So, you want to get a cat but some other people might not be on board with this. It’s a common problem. You’ve picked out a breed, a name, a bowl, and everything else you need, but you’ve got others around you dragging their feet. Getting a new pet isn’t just up to you. If you share your life and home with other people, they have just as much input into the decision as you do. This can make things a little awkward if they’re not the biggest fans of cats. Equally, they might think you’re not ready or don’t have the space and time for a cat. All these things can complicate the process. So how do you persuade your parents or partner to get a cat?
Well, it starts with having an honest discussion about the topic. You need to know what their opposition is. Hopefully, it is something you can work around. Once you know their reasons for not wanting a pet, you need to either address these issues or convince them that getting a cat is a good idea. This is no small feat. Sometimes obstacles can be too big to getting a pet. However, you might have the right atmosphere, space, and time for a cat already. Then you should be able to convince those around you that a pet is the right decision.
You can’t rush in to things like this. Getting a new pet is a process. Rushing to convince a partner or parents could instead show them that this is a passing fancy for you. Take your time, and make sure all potential conflicts about this new pet are dealt with. That way when you finally do bring a cat home, you’ll know everyone is happy to see it.
What are Their Objections to a Cat?
If you want to persuade your partner or parents to get a cat, the first step is to think about why they don’t want a cat. This is really important. If you ignore their concerns, it might seem like you’re bulldozing right past their legitimate worries. If you want everything to go smoothly, you have to think seriously about why your partner or parents are opposed to getting a pet.
Sometimes these reasons are minor but they can also be pretty serious. If their objection to getting a cat is allergies or conflicts with other pets then this is going to complicate things. Treatments for allergies are available. However, it is a hard sell to convince someone to undergo allergic reactions in their home so you can have a pet. Equally, conflicts with other pets can also be an issue. While dogs and cats can be trained to live together this is difficult. These are all factors you need to keep in mind when getting a pet.
For the most part, objections are likely to be less severe than this. A common objection is the amount of time you have free to care for a cat. The environment that you live in, the size of your home, and the cost of owning a cat can all also be concerns.
Once you know what it is that is standing in the way of getting a cat, you can begin to address this problem.
Convincing Them That Their Objections Don’t Apply
It is unlikely that you’ll be able to convince someone that their concerns about a cat aren’t legitimate in any way. This would be a bit reductive to how they feel. Instead, your task is to convince someone that their objections don’t apply in this specific case! Their general worries about having a cat are right, these issues can hypothetically stop people from getting cats. However, you have to show them that they don’t apply here. While these concerns can be correct, you are going to prevent them from being a problem for you and your cat.
Concerns about Environment
If they’re worried about the area that you live in being unsafe for a cat, there are some ways you can put their mind at ease. An indoor cat won’t be exposed to these problems. If this is a concern, then assuring them that the cat will be staying indoors might really help things out.
Space for a Cat
If your partner or parents is worried about the amount of space that you have for a cat, you can tell them about walking cats or catios. There are plenty of ways to make a cat and a small space get along just fine. However, it is going to be an adjustment. In these cases, you will need to convince your partner or parents that you will take responsibility for ensuring your cat gets enough exercise and stimulation despite your small surroundings.
Mess
This is likely to be brought up by reluctant partners or parents. After all, no one wants to clean up after a messy pet they don’t like having around. Your partner or parents may be concerned about the amount of mess a cat can make. This can be both their litter box and their hair. A litter box smells. Hair is difficult to remove from furniture and furnishing. These aren’t exactly minor problems. In this case, you need to demonstrate that you appreciate this concern and will sort these problems yourself. They have to be able to trust you to keep on top of this maintenance. After all, if they don’t want to get a cat at all, then it is unlikely that they’re going to be convinced by an offer of cleaning up the cat’s mess themselves. You need to make sure they trust you to do it yourself.
Free Time to Care for A Cat
Sometimes your partner or parents can be worried that you don’t actually have the time spare to commit to raising a cat. In these cases, you need to convince them that you do. This means either showing that you have enough time free, or that you would be willing to find more time to care for a pet. If you can’t manage to convince them of this, then you might not actually have enough free time for a cat.
Setting Guidelines
If you manage to convince your parents or partner that their objections shouldn’t be a problem for you and your cat, next comes the issue of actually getting a cat. Given that they had certain concerns about getting a pet, your options are going to be more limited. You need to discuss with them what type of cat they would feel comfortable with you getting. This should help to reassure them that you can take care of the cat.
The limitations on what type of cat you get might have something to do with their breed. This can be about their size, or the amount of grooming they need. It could even be if you have the capacity to take care of a rescue cat or the time to raise a kitten. Taking these extras steps to make sure that this is the right cat is going to be helpful.
You should be able to find a cat that meets these requirements. You then need to make sure you’re clear on what responsibilities you’ve signed yourself up for with this new pet. Cats take a lot of care. So, if you’ve agreed to take care of all of their grooming responsibilities alongside caring for them, then you need to make sure you have the time to do this.
Getting the Right Cat
Once you’ve found a cat that seems right for your needs and convinced your partner or parents that this new pet will not cause the problems they thought it would, you can start to actually find a cat and bring it home. This is a long process. You’re going to need to prepare your home, by getting the cat essentials and some toys for them. If you discussed any further measures for getting a cat, like an enclosed litter box or taking them out for walks, then you’ll need to prepare for this as well.
Involve Your Partner or Parents in Decisions
It is important to include your partner or parents in the process of bringing the cat home. While they might have practical worries, most are going to like the animal when they meet it. If you can convince them you can look after this cat, then making sure the cat and them start off on the best foot is going to be really helpful for their future relationship. Bring them with you to meet the cat, make sure they also think that this is the right one for you, and try to include them in important decisions like naming the cat.
While you were the one who wanted to get this pet, once they agreed to it you should start to make them feel included in the process. This will help them to bond with the cat. You don’t want them waiting through the cat’s life to say I told you so if things go badly. Instead, you need to try and get them on the cat’s side! If they like the pet and bond with it, then they’ll realize that their fears about getting a cat were misguided.
Convincing your partner or parents to get a cat can be difficult. However, if you address their concerns as legitimate and work to overcome then, then you can create a happy home for your cat and your partner or parents.
