone had given me the cat that they liked best. He could have this cat for decades - on another thread, someone posted that a former Dis-er just lost her cat who was 21 years old. If he's going to have this cat for it's entire lifetime, it should be one that he really bonds with. Cats are picky about their people, and many people are picky about their cats. I really strongly suggest that you find a cute way to "give" him a kitten on Christmas without actually giving him the kitten. Then take him out the next day to find the perfect one for him. It might be cuter to hand over a live kitten on Christmas morning, but I truly believe it would be best in the long run if you let him choose the kitten instead of just giving him the one you like best.

 

[taximomfor4]

Besides checking into Pet Security Deposit, check into "Pet Rent." I had to pay both at my last apartment (right before we bought our house). There was a "minimum age" for kittens as well...NONE under 6 months old, at ALL, had to have vet certificate that kitten was spayed and declawed, $200 pet security, and $50 pet rent. The pet security I got back when I moved out since there was no damage to apartment. Pet rent was just a rent increase. And this was a not-so-nice apartment complex that would rent to me, a newly single parent with shaky credit and a new job.

Specifically, the age and the "declawed" are important. Declawing is something I don't like to do to cats. We have 4 cats now, and only the ONE we brought with us 11 yrs ago from that apartment is declawed. It was heartbreaking to me to have to do it.

I think you, OP, should call the apartment management and get their official policies before doing this.

As for HOW to present the new kitty, I definitely strongly agree that wrapping the kitty supplies and then taking ds shopping to pick out his own kitty is the only way to do it. It is true that certain cats just draw you. And very, very often it's not the ones you expect to "want."

 

[Jennasis]

We gave MIL a dog for this Christmas. We paid for the adoption and a few doggie do-dads and actually found the dog for her on Petfinder, but she got to meet him first to make sure he was the right one. She loves him to pieces and has only had him for a shade over a week.

 

[sunnyday123]

The female cat is spayed and it is a requirement of Wayside Waifs that any pet how is not already neutered when adopted be neutered when they are of age. If it is not already neutered, I am going to be paying for that as part of the gift.

The reasoning behind a male cat is that cats of the opposite sex will get along better than two cats of the same sex. It decreases the chance there will be problems. That is why I got a male cat after Makya died, to make it easier on Eowyn.

ETA: Thanks for the people who actually answered the question. I know not everyone agrees. Believe me, this was not a split second decision. This has been well thought out. I am paying for all of the initial vaccinations and will pay for neutering if the pet is not already neutered. Money will never be a concern as I will always help him if he needs it. If there were ever a circumstance where the cat would no longer be able to live with him, I would take it in. Wayside Waifs also has a wonderful process where they match pets based on the circumstances of the family. I will not say that a female is out of the question, but right now I am leaning towards a male just to make it easier on the existing cat in the apartment.

Actually, getting a male because he'll get along with the female isn't a guaranttee. I started with a male. When he was 2, I got a female, following that reasoning. She was only 6 months old, so I figured he would love the new kitten.

They just now ( 2 years later ) can be in the same room without a full on fight. She will growl at him if he gets too close, and he smacks her when she walks by. The THIRD cat I got was only 3 months, and is so laid back ( and deaf-don't know if that helps ) that they both get along with her. So it's always a crap shoot.

Maybe a gift certificate tied to a stuffed kitty saying it's good for one kitten of his choice, and all the accessories that go along with it? Most of the fun is picking your new friend, and seeing who you click with.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

We have not gotten the cat yet. I like the idea of the gift certificate. That might be the way to go.

We have already checked with his landlord. There is no increase in pet rent (as they don't charge it) and I will take care of the security deposit.

 

[taximomfor4]

We have not gotten the cat yet. I like the idea of the gift certificate. That might be the way to go.

We have already checked with his landlord. There is no increase in pet rent (as they don't charge it) and I will take care of the security deposit.

Sounds like it will be a wonderfully fun day kitty shopping with your ds!! I Might just do that with my kids when they grow up!!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Actually, boyfriend.

I found out the shelter isn't even open until Wednesday (which seems weird since they are making a huge deal of getting the cats out of the shelter for Christmas). I'm going to talk to him and see if he wants to come with me on Wednesday and we'll pick it out together. Seems like the best way to go.

 

[taximomfor4]

Actually, boyfriend.

I found out the shelter isn't even open until Wednesday (which seems weird since they are making a huge deal of getting the cats out of the shelter for Christmas). I'm going to talk to him and see if he wants to come with me on Wednesday and we'll pick it out together. Seems like the best way to go.

Where on EARTH did I get DS from you just giving a name in the OP? My mind is sooooo fuzzy this morning.

Either way, have a blast! Letting a cat choose you is the way to go. I actually had a cat once named Koko, given to me as a gift. She mostly didn't like people (didn't hate them, but wasn't friendly). EXCEPT when my roommate's guy friend came over. She was purring and nudging him a LOT, and slept next to him when he sat on the couch to visit roommate. She only tolerated me, didn't seem to care if I existed as long as she had food in her bowl and her litter was freshly scooped.

