I want a kitten but my parents won't let me have one and I don't know why I need some advice

Have you asked them why? Maybe one of them is allergic to cats? Maybe you live in an apartment where no cats are allowed by the owner of the apartment?

I would ask your parents "why?"

Having a pet requires commitment on the part of the owner. Who will water, feed and take care of the cat's other basic needs such as maintaining the litter box are important considerations. Plus, their may be a fee to pay the city on a periodic basis, such as yearly, when people have a pet such as a cat. I have heard that in some places, it can be as much as $100.00 a year for the fee.

If your parent's are reluctant to tell you why, and you have already asked them before, then you could ask them again and use some of the information above. "Is it because...?"

Clough's answer offers a lot of reasons your parents may be against a kitten or cat, but I would like to expand upon it a bit. Do you show your parents that you have the maturity and sense of responsibility to own a pet? If so, then you could approach them with something like, "Mom, Dad - as you know I have brought my marks all up to A's and B's. I do my share of chores around the house, keep my room spotless, have good friends and don't mouth back to you. I show you every day by coming straight home from school to do my homework that I am responsible. Do you agree?" If they say no, then use the opportunity to learn why, then spend 3 to 6 months working on that. If they say yes, then ask if they feel you are acting responsible, why are they having a difficult time with the kitten issue?

Bottom line is, if you are under 18, you presently have to go along with what ever your parents decide. If you are over 18 you will have to decide if the solution is to spread your wings and find a place of your own. I suspect, though, that you probably have a good idea why they don't want a cat in the home. A pet is a huge emotional and financial responsibility. Perhaps you could do some volunteer work at your local SPCA to show your parents that you are serious, as well as to help you decide if you really do want a cat.

Good luck!

Didi

I will also point out that you say you want a "kitten", not a cat. Which may make your parents think that you are not considering the realities of pet ownership. Kittens are cute, cuddly, absolutely adorable balls of fluff that are going to keep you up all night, have incredibly sharp claws that _will_ get used on you (I still remember the way that my kitten tried to jump up to my lap and the bloody scratches that left!), and are going to be into everything. And in 8 months or so, you will have a cat. Which is not "cute and cuddly".

So one thing to consider, which you should anyway to make sure you pick the right pet, is why do you want a pet? How do you picture this pet fitting into your family? When you wake up in the morning, where is the pet? Out roaming the house, curled up next to you, meowing at the door to go out? How about at breakfast? During the day? When you get home from school? When you go to bed at night? There's not as much variation in cats as there is in dogs, but you don't want to pick a clingy cat if you want one that's aloof and mysterious, and vice versa.