Mom and her cats

hezekiah · 02-09-2006, 08:30 PM

I'm not at all my mother's favorite child-she's getting old tohugh and she always had a cat for company-she buried her last friend a few years ago.
She's said emphatically she doesn't ever want to do that again-so I can't get her a cat-but i know she's terribly lonely and it's hard for her to mix with people...
the temptation of dumping one on her is great.I won't do it-but Poor Mom

Merika · 02-09-2006, 08:39 PM

Oh...if she's a cat lover....she would probably enjoy having another kitty around the house. Maybe you could even adopt her an older cat, without so much energy, from the humane society. She may be afraid she wouldn't get attached to another cat....but she will.

When our beautiful female boxer Roxy was stolen...it just broke my heart. I said I would never love another dog. Then, we ended up seeing this one at the flea market, and he was the UGLIEST puppy there, but we took him home and I love him special.

Luba · 02-09-2006, 09:24 PM

When our two dogs had to be put to sleep; one had cancer and the other one pined for him so much she could only crawl and not walk anymore, we swore we would never have another animal, EVER! The pain of losing them both was just too great! But then this stray cat adopts my husband, I let her in the house to get warm (wintertime) and she's been setting us straight ever since.
It might be a good idea to get her a cat...or find a way for her to get one...it will help her with the loneliness so much...IMHO

hezekiah · 02-10-2006, 09:18 AM

She doesn't want to watch another pet die.

Merika · 02-10-2006, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hezekiah

She doesn't want to watch another pet die.

Then get her a younger cat and she'll probably pass away before the cat does.

Maybe your mom had a lot of unhappiness in her life and she is just trying to shelter herself by not letting anyone else (or a pet ) in. It could be why she is so distant from you at times.

Vautrin · 02-10-2006, 11:47 AM

My dad is not a cat-lover at all. He always insists that the current cat(s) are the last ones. 9 cats later, they were all favorites of my dad.

The dying part is always awful about pets. But the joys must not be underestimated. A cat or a dog can mean a lot to a single person, almost as much as a partner.

My grandmother had a similar issue, when my grandfather had died. She was alone, without pets, and never even had had a cat. But she still took one in, after much "hassling" of the family. She enjoyed that for many years, until the kitty died (she got an older kitty). But was not filled with grief, but grateful for the many joyous years.

Perhaps there may be alternatives, i.e. pets that are to outlive your mother?

twinkle · 02-10-2006, 12:37 PM

Buy her a NintenDog, :o !

I'm joking, of course. Oh, I don't know... is she capable of having a cat - like not forget to feed her and stuff?

hezekiah · 02-11-2006, 09:16 PM

She's competent but she's losing confidence I think-she gets a lot out of watching her grandkids but I don't know how often she does that...
I hate to dump a cat on her when she said not to...

Vautrin · 02-11-2006, 11:08 PM

It is a tricky situation. How often does she see the grandkids and her children? The more often, the less the need for a pet may be.