I grew up on a farm and was not encouraged to make any of the animals into a pet. We had cats and kittens, a dog (a few over the years) who was nevera pet and always ended up following my Dad around. The kittens took their chances with the cattle and I remember some not living to adulthood every year. Being the youngest, I think my Dad had to find me something to do in the barn. He decided I was great at teaching the baby calves to drink from a pail and that is a memory that I treasure. But again, they were not pets.
After Dh and I got married, we got a grey and white part Siamese kitten that we called Morris. He was such a character! He would make his way up to the top of the door frame and sit on that tiny ledge, waiting for someone to walk underneath. Then it was swat swat swat with his paw! We learned to check for that twitching grey tail hanging down. Poor baby was hit by a car before he was 2 years old.