Expanding our Family

Hubby & I are dog people. We love logs, want dogs, and growing up, we always had a dog in the house.

Now that we're all grown up and have a family of our own, we want to have a couple of dogs. There are a couple of challenges, however, that we haven't been able to fully get past, which is why we haven't yet "pulled the trigger" on the decision to get a dog.

Dogs take time. The time to train them, and to follow through, consistently, with the training, because if you're not going to follow through and be consistent, there's no point in doing it at all, 'cause you won't get the results you're looking for. Time to play with them, groom them, and just be there for them.

Dogs take money. Not only the initial costs, adoption fees or other fees, but also vet fees and obedience training school fees. If you plan on going away for a vacation and don't have someone to dog-sit, kennel fees.

Dogs involve a lifestyle change. You need to be willing to modify your lifestyle significantly, to meet the needs of a dog. Daily walks, being around and available to let the dog out when it needs to go to the bathroom, saying "no" to impromptu getaways that can't accommodate dogs.

So.... what do dog lovers do, who don't have time or money, and who aren't yet ready to commit to a lifestyle overhaul?

They get cats ;)

We have never really given much consideration to cats before, as we are, as mentioned above, dog people. It's not that I dislike cats, not at all... I've just never had one as a pet and I really don't know anything about them, so it isn't something that even entered my radar. Last week, however, as we heard scratching and scurrying in the walls of our old house in the country, hubby suggested that we get a cat (or two). Mouse traps just aren't doing the trick, and our kids would LOVE to have some pets to play with and care for, and nothing seems to be changing regarding those ever-present challenges associated with getting a dog, so we decided to go for it.

The last week has been a whirlwind of getting information (I didn't know how much they eat, how often to change the litter, what kind of food or litter to buy, what they need from us to ensure their needs are met, etc), and luckily our friends have (or have had) cats, so they were able to answer my incessant (and I'm sure ridiculously basic) questions.

So they are set to arrive tomorrow morning... Two six-month old kittens - brothers - who are rescue cats, have been neutered, have had their shots and their claws clipped, and are free! We're going out tonight to get all the accessories and things they will need to get settled into our home, as we get ready to expand our family by two more, and welcome our new fuzzy family members with open arms.