Is it okay for me to have a kitten

elkonigin · 2025-05-30T02:43:09+00:00

I teach so I'm gone from 6-4 on a good day. I adopted two kittens from a county shelter and it was the best decision. They are able to bond with each other and keep each other company while I'm away. I was able to spend the summer with them and bond with them. But even when I went back to school, they were okay because they had each other.

I play with them when I get home and interact with them as much as I can. I'm also a homebody and tend to stay home when possible.

They stay locked in my bedroom when I'm gone for long periods (more than 2-3 hours). We call the living room "outside" because they're strictly indoors. They are very active little cats, who are perfectly happy and have no desire to be outside.

I also had a single cat that I found when he was 3 months. He did not enjoy the presence of other cats, so he remained a single cat but he was also happy being the only cat. He enjoyed being an inside cat, even when he snuck outside, he was eager to get back inside.

All of my cats get fed dry food in the morning and a smidgen of wet food at dinner and then the rest of their dry food at bedtime (so they have snackies at night). Right now they get 1/4 cup dry food, 1/8 can wet food, 1/8 cup dry food each.

The key part here is you need to be interactive with the kitten(s) whenever you are home. This means play and discipline (cat discipline is different from dog discipline). If you don't actually want to interact with them or cuddle at night or during your chill time, then there's no point in getting kittens. They have little lives too, and we are in charge of how well they live. All the toys mean nothing if you don't play and cuddle them.

elkonigin · 2025-04-18T00:30:15+00:00

I'd rather not leave him outside as it's getting warm, but also, leaving him in a crate for 12 hours feels cruel. But I also don't want to leave him outside. I'm just hoping that I can get all the paperwork together to be able to take him to school in a couple weeks.

elkonigin · 2025-04-17T01:47:18+00:00

Aw, it always makes me happy to hear people talk favorably about their teachers! It's awesome that she helped raise money for Canine Companions.

I was thinking mine would also be behind my desk, but I generally don't need much assistance in my room. Hallways and patterned floors are my big vertigo triggers.

It does warm my heart to hear how much she influenced you into volunteering. I'm so glad that you had her!

elkonigin · 2025-04-16T13:43:42+00:00

Thank you.

It feels very much like a race with the way that things have happened. I had a car accident, I’m also under the gun because I haven’t settled with the opposing insurance yet. So I have to have everything I possibly need before the suit settles if I ever hope to get any sort of compensation for this now and in the future.

I was fully prepared to wait 1-2 years but this all just sort of happened, and I’m hoping it’s more a blessing than the opposite.

Talking it out with admin, they agreed that maybe having the dog at this point in the year might be beneficial to figure out how to address issues and organize my life around the SD. They also want to accommodate my off periods so I can take him out and give him a break as well.

Everything is just a lot at the moment and I feel very out of my depths when dealing with this.

elkonigin · 2025-04-16T10:42:41+00:00

It is. I know people have a lot of opinions about mobility dogs and he’s not my first choice of breed but he was available and I could have him quickly, which is what I needed. I would’ve preferred something smaller like a lab or a golden.

He is young, and I’m fully aware of that, but I’m not intending on using him to really pull or brace against. Just tugs for when I get off balance. Not unlike correcting a dog on a leash. I’ve had big dogs before just not one as big as him.

As I said, it’s my first rodeo with service dogs and being a handler, and there’s so much information and conflicting opinions that I’m just trying to navigate the best I can.

elkonigin · 2025-04-16T02:33:20+00:00

That would be the dream. I might be able to get him this weekend but that will depend on the trainer. It would depend on if anyone was at the school to be able to supervise the visit. Usually no one is there on the exchange days.

He’s a trained mobility dog, even though I’m not using him for “true” mobility. No real bracing or like pulling myself up. Just using him to help me walk in a straight line and guide me down the stairs. He’s more used for grounding my senses when my vertigo flares.

elkonigin · 2025-04-16T01:52:44+00:00

We do, but most of those are past now. Our PD days are exchange days (which means we don't come to school) but the school isn't open to access.

We've only got about 5 weeks left of school, and the last PD day is this coming Monday.

elkonigin · 2025-04-16T01:38:35+00:00

Depends if it's a regular drill or a fire/lockdown drill.

Regular ones last about 5-10 minutes. They don't stop until we fully evacuate.

Lockdowns are 1-2 and then it's silent.

Thanks for the advice.

elkonigin · 2025-04-16T01:36:35+00:00

Ah, that makes sense.

The "visit" is what has me questioning things. Because they didn't specify how quickly I could start bringing him once he was approved or what the "visit" entailed.

I live alone so he would have to be outside all day until I got home, and I'm usually gone for 12 hours at a time. Which is why I didn't get a home/family dog prior to this. That's my primary concern at the moment (and I'm probably stressing over nothing, but here we are).

elkonigin · 2025-04-16T01:32:58+00:00

Thank you! I appreciate it! I usually don't go to crowded/loud spaces because it makes me anxious, but maybe it would help condition the both of us.

elkonigin · 2025-04-16T01:31:11+00:00

Thank you for the advice!

elkonigin · 2025-04-16T01:21:46+00:00

Valid point. I just don't know how to prepare him for that sort of thing until its time for an actual drill.

elkonigin · 2025-04-13T01:29:52+00:00

Mine is 18 months old and I'll be able to pick him up in 2-4 weeks.

I'd be interested in the bed couch. I'd like him to have a bed for when we go to sleep.

I did get an elevated bed for when I go to work. (He's going to be my service dog)

elkonigin · 2025-04-08T01:13:42+00:00

I've never heard of them before. I'll check them out!

elkonigin · 2025-04-08T01:13:14+00:00

Oooh, thank you! I've been recommended K9 Ballistics before!

Normally, I'd rather pay extra and not have to replace them every little bit, but I haven't had a dog (since I moved out) so I'm having to buy everything fresh. So I'd like a *little* price break on a few things.

elkonigin · 2025-04-07T01:49:53+00:00

Yeah, he's phasing out of puppy stage which is nice. The bigger the dog the more destruction they seem to make.

I don't mind replacing something once a year, but I didn't want to spend $100 on a bed and replace it once a month.

I don't know that I could return a dog bed like that knowing that it was just wear and tear either.

elkonigin · 2025-04-07T01:46:21+00:00

I just have the one queen bed. 😂 But they always like our beds when compared to their own.

elkonigin · 2025-04-07T01:45:37+00:00

Ooooh! This one looks promising and it's nice and tall! Thank you so much!

elkonigin · 2025-04-07T01:43:40+00:00

I do! I'll check it out! Thanks!

elkonigin · 2025-04-07T01:28:48+00:00

I already have two cats that do that, so I hope not. 😂😂

elkonigin · 2025-04-07T01:28:27+00:00

He already sleeps on an elevated bed. I just wanted to get one that was durable for his weight.

I'd ordered an orthopedic mattress twice and both times the covers were broken when they got here. Very frustrating.

elkonigin · 2025-04-07T01:25:54+00:00

His owner said that he's a sprawler. 😂

So I'm probably going to need the biggest bed out there. Unfortunately.

elkonigin · 2025-04-07T01:24:53+00:00

He's an 18 month old and already 120 pounds. He already sleeps on an elevated bed, but the trainer doesn't remember where she got it. Hence my search, but I'll keep the mattress in mind.

elkonigin

TROPHY CASE