Do you ever receive a gift...in which the giver did not think things through?

I hate to bite the hand that gives, but I recently got a gift that makes me joyful but also angry? Strange combination.

If you're interested in my gift...
Long story short, I got a 11 week old kitten from my roommate...sigh. I didn't want a kitten this early, and she knows this. I'm not even out on my own, barely scraping through college in terms of grades, and I can barely figure out what I want to do with my pitiful self. I cannot take care of a kitten right now. The responsibility is too much!

Wahh...so yeah, while I love the kitty and she is growing on me very fast, I just feel like the gift was too reckless. 8(

Surprising people with gifts of pets is never a good idea. Unless you are 100% sure that person will be able to take care of it! She probably thought it was a cute idea at the time but she should of asked first really :(

Will you be keeping her?

Totally agree. 8( I can understand if it's your child and they are asking for it, since you're the one who is going to be paying and caring for it in reality XD! I honestly feel like she got the cat for herself too LOL. She has said before she wanted a fluffy, white cat. And that's what she got me...haha...

Yes, I probably will. 8( I don't have the heart to return the kitty to the store, she's just too precious. I know I can probably support the kitty financially, but I don't know if I can give her the time she needs, especially as a kitten. T-T;;;

Luckily she is old enough to be on her own for a good amount of time..but..ahh still..XD I worry about babies very easily..

Oh my gosh! I can see why you're upset!

I agree with you, you do NOT do that to someone! I honestly feel that the only time it's okay to get someone a pet for a gift is if you're absolutely 100% certain they not only CAN look after it, but WANT to look after it- like you've had a very clear "I would like a cat for Christmas" discussion, or they're your child/spouse/something similar, and they've been trying to convince you into getting that pet for a while.

I LOVE animals... But Animals are the worst gifts, unless it is given from a parent to a child, IMHO. You do not know if the person can REALLY take care of it. Animals are expensive when you add in food, vet bills, etc the animal needs plus take a lot of time to walk, train, etc. I read somewhere that gifting animals are presents for Christmas/holidays/birthdays actually results in more animals in shelters/foster homes/ abandoned.

I am ALL FOR adopting animals. I have 2 dogs myself. But giving one to someone as a gift is a no no in my eyes. I just spent $60 today taking my dog to the vet today because he fell off the back of our couch this morning and he got hurt.

Oh God! One of my jobs is at a pet store, so I see disasters like that happen all the time. Pets should not be given as gifts! Ever!! I'd be kind of angry if that happened to me too. Not only did you miss the opportunity to pick the animal out for yourself, but there's the 99% chance that the person getting the pet isn't prepared, just like you. That stinks.

My problem is that I can't eat chocolate, but everyone gives it to me during the holidays. My god parents, of all people, have given me chocolate every Christmas for the past ~10 years. I've never once been able to eat it. I don't expect people to know all of my diet restrictions, but it'd be nice to think that my family is at least aware of my health and limitations.

Originally Posted by Knerd

Oh God! One of my jobs is at a pet store, so I see disasters like that happen all the time. Pets should not be given as gifts! Ever!! I'd be kind of angry if that happened to me too. Not only did you miss the opportunity to pick the animal out for yourself, but there's the 99% chance that the person getting the pet isn't prepared, just like you. That stinks.

My problem is that I can't eat chocolate, but everyone gives it to me during the holidays. My god parents, of all people, have given me chocolate every Christmas for the past ~10 years. I've never once been able to eat it. I don't expect people to know all of my diet restrictions, but it'd be nice to think that my family is at least aware of my health and limitations.

Not only that, different animals are different to take care of as well as different breeds from the same species have different needs.

What kind of diet restrictions do you have Knerd?

The same things happen to me too Knerd. Or at least I think they do. I don't eat pork, a lot of red meat, processed foods, but I find myself when I go to my in-laws or when other people do my grocery shopping, they buy foods I cannot eat. I am going to switch to gluten free within the next day or two so I definitely won't be able to eat at my in-laws. And TBH, the really might not know I don't eat those types of foods, but my husband does and you would think he would tell them. I don't have the heart to tell my mother in law "I can't eat that!" you know? That makes me feel disrespectful.

I just have GERD, which is basically a type of heart burn that keeps coming back. I can't have corrosive foods like chocolate, oranges, grapefruit, too much coffee, etc since they mess up the acidity of my stomach. If I eat them, I feel sick and nauseous for a long time afterwards. And my family really has no excuse for not knowing this, since my mother is the local gossip and tells them every living detail of my life.

