Is it Permissible to Raise a Cat at Home?

Hello and blessings,

Regarding the raising of pets at home, the matter is a subject of dispute. The stringent opinion relies on what is elaborated in the Midrash (Ecclesiastes Rabbah 6) on the verse (Ecclesiastes 6:11) "For there are many things that increase vanity" - these are those who raise monkeys, cats, and squirrels, and sea dogs, what benefit is there for them from this???.

It is also indicated in the book Aruch (Entry of Words 2) in the name of a Midrash (Yalduz Parashat Beshalach): "For there are many things that increase vanity," someone who raises rabbits and chickens and peacocks, although they require food [and there is trouble in feeding them, still it is for benefit because] there is food from them, but one who raises a monkey or a dog which do not have food, and they still ask to eat, it is upon them that it is said "For there are many things that increase vanity".

It is thus also explained in the Sefer Hasidim (Section 589) which states: "For there are many things that increase vanity" (Ecclesiastes 6:11) this refers to those who raise birds for ornamentation and flattery, and what one spends on them could have been given to the poor. Thus, it is clear from this that those who raise ornamental birds and fish and pets for amusement do not have the approbation of the sages.

However, in many halachic books it is explained that there is no halachic prohibition on this, as the Chida made clear in his book Birkei Yosef (Yoreh De'ah 117) from the wording of the Beit Yosef there that it is permissible to raise a parrot at home, and it is also implied from the writings of the responsa Yekhud and Boaz (Part 2 Section 25) that it is permissible to raise a monkey even though it is impure, and it is also written in the book Kaf HaChaim (Yoreh De'ah 117 Section 6) that it is permissible to raise birds and impure animals for ornamentation and similar purposes.

Of course, those who raise pets should be careful about what is stated in the Talmud (Berakhot 40a) and in the Shulchan Aruch that one should not eat before giving food to his animal, as it is stated "And I have given grass in your field to your beast" - and then "and you shall eat and be satisfied". Likewise, one must be cautious not to fall into the transgression of causing suffering to living creatures, as is known from the story of the Arizal, as brought in the book Pele Yoetz (Section B, regarding animals) that one was punished with a severe punishment for having chicks in his courtyard and his wife took out the basket that they would climb on after their mother, causing them distress, and although she did this without knowledge, they were punished with the death of their children, God forbid.

From this, the Pele Yoetz wrote that due to the hardship associated with this, one should ideally refrain from raising pets, and perhaps for this reason one of the students of the Arizal wrote in his book Nigud and Mitzvah that one should not raise doves and baby pigeons at home because one's children may die, God forbid. And in the pamphlet Chuppat Eliahu found at the end of the book Reshit Chochmah, it is written that those who raise these birds at home age prematurely, God forbid. However, fundamentally in halacha, there is no prohibition on this.

There is another dimension to this, the Creator has instilled within us the measure of love and giving and providing care, so that it is for the benefit of raising our children; if we introduce a pet, it is at the expense of the attention that we need to give to our children, and the children need to share their parents' love and dedication with the pet that has entered their home.

Best wishes - Menashe Israel