What do you mean you don't want one too?

[Gigi]

Reading the Doesn't he/she make you want one too thread makes me think of the disbelief I've generated when I've stated that I do not want a pet. I acknowledge that animals have their place, and the assistance animals are a blessing for those who need them. But, I don't want one.

I'm allergic to cats.  They give me hives and make me wheeze.  I know you think your cat is different and I will surely like your cat.  No. I won't.  Yes, I'm sure.  I do not enjoy Eau d' Litterbox or shed hair.  I get physically ill when I see your cat walk across your kitchen table and countertops or jump on your bed.

I do not want a dog. Yes, I'm sure.  I don't like the way they smell.  I get agitated when they pant.  I don't like drool on my shoes, licks on my face or hair on my clothes and furniture.  I don't want to play pooper-scooper in my yard or the neighbors.  What do you mean he sleeps in your bed, under the covers with his head on your pillow.     Ewwwwwwww.  No, thanks.

I do not hate animals.  I can't stand to see them mistreated or neglected.  I think people who do those things are vile and should be prosecuted.  But, I don't want one.

Yes, the kitten is cute.  No, thank you, I can't take it home with me. Yes, the puppy is adorable.  No, thank you, I don't want to take it home with me.  No, I'm not heartless, mean, selfish, cruel or un-American.  If I took a kitten, pup, gerbil, bird or guppy when I have no interest in feeding, walking, grooming, cleaning up after or playing with it I would be doing the poor creature a terrible disservice.  Please just take my "no, thank you" and get off my case.

[fklwmn]

Ugh... POD!!!

I am allergic to both cats AND dogs, which I am certain has led to a lot of my attitudes but... NO THANK YOU.

I have the same issues that you have when I hear someone say their animal sleeps with them (or even just gets on the couch!) I can't stand the sight of the fur that covers these places.. or the seat in your car from when your dog is riding in it.

Yuck yuck yuck yuck yuck!!! And you know what? I may like your dog JUST FINE... but I don't want to sit on a couch where he's been. I don't want him vying for my attention (oh how do dogs LOVE me!) and I don't want him plopping his slobbery toy in my lap to play. If you have been playing with the dog - DO NOT TOUCH ME. Go wash your hands and face and change your shirt - possibly your pants too. Yes, it's mroe than a simple distaste b/c I actually have a physical reaction... but at this point in my life, it's also a distaste.

FWIW, I will never like your cat just fine... b/c I am so allergic that if you have a cat I will never set foot in your house. Don't tell me it's "only for a few minutes" or that you "just vaccuumed". None of that matters and I don't care. From what I have seen it is IMPOSSIBLE to not have fur all over your house if there are animals in it. I just can't imagine.

I know you love your pets. I am glad you love them, but I am not awful b/c I want to have NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM. nothing personal

[blue2000]

Don't tell me it's "only for a few minutes" or that you "just vaccuumed". None of that matters and I don't care. From what I have seen it is IMPOSSIBLE to not have fur all over your house if there are animals in it. I just can't imagine.

I have to laugh at this. I looooove animals. And I do, in fact, let my cats sleep on my bed. 

But just vacuuming the rugs? Sheesh! There's pet hair on the furniture, too, people. And the linoleum, and the curtains, etc., etc.
And when you get rid of that, there will still be animal dander in the underpadding of the rug, and the stuffing of the furniture!

It is certainly possible to get rid of it, if you try hard enough.
But people who tell you "they vacuumed, so their house is totally fine for someone with allergies" are just fooling themselves.

[IndianInlaw]

You forgot the expense!

I love Kitty...but $$$$$$$$$$

[jibby]

I know you think your cat is different and I will surely like your cat. 

See, I would just never say that to anyone.  Xavier the O.C. (original cat, he's the older of the two) is generally disagreeable, and I'm sure you *wouldn't* like him.   

I don't even know what would work with people so clueless...maybe just an "I respect your opinion, I expect you to respect mine.  This topic is closed for discussion."

As much as I love my furbabies, it is a lot of work.  I would never assume it's the right choice for everyone.

[Irish Clovers]

I am a dog nut.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE anything dog.  I've studied dogs, dog behavior, dog nutrition, dog breeds, dog everything.  My dog sleeps on my bed and on my furniture.  Dog hair is a condiment in this house.    I like dogs more than I like most people.  They give unconditional love, people don't.

HOWEVER, if you don't like them, I will certainly not force them on anyone.  It's ok to not want an animal.  Like you said, you'd be doing a great disservice if you had one when you really didn't want one. 

Oh, and I don't think you're an animal hater because you don't want one.   

[dawbs]

You forgot the expense!

I love Kitty...but $$$$$$$$$$

As someone who spent $1k last year on TWO animals (one cat, one dog, both young and 'healthy'), I can safely say that $$$$$$$ is the #1 reason El Pupus is an only dog.