Good luck with going gluten-free! I've heard that's a tough change to make, but a lot more products are being made without gluten these days. As long as you've got access to health food stores and a couple restaurants, hopefully you'll be able to keep up with it. A few of my friends have said that it takes a lot of prep work at home, but at least it'll encourage you to cook more!

It's quite irresponsible to give a kitten wow. :/ I haven't gotten a gift quite like that. I'm more liable to get something just plain weird where I know the giver doesn't know me at all.

I'm lucky enough that people are unlikely to get me gifts like that. I am finding all of the candy and such around at the moment a bit difficult because I have to cut down on the sugar to counteract reflux but that's the extent of my gift woes.

I can't believe that someone gave you a kitten without consulting you though. That's cruel to both of you.

Gifting pets?!?! I'm sorry but was that person out of his/her mind??? You don't simply gift pets like that, there are so many bad possibilities, I don't want to start.

My friend bought me a Vampire Diaries book this year for my birthday. I think she kinda forgot the fact that I don't like vampire books.

I'm surprised no one said gift cards. Especially to places that you don't normally go to.

I still remember one time for my 16th birthday I had gotten a bunch of iTunes gift cards to buy music for. And I didn't even have my own iPod Of course I laughed it off the first time, but last year it happened again. With the SAME person. I also get gift cards to brand-name stores like Abercrombie and Hollister, which I would never set foot into in my life. The perfect people image they project at those places intimidate me to no end.

I guess the only funny thing about all of this is that it happens every year. But it makes me want to question whether they actually care or not. It's really easy to buy a $20 gift card, slap on a bow or stuff it in a gift bag and give it away to someone you barely know. Maybe I can accept from someone I really don't know, but a best friend that I have known for years? I expect something a little more thought through

Gift cards are great, if they are for a place you do shop at...I have one that my sister gave me several years ago and I've still not used it. It's for a store she likes, but I rarely see anything that I want from there. At least there's no expiry date on it.

I see stuff like that happen all the time. I do a lot of rescue work and people some how know even though I don't advertise myself as someone that will take in animals. I mostly do reptiles, which is harder than cats and dogs. There's far more neglect and or ignorance about how to properly care for them. People either don't care or are too lazy to research things on their own.

I had someone one time give me fish. I had a tank at the time but it was a saltwater tank and the fish they got me were freshwater. I just started the tank up so their thinking was that I'd like fish to help start my tank. I ended up having to set up another tank that was freshwater for those fish. I had those fish for nearly 10 years after that. I swear, they refused to die. I didn't want to set up another tank especially since at the time, I was putting most my spare money into my saltwater tank but it ended up being okay in the end.

This year my father actually sent my sister and I gifts.
Now my father hasn't been significant in my life for at least 5 years, and he hasn't taken the time to get to know me at all.
So, he obviously doesn't know what I like so I can't really blame him for what I received.

I'm 18, and even I know girls this age are difficult to shop for.
I was expecting some money or maybe an amazon giftcard.
I was mistaken.

My sister (who's 22) was given Cards Against Humanity.
Which is a great gift. For anyone and everyone.
Excited, I opened my gift to find a pair of hideous, furry brown winter boots.
I was shocked and turned to my sister to ask her if it was a joke.

**Couple of things. 1. I despise the color brown. If they were black I wouldn't have been so offended. 2. I live in Phoenix Az. Where it's hot. Always.**

Turns out they were too small, so in an attempt to get something else without offended my father, I used the "Hey, where'd you get these they're too small!" where he insisted on sending me a new pair in the correct size. Safe to say I didn't win.

There's a saying that not everyone can be a manager, someone has to be the idiot.

A friend went to a wedding where the bride and groom had beta fish as a centerpiece. And as a parting gift to their guests, they had the wonderful responsibility of taking the fish home to raise. I ended up with two beta fish because the girl couldn't take care of them, and I wasn't going anywhere. I wouldn't have accepted if I were at the wedding.

Most people just give M & M's.

Beta fish as wedding favors to the guests? I guess it would be okay if the guests are avid fish lovers, but I don't think that anyone who works full time has the time to actually take care of a fish. Let alone a beta fish Dx

I will definitely take that kitten off your hands Lina, if need be.