My boyfriend, me and a cat.

[TwisttheLeaf]

Ok.... first and foremost. To someone that has a need to nurture? Going and petting homeless dogs and cats slated to be put to death is torture. It's not fun. It's not pleasant. It doesn't sate a need in them.

It's torture.

I personaly cannot go to those places. It kills me to know that the animals up for adoption may end up put to death if someone doesn't take them home. It makes my heart very litereally -ache- in my chest.

You told him to go and to be honest? I'm not surprised he met a pet that he can't leave behind. (This is the other reason I don't go to these places, because I want to take them ALL home.)

There is a huge difference between visiting an animal, and -having- an animal. Just as there's a huge difference between visiting someone with a baby, or -having- your own baby. People with a huge need to nurture? They can't do that by -visiting- animals. They need more than that. A bond with a specific animal they can call their own gives them this. (I could also liken this to the difference between going on random hook-ups.... or having a boyfriend. Same concept, different species.)

Instead of looking at this as a thing that it's either "you or the cat" or which one is more important to him? Maybe you should consider that he has a NEED to be filled. One you can't fill (no one can fill all of their partners needs, on all levels. Sorry, but it's impossible.) The cat fills this need.

Feel lucky he didn't want a ferret or a dog or some other higher-maintenance animal. And make damned sure you're nice to that cat, man. Or it will show an ugly side of you he probably won't be willing to tolerate.

That all said? If this is truly a financial issue and not a "I don't want a damned pet" issue? Then ask him to hold off on getting a pet until he has a job. I doubt you will get him to hold off much longer than that tho. Perhaps the goal of having the pet will help him get a job even faster, yeah?

On a side note...

I love Gideon more than anyone else in the word (except my twin sister). If he told me to get rid of my cat (or if something happened to her and I was going to get another and he told me no?) I'd tell him to kiss my ass. This includes if we were living together. *Shrugging.* Some people need a pet. Some don't.