Whenever I hear someone declare, "I want a kitty," (or puppy, or pit-bull, or baby) I tend to cringe. My immediate instinct is to say, "Yes; that's all well and good, but why would that kitty want you?"

That is the proper first question: what do I have to offer that creature? If you don't have a proper answer ("I can give it love!" is improper), then you shouldn't be allowed to have one of whatever your current whim and fancy dictates. You can't feed, clean, upkeep, or even truly nurture with that kind of 'love' alone. Real 'love' is real 'work.'

Now, when you say that you wish to provide so that creature can truly love you, then you are on the right path. The next part is the 'learning' what that shall mean.

Here's a wonderful example of the consequence of letting a kitten adopt you. Here's a kitten of mine from two decades ago.

Everyone, meet Paddy! Isn't she cute! Eyes are transitioning in color at this stage, moving from blue to copper, and she's sooooo cute! About her name: 'Paddy' has nothing to do with my Irish lineage. It's short for, "Paddle Paws." She had huge paws, and we know where that leads.

Ayup! Same cute little kitten, just fourteen months later. Kitties grow, at least physically. Most also grow emotionally - they don't stay kittens very long (except for an Aby here and there). Now you have a 'cat' on board that you never envisioned when you saw that cutest l'il kitten ever.

Here are some other cats I've either owned or cared for over the years:

Of course, these are Abys roaming around Unkamen:

I also happen to know at least one cat lover who enjoyed reading, "Le Chat."