Taking care of a pet should be a family responsibility
One of the most common complaints among animal caregivers is “the kids want the animal but lose interest in helping care for the animal.” With time, all of the chores seem to fall on mom.
Most recently at an adoption event, I witnessed this problem twice in one afternoon. A young boy about 8 or 9 ran over to the place we were showing our felines. He was totally excited to see the animals, and he asked his mom if he could have a cat.
Her response was startling. She replied, “You couldn't even take care of the goldfish. It died because you couldn't ever remember to feed it. Absolutely not. You must be nuts if you think I am going to let you have a cat.”
A very harsh lesson for such a small child. His excitement about the felines was instantly dashed. I felt sad for the small boy.
Just as I was recovering from incident number one, I watched incident number two unfold. A mom and her son of perhaps 12 years old approached. Her son was fascinated by a large, red tabby we had available for adoption. All this boy wanted to do was sit and hold this cat.
The adoption process was started with a questionnaire. When the question came up: “Does everyone in the household want this animal?” our mom freaked out. The dialogue changed to “Promise me you're going to care for this cat. That you will remember to change the litter box. If you can't promise me that, you cannot have this cat.”
After the young boy promised, the conversation continued to “I don't believe you. We are not getting this cat. Give the cat back and let's go!” Another stunning, inappropriate scenario.
All of the chores falling on mom as time goes by is one of the most common deterring factors for a feline getting a home, besides allergies.
Parents need to work as a team to teach how to care for the animal. The quantity of food and water a cat should need should not be left to the child's judgment. Explain how important these items are for the survival of the animal.
If the kids complain about the smell of the litter box, explain to them that if it would be scooped regularly it would not be odorous, and imagine what the cat thinks of it. Gentle attention and grooming should be taught to make sure our feline's temperament is well rounded.
Lastly, realize a child's commitment is not as constant or consistent as ours, but if parents take on the care of a new cat as a team with their children, the feline is apt to benefit by getting the proper care and love.
Learning to care for a new cat can be quality family time spent together as an enjoyable and responsible experience. Everyone is happy, including the cat, and no one family member shoulders the responsibility to care for the feline without other family input.
We encourage anyone wanting a family pet to bring the entire family when choosing a new lifelong family member. The entire family includes mom, dad and all the children, even if they are too young to have any input on the care of the animal.
When we see the family unit as a whole, Buddy volunteers can make better recommendations on placing the animal in your household that will best suit your needs and increase everyone's odds at being happy.
AdoptablesLyndon is a black, neutered male that is about 2 years young. He was found roaming around a subdivision for several weeks. The local Officer Friendly took him in to the police station to be claimed. Lucky for Lyndon, no one claimed him. The police thought surely someone would, as he was a front-paw declaw and he was found just before Halloween. Obviously, he was left defenseless to find his own way. Lyndon is sweet to people and loves other cats.Cally is a 4- to 5-year-old spayed calico feline that was found hiding under a porch for protection. Judging from her state of cleanliness, she had been abandoned only days. Cally quickly adjusted to shelter life by greeting the volunteers and snuggling with the other felines. She would be a great addition to any family.St. Patrick's Day CelebrationWe will have festivities at the shelter, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 17. There will be family fun for children and animals, including lots of treats. Plan to spend some time with us, including lunch and refreshments..#376; Contact The Buddy Foundation at (847) 290-5806; visit us at 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights; or online at thebuddyfoundation.org. 12011021Lyndon