All I ask of houseguests re: my pets is that you don't bother them and let me know in advance if they will bother you.
(and tell me if you're allergic...because then I will swiffer (NOT VACUUM, as it stirs up more dander) before you come and will have a wide variety of my allergy meds available...and I will probably reccomend you don't meet me at my house at all, because those tumbleweeds of ElGato the splendiferious fur are pervasive)

(and I do wish more folks were like the OP, aware that pets are a ton of work...if you only want them for the cutness factor there will be a rude awakening at some point...and that awakening lends a lot of animals into shelters)

[goblue2539]

On a related note, don't assume I don't like animals because I say I can't have one right now.  I don't live alone, I'm out of the house for at least 13-14 hrs a day, and I really can't afford one.  None of which means I don't love them dearly, despite my allergies. 

As much as I agree with the OP that it's not fair to be labeled a hater because of not liking animals that much, it's just as annoying to be labeled a hater when the exact opposite is true. 

[supernova]

A round of applause from me! 

That's what coffee shops and restaurants are for:  so I can spend time with my friends who are allergic to my pets.  People who tell you you won't be allergic to their pet are just as rude (and clueless) as the people who tell you you can't be allergic to their recipe for peanut sauce or that you'll get along fine with their child.  That there's some amazing special quality they have that makes your allergy/aversion/health problem/emotional issue magically go away when they are personally involved.

I assure you my cat will make you sneeze, because I don't believe I'm above the laws of nature.  I equally assure you that your recipe for brussels sprouts will make me hurl, because you're not above the laws of nature either. 

I really think the words "I'm allergic." form a complete and final sentence, not an opening to debate.  Just like "No." 

     - saphie

[HogwartsAlum]

Yes, I know what you all mean.  I love animals and they love me (especially cats- I have no idea why; I just have this thing with them).  But I had no job for over a year, am in school, and now that I am working, am not home during the day.  My neighbor's cat, who loves me (!) and crawls all over me when I come home, is more than enough, thanks.  I don't want to take on the responsibility right now.  That doesn't mean I don't like them.

At one point, when I was living with my ex, we had 7 dogs, 14 cats, 5 cattle, 2 horses, 2 little mules, 45 chickens, 5 turkeys, 3 guineas, 1 beta fish and I took care of them all.

[wetblanket]

I think it is very responsible to know your limits and not get a pet if it isn't right for you.  I wish more people understood the realities of pet-owning BEFORE they got a pet.

As I cat owner I can confirm your remarks - the house is never ever totally free of cat hair.  It's just not possible.  One part of owning a pet is accepting that you will never have a totally clean house.

BTW, I let my cat sleep on the bed, but NEVER under the covers.  Euw.

[Clara Bow]

Can I add that liking your pet does not extend to liking everyone else's?? I like my kitty, period. No that does not mean that I want to run some sort of feline hostel and have every cat in the world over here. No I do not want to see the four hundred pictures of your cat dressed in costumes (don't ask) and no I don't treat my cat like she's a child. I have a child for that.
Kitty does sleep on the bed, I don't quite know how I'd stop her anyway. It doesn't bother me because she's not stinky or anything. I don't know about dogs on the bed though, the most well maintained dogs get a "doggy smell" that I can't stand (I have a very sensitive sniffer). I'm not really a dog person. I don't want to see them abused, neglected or abolished, I just don't like them. I don't like them jumping on me and I literally get nauseous when they lick me.

[Adah]

At one point, when I was living with my ex, we had 7 dogs, 14 cats, 5 cattle, 2 horses, 2 little mules, 45 chickens, 5 turkeys, 3 guineas, 1 beta fish and I took care of them all.

Holy Mackinoley. How did you get any sleep?

[extranormal]

(oh how do dogs LOVE me!)

How DO they know? My cat is positively antisocial until a non-cat person comes into the house. Then, she turns into an attention wh*re, purring and rubbing all over the poor soul's legs until I can intervene.

I respectfully disagree with anyone who suggests animals don't have a sense of humor (and a dark, twisted one, at that).

[kingsrings]

I am a total animal lover, but I can respect that other people are not. In fact, I applaud them for not getting a pet, because there are too many irresponsible pet owners out there who should of never gotten a pet in the first place, and now their beloved pet is innocently suffering as a result. I am a total cat person, but I don't like dogs much. They just are too active, stinky, and drooly for my personal preferences. I love them because I love all animals, but I don't want one as a pet and only want to have limited contact with them. I don't like it when people try to force their dogs on me.

The only place I draw the line is on dating. I will not date anyone who doesn't like pets, simply because my pets are a big part of my life and therefore there would be a conflict with our lifestyles. Been there, tried that and failed too many times to know that it just won't work out. I am not the type of person who will give up a pet because my boyfriend is allergic or doesn't like them. Love me, love my pets is my dating mantra.