This guy LOVEd that cat. He offered, after a few months of visiting a lot, to buy her from me. I gave her to him -- he was over the moon, and I am sure Koko was, too. I went to the Humane Society and let a cat choose me. We still have that one, 12 yrs later.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Actually, boyfriend.

I found out the shelter isn't even open until Wednesday (which seems weird since they are making a huge deal of getting the cats out of the shelter for Christmas). I'm going to talk to him and see if he wants to come with me on Wednesday and we'll pick it out together. Seems like the best way to go.

I wonder if they are intentionally closed so that people will not pick out pets for others as gifts? The drive could be encouraging people to do the certificate thing (like you are doing) but making sure people only leave with a pet THEY want

 

[lillygator]

although you are giving someone a gift, you are giving one with expense.
Are you going to be giving them vet gift certificates and money for food/supplies for the life of the cat?

 

[tasha99]

I was going to suggest a certificate, too. Picking a pet is such a personal decision, and a cat will likely be around for 15-20 years. Glad they offer that where you are.

 

[Skywalker]

Actually, boyfriend.

I found out the shelter isn't even open until Wednesday (which seems weird since they are making a huge deal of getting the cats out of the shelter for Christmas). I'm going to talk to him and see if he wants to come with me on Wednesday and we'll pick it out together. Seems like the best way to go.

Just chiming in to agree. You could wrap all the kitten supplies for him to open Christmas morning and then go with him to pick the kitten out. I also agree that it is better if he picks out his own kitten - the connection between the pet and the owner is very important!

And by the way, it's a great gift. I wish my husband would get me a kitten or a puppy but I know it's not happening, lol!!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

These are their normal closed days. They are apparently always closed for adoptions on Mondays on Tuesdays since they are open on weekends. Considering they are having an event right now called Merry Meowza and have dramatically decreased the price of adoption only through the 31, I doubt their closing on their normal days off has anything to do with people giving a pet as a gift.

 

[simba928]

Actually, boyfriend.

I found out the shelter isn't even open until Wednesday (which seems weird since they are making a huge deal of getting the cats out of the shelter for Christmas). I'm going to talk to him and see if he wants to come with me on Wednesday and we'll pick it out together. Seems like the best way to go.

I read part of this thread this morning on my phone so I couldn't reply. I am so glad you chose this route. Working for a humane society, I see all kinds of animals coming and going. It is VERY traumatic for the animal bouncing around from place to place. I know I would want to pick an animal myself if I am going to have the animal for 15 years. I don't want to be stuck with an animal that doesn't like me and I don't particularly like. Even at work, there are some animals that LOVE me and some that don't really care for me. One cat that we had would run from side to side in his cage to get away from me (I was never mean to him, I treated him the same as all the other cats, he just didn't particularly care for me). Another would reach out for me everytime I walked into the cat room (I ended up adopting her ). The same with the dogs, some cannot stand when I go into another dog's kennel, other's couldn't care less when I walk into the building, but adore my one coworker. Some personalities just don't click. Also, some people are picky about their animals. Some prefer a particular color, some a particular gender, etc. I know I would not be happy if someone brought home a little tiger kitty for me (my first cat was a tiger and she was my best friend, so I do NOT want another like her). I would also be extremely happy if someone gave me a kitten as opposed to an adult cat.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I surprised my mother with a cat last Christmas. My father had died in the spring and Mom doesn't drive at all in the snow. I envisioned her sitting home alone all winter getting depressed.

This worked VERY well. I was ready to keep the cat myself if it 1. did not work out in the house with my Mom or 2. she really didin't want it.

The cat lived in my youngest DD's room until Christmas and she got very attached to it, so it woulnd;t be any problem to keep it.

We found a coffee cup with a picture of a cat that was almost identical to the one we had for her. We gave Mom the coffee cup with some toys in it and told her that we had one more present for her, my DD then went to get the cat and sat her on my Mom's lap.

Mom wasn't thrilled right at first. But we told her to think about it. She wasn't going to get her till next week if she wanted to try it. If she tried it and it didn't work we would take that cat back...ect...We also had litter box, food, & all the other cat necessities.

1 year later she LOVES the cat. My Mom agrees that it was the best present at the time, it's a companion for her, she buys it toys, it keeps her sane.

Hope your DS enjoys his kitten as much as my Mom did. Good luck!

My brother "surprised" my parents with a puppy one year when they were adamant they didn't want a new dog! 3 weeks later, they went and got their new baby's sister because they didn't want their girl to be lonely. Those two dogs are spoiled rotten (Not really. They're much beloved and very well trained, actualy.) and are the apple of my parents' eyes.

 

[Quacktatty]

Older female cats generally do better with young females than males.