Friday, November 10, 2006 9:11 AM
Pets and Your Marriage - Do They Mix?
By Lori
DH grew up in a home that was pretty much a zoo. His mom always had (and still has) 6 or 7 cats, plus a dog or two... or three. They'd also have hamsters, mice, and whatever other furry critter needed a home. I, on the other hand, grew up with a pet parrot. I am not a huge fan of four-legged friends and DH feels the same way about my bird.
Our childhood pets still live in our parents' homes. Even though he is allergic, DH really wants us to get a cat. He loves kitties and thinks they are cute, precious and cuddly. He also thinks the cat is going to sleep in bed WITH US. He thinks it's simply adorable that the kitty will curl up and cuddle under the covers. I am absolutely horrified by the thought of this. I envision balls of cat hair on my beautifully crisp Dwell sheets, fuzz on my pajamas, and cat drool on my pillow. Won't it smell? What if it touches me? Or worse, what if it licks me?? The thought totally grosses me out.
Every time he mentions getting a cat, I remind him that Wally, my bird, will have to move in with us too. After all, Wally's been around for 20 years already and that's a heck of a lot longer than I've been with DH. The thought of Wally living with us does not excite DH in the least, so the discussion usually ends here. I'm just not a "cat person" and he's just not a "bird person."
Do you and DH agree on the kinds of pets you like? Are you both "cat people" or "dog people" or neither?
If you know a pet-lover, shop for cute pet gifts in our holiday gift guide!