Should I or shouldn't I?

[tabbycat31]

Here's my situation. I just returned from a 3 month stint on the road as a campaign staffer in Kentucky (where one DUer who told me all about Lexington was a volunteer in our office---yay!). I did not even wait until being home 36 hours to go to a networking event and getting my resume updated and I will work in Democratic politics again. While I would love to work locally, I go where I am needed even if it means sleeping on someone's couch.

Before I left I had my parents take my cat and look after him. He's 17 and his health is not the best so I fear he does not have much time left (it pains me to think about it because he's been the one consistent in my life since 8th grade). Because giving him his meds is a 2 person effort (cat owners know that medicating a cat is far from easy) I am unlikely to get him back from my parents.

I am seriously considering getting another cat (most likely 2) because I really need the companionship that kitties offer and am ready to have more kitties. The thing that's holding me back is that come 2012 I can be gone for months on end again and leaving Kitties with my parents again (hopefully this time regaining custody). (For 2011 I will at least work in state, but not sure where in state because we have the state senate up this year). If you were in my situation would you be looking at kitties right now?

[Chan790]

1. No.

Not to be harshing on you but people who cannot make both the short and long term commitment to have a pet, should not have pets. Volunteer at your local shelter, offer to foster...you get to play with the cats and have the companionship and when the time comes that you need to go out on the road for work, you are free and clear to go.

[some guy]

2. + 1

[Skittles]

3. CHAN GIVES SOLID ADVICE

:thumbsup:

[realisticphish]

4. this

it's better for you and the cat to not be required to neglect him :shrug:

not that you would deliberately do anything wrong, of course, but it you're going to be absent for very long stretches of time, better to wait