Snickers, the cat that I had had (yes, "had had") my whole life recently had to be put down, and my mom doesn't want to get another cat, because we have parakeets and she's afraid it might eat them, or tear up the furniture, or something (Snickers was exceedingly well-behaved, and didn't eat small animals or urinate on things) I need your help to convince her that I need a cat.