For years I've wanted another kitten but my mom always said "We have two cats already. You can get however many animals you want once you're out of my house."
At 19, I'm out of my mothers house.
For weeks I pondered if I should get a kitten or not. At the same time my mom and grandparents are trying to talk me out of it. It's expensive, it's a time commitment, among other things they said. I'm not one to really listen or follow the rules so I adopted a kitten from a fellow University student and it was the best decision I ever made. My wallet might disagree but I'm paid back if fully with kitten kisses, so it's all good.
Introducing my new baby: a female calico kitten named Lennon, yes after John Lennon.
Reason's why my kitten is my actual baby:
1. I can't shut up about her.
I probably talk/post on social media more about her than some mothers post about their actual human babies. I scrolled through my Facebook after having her almost two weeks and WOW all my posts are about her or just random memes and funny videos. Also I'm writing this article just so I can talk about her some more.
Trust me there was more posts than just this.
2. The things she does/things I do for her.
Lennon likes to roll up in a little ball and play with her feet. Sound familiar? That's because real babies like to play with their feet too. She also follows me around, and when I leave her she cries. She wants a lot of attention, and I have to check her food/water bowl multiple times a day to make sure she has enough to eat/drink. I also have to clean up her litter box. So my point is she's a lot of work.
3. The financial aspect.
You have to buy all the basics like a litter box/scooper/litter pan liners/actual litter, food/water bowls, a carrier for car rides and vet appointments. You also have to buy a special kind of kitten formulated food, kind of like baby formula but for kittens. Also when a kitten gets big enough you have to get a collar/leash, or even a harness if you want to take them on walks. Here's the big punch to your wallet...vet appointments. Like a baby, kittens need to go to the vet more frequently for vaccinations, testing, and to get fixed.
Here's a rough estimate to what I'll be paying for my kittens first vet appointment, which is later this week actually.
It doesn't stop just there. You will forever be buying food and litter the rest of your kittens life. Cats have nine lives you know so you're in for the long haul.
I highly recommend adopting a pet. Even though there are some downsides, like you have to find a pet sitter every time you go on vacation. It is so rewarding raising a fur baby.
