Feline friend
On January 14, 2020 by Keturah HaferkampMy daughter got a new cat. She has wanted a cat for a very long time.
No, she has longed for a cat. She has yearned for a cat. But she is also wise. She is not a demanding person and she is quiet, patient and thoughtful. She is the kind of person who considers a thing for a very long while before she decides it is what she wants.
She said she wanted a cat. So we laid out the reasons she shouldn’t want a cat.
Most of them had to do with responsibilities. Some of them have to do with allergies. Two of us have mild allergies to pet dander. This means even more responsibility to keep clean house. This to a kid who does not like maintaining the upkeep of anything really (what kid does?! I certainly don’t)
The thing about both of our children is that they are also reasonable and strong willed. They do not demand but they do reason well and they are clever. They often outwit us.
We got a cat.
And the first few days showed her what we meant by allergic. She was miserable. She talked through her feelings and her pros and cons. Re-evaluating.
We asked herĀ Are you sure you want a cat?
We talked through keeping bedrooms doors closed and washing hands. Wiping down counters and running the roomba. We explained the need for consistency with brushing the cat and swiffering regularly. How important it would be to remember her saline nasal spray and to be brave about administering her own eye drops. And then that she must get up early, feed her cat and clean its litter box. Every day.
At the end of the first few weeks of her doing all these things on her own we asked her again.
We still have a cat.