I adopted a cat a bit over a week ago, and am having serious conflicting feelings about it.
I am currently a senior in college and have lived alone this past year; about six months ago, my mom was worried that I might be lonely and we talked about me potentially adopting a cat. I decided not to get a cat then, as I still had most of the year of school to finish and traveled frequently for athletics at my university. It was definitely the right choice not to get a cat then; it simply wouldn't have worked with my busy schedule. I can't say exactly where this idea came from... I've never lived with a cat, only when visiting my friends and extended family.
Well, months later we are experiencing the covid-19 pandemic and stuck at home, I began thinking about getting a cat again. I talked to my family about it and everyone was very supportive, except for my dad who is often skeptical about new ideas so I wrote it off. I ordered supplies online, and for many weeks filled out applications to meet cats all while the supplies sat unopened in the boxes (I thought if I didn't end up getting a cat, it'd be easier to return everything that way). Then finally I was able to meet a cat! I spent about two hours at the fosters house who happened to be on the board for the shelter, and I met my sweet 6 year old cat. She had come from a bad situation, so she was very skittish, but I was assured with time and patience she would be a great companion. I remember being on the fence and the foster said that I could always become her new foster or take a day to think about it and that if I ever needed to return her to the shelter they would take her back. Against my better judgement, I decided to make my cat home that day as my own. The whole drive home I thought to myself "what have I done?".
The first few days of having her home were terrible. She had made messes, was refusing food, and was scared. I was scared, so nervous that I could barely eat (which is very unlike me), and trying to figure out how to live with this new animal that I brought into my apartment, but I felt like was invading my space. The next few days were better. She started coming out more, letting me touch her, and I found a food that she likes. However, she's still very skittish and doesn't like to play so I haven't figured out how to tire her out so she isn't scratching and meowing at my bedroom door in the middle of the night. I also think I'm allergic to her, as the only place I don't have itchy eyes is my bedroom where she wasn't allowed while adjusting to her new home. Just as I thought things were getting better, she started regurgitating her food all over my furniture. I get it, she's just a cat and doesn't know any better, but I'm struggling not to resent her. She's been an extreme stressor to me, a huge suck of my money, and I can't say that I'm really enjoying her presence, especially as my newfound allergies are irritating my old asthma.
I am truly torn about what to do. I feel like I wen't through with the adoption because I had hyped it up in my own mind and felt like I had to just bite the bullet. I have seen so much growth with her personality and confidence the past week and want nothing for her than to be in a happy home. I would feel immense shame bringing her back to the shelter and don't know how I would ever trust myself to get a pet in the future since she is the first of my own. I don't want to be *that* person who returns a pet, but I truly do not feel that this was the right decision for me now or in the near future. I told a reference that I would keep her as my forever kitty, and while I certainly have the means to keep her, I feel like she deserves an owner who can truly love her. Help, what should I do?
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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/g3gb7h/cat_adoption_regret_and_confusion/
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