Gifting a pet on a holiday is never a good idea. You have no clue if the recipient is able to support a pet or even wants a pet!

Also, cats need almost as much work as dogs! They need attention, playtime, cleanup, and stimulation!

If you still insist on gifting a pet for Christmas, there are hundreds of cats in shelters across the state right now! Adopt!

Holidays are the worst time to get pets make sure to before hand teach your kids the importance of maintaining and caring for a pet. Cleaning and giving it attention

I checked a couple of the shelters/rescues I know of, and they both cross-post their animals to PetFinder, so that might be a good resource...find a cat on there, then check out where it's coming from and whether it's a place you want to support.

this is very insightful, but now I guess I have 2 questions.

1. What's another good unique idea for a work holiday party yankee swap?

2. How does one get rid of a boa constrictor they don't need anymore?

Given the choice of the "we", I'm assuming this isn't some unexpected gift and recommend just trying petfinder, looking at shelter's websites directly. A lot of them list with petfinder.

I got my idiot cat from Providence Animal Rescue league but there's tons of great shelters. Kittens are usually in higher demand than older cats. If you look at PARL, I'd recommend Business Man. I like his vibe. If my existing idiot cat could possibly tolerate it, I'd bring him home right now.

Thanks Mom /s … and yes I “insist” because it’s for us! And we know we want one. As for the amount of work, we know it’s not our first. We ended up with one from a shelter today so that advice is spot on! Thanks!!

I agree, but no kids. Just us!

I’m glad you got a shelter pet. We always have gotten pets from shelters.

Based on your post, I wasn’t sure if you were planning on it as a gift for someone else.

Don’t forget the obligatory kitty pic for tons of karma!

Hahaha and no worries at all! Happy holidays!,

The best yankee swap idea I ever saw was .... PM sent!

Potters league in Middletown. They are the best.

^^ it’s good

why are you assuming kids are involved? adults can want a kitten. hell, I'd automatically distrust any adult that didn't want a kitten.

ok, so i feel like we were all promised a name and at least 1-2 photos here so you're kinda blowing it with your end of the social contract

It sounds like OP wants a cat for themselves, not as a gift.

Potter league or Providence Animal Rescue League are good folks who take the time to make sure you’re a good fit!

Hahahah. Still waiting to pick him up. He will be Felix

solid name. i love the classics

Well we went there, found a kitten, filled out the paperwork. They said it would take a few days. After three days we called and they said they were waiting on our vet?? Any way we gave them an extra day, and still no call. We called them and got someone who said there was a block on our file at the vets ... and what do you know ... someone else got our kitten. No phone call, nothing. We called the vet that we have a 25 year long relationship with, and they never heard of such a thing. Those assholes at EPARL gave the kitten to someone else and didn’t even have the balls to let us know. Asswipes...

Well ... Merry Christmas anyway

(edited to show it was East Providence ... not Providence)

I’m so sorry! We haven’t had a problem with them before!

Thanks ... things happen, but I’d be willing to bet the adopter was someone’s friend. Our vet was as surprised about the “block” on our file as we were LOL! Crappy excuse to cover up something that should have not happened. A little integrity might have gone a long way..

Jumping back in here to say it wasn't PARL ... it was East Providence.

We did get a new friend from PARL today! So I'll work on pictures.