"Kurt, don't take it out of the cage," Burt warned, checking his mirror so he could see what he was doing in the backseat. The last thing he needed was a cat crawling around his car. He still couldn't believe he had bought him a pet. The kid's birthday wasn't for two more months, but Kurt had already told him multiple times that a cat was the only thing he wanted. Burt was more of a dog person, but if all he wanted was a kitten, then he wasn't going to argue. He had wanted to get him a dog for the longest time, but a cat would have to do. Tony from the garage had a friend who just had kittens, so he took Kurt to get one for his early birthday gift. It was mostly black, with white paws and a white spot on its head. Kurt had no trouble picking out the one he wanted. They stopped at the pet store on the way home and bought food and a litter box, and Burt had made an appointment with the vet for the next day.
"Dad, I don't know what to name her," Kurt sighed, sticking his fingers through the cage.
"Well, it's a girl, so try out whatever you like until you find one that fits," he told him as he turned into their neighborhood.
Burt carried the cage inside with Kurt hot on his heels. "Don't scare it," he told him as he set the little kitten down on the couch. Kurt unlatched the cage and pulled it out. It meowed at him and tried to get away.
"I'm naming her Maria," he declared. Maria? Oh, that's the nanny from the musical he loves.
"That's a good choice," he told him. "You want to go take him upstairs and show him your room?"
"Dad, it's a girl," Kurt reminded him.
"Sorry, her," he corrected. As if it matters. Kurt carried the cat up the steps carefully, talking to it softly. Burt set up its food and water dish and out the litter box in the spare bathroom that they never used. Elizabeth would've been all over it. She loved animals, but refused to get a dog after Kurt was born. She said a dog would be too rough with him and knock him over when he started to walk. She always talked about having a cat, and turned their son into a cat person. At least he was happy now that he had a pet of his own.
"Dad!" Kurt called, hurrying down the stairs. He was holding his wrist in his opposite hand, and he was bleeding.
"What happened?" he asked, looking at his arm carefully.
"She scratched me," he grumbled. "I tried to set her on my bed and she scratched my arm and hissed at me." Burt was worried. Could a cat have rabies? No, they wouldn't let them take it home if it had rabies.
"Come here, we'll get it cleaned up. Where is she right now?" he asked.
"She got scared and went under my bed," he told him. Burt picked him up and sat him on the counter. He rinsed off the cut with soap and water and put a princess Band-Aid on it.
"There you go. Why don't you leave her alone for a little bit?" he suggested. He didn't know anything about animals or pets, but the cat had to be pretty scared. "Let her get used to your room."
"She doesn't like me," Kurt pouted. "She's scared of me." He crossed his arms and stared down at the floor.
"No, that's not true. Just be gentle with it. She'll warm up to you," Burt said. "It'll take a couple days before it gets used to everything." He helped him down from the counter and patted his shoulder.
"I guess I'll give her some space," he sighed. "Thanks, Dad."
"You're welcome, buddy. Happy early birthday," he said. Kurt left the kitchen and disappeared back up the stairs. He would never in a million years buy a cat for anyone else, but he couldn't say no to Kurt, especially about something that he had wanted since his mom was alive.
Author's Notes:
I can see Burt wanting to get him a dog, but Kurt wants nothing to do with the idea and so he winds up getting him a kitten for his birthday.
Also Kurt and Blaine get a cat when they're married, but have to get rid of it when they have their first kid. (I'm writing a chapter for my other story about their kids, by the way. It'll be up in a few days). So yeah. Blaine hates cats, too, but he just lets Kurt do what he wants.