How to decide what Pet to get for your Family

One of the biggest decisions in life is getting a pet and getting the right one that suits your lifestyle.  As most homes have either a cat or dog, this article is going to choose between these two types of pets.

What is your lifestyle like?  Do you spend a lot of time at home, or do you come home most nights 16 hours after you left in the morning?  A dog needs a lot of care and attention from taking him outside for bathroom trips and taking him for a walk on a daily basis.  A cat can be left alone all day, and as long as you leave food and water and a clean litter box, a cat can be happy.

What do you want from your pet?  Is it adoration and love you want, as that is what you will get from a dog.  Most dogs can tell when you are not feeling well, and will come snuggle but a lot of time they want to play and want attention.  A cat will ignore you until it want something, and will tolerate you only until they get it.  A cat can be a cuddle bug, but only on their terms, piss the cat off, and they will leave your lap.

Who is going to take care of the animal?  This can be a big one.  If you live alone, this is obviously a no-brainer.  But if there are others in your home, it is something to consider.  Kids may be willing to take care of the animal, but an adult has to be prepared to pick up any slack from the kids.  This includes things like taking them outside, cleaning litter, feeding them, grooming and any other demands that come up.  

Another thing to consider is that if you go on a holiday someone has to care for your animal.   Dogs can be boarded, but there is an expense associated with that.  Maybe a family member would be willing to take your pet in while you are gone.  Cats are a different story; they don’t like being moved, so someone needs to be willing to come in.  

Pets can be a wonderful addition to any family, but just like anything else, they come with responsibility.  A person needs to make sure they are going to fit in before bringing a pet into their life.