Kittens as Christmas Gifts
By: Tippy & Alfred
Christmas is the time of year for giving and sharing with
friends and family. Unfortunately it has become somewhat of
a tradition to give a kitten to small children as a gift for
Christmas. The problem with that idea is that cats are
animals that take special care and that will live for at
least ten years. They are not a gift, they are a
responsibility.
Every year hundreds of kittens are bought as gifts and given
to people who either are too young to care for them, too
busy or just don't want a pet. It is important that if you
are thinking about giving an animal to a person you consult
with them first. Otherwise the kitten may very well be a
burden to the recipient and end up as either your pet or
going to a shelter to be adopted out again. In the end it is
the kitten that loses.
Kittens require attention. You will have this pet for ten
years on average. It will require food, water, litter and
other supplies, medical care and toys. Kittens and cats can
also be destructive of furniture and other household goods.
Acquiring a kitten requires an investment of time and money.
Cats are more independent than dogs and don't need as much
attention, but cats still need some time and definitely need
someone to clean up after them.
Plus the person for whom you are getting the kitten may have
a preference as to breed and age of their new pet. A kitten
is a bigger responsibility than a full grown cat, and also
certain breeds have particular characteristics that your
recipient may find undesirable.
If you intend to give a kitten or a cat as a Christmas gift
commit yourself to taking care of the animal should the
person you are giving it to not want the animal or should
they turn out to be too young to consistently take care of
it. After all, this is a living animal with feelings and
needs, not a toy that can be discarded.
Ultimately, it will be best if you consult with the person
to whom you intend to give the kitten. That way you can
spend time with them buying the accessories for the new pet
and picking out their kitten. You can also educate the
person should they be a young child or someone who has never
had a cat before. That way everyone will wind up happy
including the new kitten.
Back To:
All About Santa and
Christmas
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