What to Do when Your Daughter is an Animal person and You Aren't!

I'm not an animal person. I thought I was, but I really am not. I mean, I remember having 3 or 4 dogs, a cat, and a toucan when I was a kid. I loved them all, but we have just had bad luck with pets ever since the Sanders family was established. We had turtles. They lasted quite a well. ALL turtles do, don't they? I mean, can you kill a turtle? We also had hamsters--TWO in the same cage once. They were brothers, or sisters, or brother and sister, I don't know. I thought that since they were kin, surely they would love each other. NOT. Sammy ate or something Hammy's head off. It was disgusting. Separate cages from now on... Hammy 2 lasted for quite a while. Sammy went into shock--just found him kind of stretched out on the floor of his cage one day. Interesting, anyway. He was taken to the vet, saved, and I'll let Mark Etherington tell the rest of the story... (it's a short--too short, sad story). Now we have two hamsters, Mr. Tumnus and Tubby. They are fine and even cute IN THEIR CAGES. We've also had 3 dogs (2 while living in an apartment and 1 in a house with a very small yard). I say all this so that you will understand that I have honestly TRIED...all for Morgan. Morgan loves and takes care of Mr. Tumnus, but now she wants a CAT. I tell her that when she grows up, she can have--yeah, rather, I will even buy her 80 cats if she wants them--IN HER OWN HOUSE. From my recollection, cats have claws and they must use them...on something. These "somethings" are not usually those cute little fluffy balls that you buy at the pet store. They prefer...FURNITURE. Now, my furniture doesn't look so great, but cat claws would finish it off. Morgan's dad is a little softer on this issue than I am, but I can just picture all kinds of disasters, starting with the mysterious disappearance of Mr. Tumnus and Tubby ... What do all of you bloggers think? Most of you lived in the jungle, so what's a pet iguana or monkey or two?! Help me out here!