Do you want a cute fluffy little kitten to call your own? A cat is a great pet for busy students who like to hang out with their friends.
As you already know, cats are awesome companion pets but also have an independent side that is perfect for when you are away from the house at school all day.
Having a cat in the house or your room provides a variety of benefits such as companionship, entertainment, lower stress levels, and a best friend.
Cats are empathetic, caring, and love to hang out and relax. You already have your heart set on getting a cat but you are probably wondering how to convince your parents to get a cat?
Chances are you already asked your parents and they said no. Convincing them to say yes and change their minds might not be easy, but it is possible to take the right approach.
The first thing you need to do is consider all of your responsibilities as a pet parent to a cat. You need to give them attention, feed them, change the kitty litter and provide them with lots of love.
Once you know you will be an excellent cat owner, it’s time to convince your parents to get a cat by using the helpful tips below.
How to Convince Your Parents to Get a Cat
Show Your Interest in Cats
Casually bring up why you like cats so much. There are different breeds of cats, so make sure you narrow it down to your favorite.
Highlight the good things about cats, such as their cute little ears, soft fluffy fur, their quiet and independent behavior.
Make sure to mention they are easy to take care of.
1. Spark Interest with Pictures and Videos
Now that you have your parent’s attention show them cute and funny videos of cats on social media.
There are tons of videos to choose from, so make sure you pick the best ones that your parents will love. If your friends have cats, ask them to send you a few pictures to show your parents too.
2. Ask Why?
Sometimes parents are too busy to explain why they make their decisions.
For example, if you already asked to have a cat and they said no, you can politely ask why? Sometimes the reason is valid such as severe allergies and concerns about damage to the furniture.
Make sure you remain calm and polite when you hear your parent’s reasons.
3. Research Cat Breeds
Research cats online to make sure you know everything you can about their lifestyle and needs. Every breed has their own personality traits so make sure you choose a breed that will fit into your family nicely.
4. Answer Questions
Your parents might have valid concerns about getting a cat. Perhaps they never had a cat when they were a child and don’t know how to care for it properly.
Answer your parent’s questions about cats and use your knowledge from the research you conducted to present owning a cat in a positive light.
5. Give a Presentation
Use your computer skills to create a slideshow or video presentation set to fun music.
Make sure you include the specific cat breeds you would like to own and mention their best traits.
Parents are often concerned about the cost of owning a cat.
Do some research to find out monthly expenses such as food, toys, grooming needs such as nail clipping, and pet health insurance monthly installment payments.
6. Offer Solutions
Cat allergies are serious and there’s a chance one or both of your parents have sensitivities to cats. If this is the case, research some hypo-allergenic breeds to help them feel at ease about having a cat in the house.
7. Mention Benefits
As mentioned earlier, cats provide a wide range of benefits. Make sure you explain each one in detail. Also, mention that a cat makes a great companion for the entire family.
8. Prove You are Responsible
Parents are super busy these days with work, household responsibilities, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, and taking care of the family.
They might feel overwhelmed already and the responsibility of caring for a cat could be too much for them to handle.
Show your parents you will take full responsibility for caring for the cat by doing your current chores without them asking you.
9. Earn Money
You might be too young to get a job but you can save your allowance to use towards purchasing cat food and necessities instead of spending it on yourself.
Also, you can do small jobs for neighbors such as clean their yard, walk their dogs or babysit their children.
10. Pet-Sit
Ask a neighbor or friend if you can pet-sit for a day or two.
Ask your parent’s permission first before bringing the cat home.
Make sure you take extra special care of the cat while you pet-sit and show your parents how happy they make you feel.
11. Visit an Animal Shelter
Animal shelters and some pet supply stores offer cat adoptions at low prices.
Visit an animal shelter with your parents to see if they are interested in rescuing a kitten or cat.
If your parents still say no, ask them for permission to participate in a cat fostering program to help you gain more experience owning a cat.
Bottom Line
Owning a cat and being a pet parent involves a lot of responsibility but the reward is amazing. When asking your parents to get a cat make sure you remain calm and polite even if you don’t like their answer.
Do your best to convince them by using the steps above.
Some parents might be willing to negotiate with you. For example, if you get good grades all semester, your reward will be a cat.
You can even come up with ideas to help negotiate with your parents. Once you use all of the tips and do everything you can to convince your parents, the answer will hopefully be yes and you will be a cat owner soon!
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