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Overview:
It's easy
to get caught up in the Christmas spirit. We all want to buy
presents for our family and friends which will they will
love.
Before you do
go ahead & buy a cat (or any pet for that matter) as a gift,
please take the time to honestly answer these questions.
Buying for a
child:
If the pet is
for your own child, are you aware that the novelty of a
kitten may well wear off. As the parents, you are
responsible for ensuring the cat is properly7 looked after.
That includes financially responsible for vet bills, food
bills etc., and also responsible for the cat's care. Litter
trays, grooming (if necessary) etc.
If you are not
the child's parents, do the parents know you plan to buy
their child a kitten? Are they happy to have a pet in the
household? Are they aware that the responsibility of the cat
will fall on their shoulders? Can they afford the upkeep?
Just bear in
mind that a child will often promise the world when they
want something, and at the time they no doubt mean every
promise they make. However the fact remains that sometimes
they don't follow through with these promises. So, if you do
decide to buy your child a pet, the responsibility of the
pet ultimately lies on your shoulders. So, you should be
happy & prepared to take on this responsibility.
Buying for a
friend or relative:
It is always
fun to give a surprise gift to friends & family members, but
when it comes to giving pets as gifts it is important that
you discuss your plans with the recipient to make sure they
are happy to receive a pet.
Before
committing to buying a pet ask yourself the following
questions:
-
Does the
person really want a pet? Just because somebody expresses
a love of cats or dogs doesn't mean they actually want the
full time commitment of having one themselves.
-
Have they
actually told you outright that they would like a pet in
the very near future?
-
Can they
afford to keep a pet?
-
Does their
lifestyle suit having a pet? For example, if they travel a
lot, it may not be suitable.
-
Are they
aware & committed to caring for the pet for the next 15-20
years?
-
Do they plan
to have a family in the future? If so, are they willing to
include the pet in this, or would the pet be discarded as
soon as a child came along?
-
Do they rent
or own their property? It is often difficult for people
renting to keep pets.
Choosing the
pet:
If you & the
receiver (be it your child, or a friend/relative) decide to
go ahead & buy a pet as a gift then please let them choose
the animal themselves. Again, it takes away the element of
surprise, but it is important they choose the pet they are
to live with. By all means do the legwork, find out which
shelters are available or breeders are in your area, go
along with them when they choose the pet, but don't choose
it yourself.
It's also
important to make sure that the pet suits the owner. For
example, you wouldn't want to get an active breed of cat for
an elderly person. You wouldn't want to get an aloof breed
for somebody who needs a close companion. It's important
that they adopt the right pet to suit their needs, their
requirements & their lifestyle.
Bringing the
pet home:
When buying a
pet as a gift, it's best not to bring it home on the day, as
birthdays & especially Christmas are often busy occasions,
with lots of visitors coming & going.
The best way
is to give them a pet related gift on the day, be it a
collar, a book, food bowls etc., or even a gift certificate
from a shelter/breeder, and allow them to choose a pet for
themselves when they are ready or after the holiday period.
Summary:
Please, never
purchase a pet for somebody as a surprise. So many unwanted
pets are dumped on shelters just after Christmas. If people
just put some thought into buying the pet in the first
place, shelters wouldn't have to pick up the pieces further
down the track.
I cannot
emphasise enough just how important it is to make sure the
pet is wanted, and will be properly cared for for the next
15-20 years. Ask yourself, if you are buying a pet for a
teenager, what will happen to the pet when they move out of
home to go to university for example? Will you be willing to
keep the pet with you, and care for it? What about buying a
pet for an elderly friend or relative? What will happen to
it if they pass away before the pet? Would you be willing to
take on the pet for the remainder of it's life?
If you are
buying the pet, then you should be willing to take on full
responsibility for the pet should it be necessary in the
future.
Pets are for
life, and should never, ever be purchased on the spur of the
moment. Please think it through carefully & thoroughly
before bringing a pet into somebody's life.
Shelters are
swamped with unwanted Christmas pets in the new year, please
do not contribute to this problem.
Related
articles:
Christmas safety for cat owners
Gifts
for cats
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