Where should the line be drawn w/ pets?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Where should the line be drawn w/ pets?
16
Thu, 01-13-2005 - 5:03pm

I am in turmoil, somewhat at least.

A close relative of mine is angry with me and NOT talking to me because he says that I consider my cat to be more important that other people, including family. While I am hurt that he is mad at me, I cannot deny and WON'T deny that I think of my cat as a person, a family member, MY family! I do! I love her with all my heart!

The background is this: I live alone with my cat. I've never been married and this is the first time I've ever had a cat (she is two). I do love her. She is my constant companion, there for me, she listens, she has such a distinct, wonderful personality, and she loves me no matter what. Why wouldn't I love her? Isn't that the point of being a furmom?

I needed to get that off my chest. Thanks!

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." ~Gandhi


CL of Living Single 30 and Up and co-CL of 30-Something Lounge

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." ~Gandhi

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Thu, 01-13-2005 - 5:53pm
I am married with two boys 18 and 23 yrs. old. I feel just like you. Animals need us, they love you with no strings attached (other than open that can cat food!!!). Your relative is trying to control/change who you are. Good for you for standing up for yourself. If your kitty makes you happy, thats wonderful. Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Thu, 01-13-2005 - 5:56pm
Oh yeah, my neighbors (in their 50's) couldn't have kids, got a lab 14 years ago. That was their baby. She just passed away. They've spent thousands of $$$ on the dog, then when she died they bought a casket and had a small ceremony. You are not alone. To me if the pet is that important to me and my life, my happiness and you want to take that away from me, you do not care how I feel, or whats important to me. Donna
Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 01-13-2005 - 6:33pm

I feel the same way you do. Eventhough I am married and have grown kids with grandkids I still feel that my furkids are a big part of my family.


Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Thu, 01-13-2005 - 6:34pm

I have a friend who has two cats - she claims to love them to pieces but says if they ever became "dirty" (ie: started peeing around her house or something), they'd be gone in a heartbeat. I told her how most of the time there is a medical reason, and if it's not, usually behaviour modification can help. She just shakes her head and says "I love them but... they're cats". Sadly, one day she wants to get a dog. *sigh* What is she going to do the first time she catches it chewing up her coffee table leg? Don't get me wrong... she loves animals and hates to see them hurt, but she just does not compare them to a human life in the least.

Unfortunately, those of us who treat their animals like people are few and far between. IMO a life is a life, and an animal's life is the purest, most innocent form of all. Animals don't kill for sport (unless trained to do so BY HUMANS), they don't build weapons, they don't declare war on each other, they don't become pedophiles or pimps.... KWIM? So yeah, I definately say an animal's life is at least EQUAL to that of a human's, and in many cases I would go so far as to say it is worth MORE.

Feeling this way though has brought me all sorts of arguments: "so you'd save your dog over your child if your house was burning down?" "why do you still eat meat?" "so you think a spider's life is higher than a human's??". I've heard it all. I always have perfectly legit answers but people still shake their heads at me, and probably think I'm a little nuts, but I don't care - it's how I feel! *shrug*











Powered by CGISpy.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 01-13-2005 - 7:17pm
I feel the same way and my family/friends know to back off when it comes to my pets.
Cat =^..^=
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-29-2003
Thu, 01-13-2005 - 7:52pm

As hard as it is, just let him go ahead and not talk to you. It just shows you and hopefully other family members how freaking immature and childish he is being. Good grief - he's not talking to you cause you're cat is important to you?!? ROFL Sorry - I don't mean to offend, but it *is* kind of funny. Man, he must not have much of a life if THAT is making him upset.

My pets are important to me and I love them very much. To me, they are just like people. My family kind of thinks I'm nuts for being so attached to them and spoiling them. But there's nothing like your dog and/or cat coming to you and just sitting with you while you bawl your eyes out over something. I really don't think anything else compares. I believe that everyone could have the kind of relationships we have with our pets but most people don't allow themselves to for whatever reason.

I'm sorry this relative is being like this and I hope you don't let it get to you too much.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 01-13-2005 - 8:41pm

You and I are definitely on the same page!!!







Animals are forever - and so is their love.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2003
Fri, 01-14-2005 - 7:44am
I would just ignore him! Some do not understand our love of pets and that is their loss.


^Dusty^,^Tiger^,^Ellie^ and Scooby,Elvis and Maggie’s Mom,
Rachael and Jordan‘s Mom
Visit Our Website!
Email Me!

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-07-2004
Fri, 01-14-2005 - 9:04am

I have had 3 cats so far in my life. Angel is my second of the three. I also have Alixx. I got Angel when she was 2 and going thru a REAL tough time in life. she is my daughter (the one I never had) I am married without children,but always wanted them. story for another day. anyhoo, Alixx is my 4 year old "son" whom I love to bits,but Angel, Oh Angel is my girl! she is so in tune with me and my lifestyle that I do think more of her than some people and I aplogize not for it. she is the center of my universe and there is nothing

 

Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2004
Fri, 01-14-2005 - 3:23pm
my father, who is also my accountant(my choice), had a fit when i told him i was buying the new longer Littermaid for my large cat. he's worried that if i should lose my job he will have to support me. while i don't want to be a burden to my parents, i'm not in any debt, i don't charge anything, and i feel that my Xmas money should be spent the way i want to even though they consider my cat ERNIE "just a cat".

Pages