Choosing the Right Pet for You
The Right Pet for You
We’re thrilled-you’re going to be joining the happy ranks of pet parents worldwide! The hardest decision you face may not be what to name your furry bundle of joy, or what color food bowl to buy, but simply what species your pet will be.
Is a cat where it’s at? Or maybe a dog–or a bird–is the word? To help you out, we’ve put together a list of the pros and cons for a variety of popular animal companions. (Note: It’s just a tad tongue-in-cheek…having a pet is supposed to be fun, after all.)
DOGYES!
We don’t call them our “best friends” for nothing. Loyal and loving, these social animals thrive on being upstanding members of their family “packs.” The ultimate expression of the human-animal bond!
NO!
If there are kids in the household, your best bet’s a medium- to large-sized dog over five months of age. Children under seven are usually not developmentally suited for younger puppies, who have sharp teeth and nails that can easily, albeit accidentally, hurt a child. We do not recommend toy-sized dogs less than 15 pounds if you have young children, as these fine-boned canines don’t hold up well to rough, clumsy handling.
WAY TO GO if you’ve done your research and have found a breed mix or breed that meshes with your lifestyle (i.e. couch potato + retriever mix = bad; boxer + jogging addict = good) and have drawn up a schedule of who in the family will do what-walking, playing, feeding, grooming, scooping. This is a major commitment for the entire household.
FOR MORE INFO, read our Basic Dog Care tips. And while you’ll really score big with us if you adopt a mixed-breed dog from your local shelter, we understand that many people have their hearts set on a specific breed. That’s okay, too. You’d be surprised at the number of awesome purebreds turned into shelters and breed rescue groups.
CATYES!
It’s no accident that cats were worshipped by the ancient Egyptians. Graceful, athletic, playful, sensitive and affectionate, felines are also currently the most popular pet in the United States today. Less work than a dog, but still high on the cuddle scale.
And P.S., kittens are probably the cutest, and most flexible, creatures on the planet.
NO!
Cats are not like dogs. The majority of wild felines are solitary hunters by nature, so your domestic cat probably won’t want to hang out with you all day or be interested in learning to do all the things that a dog would. Also, we’d like to caution against getting a kitten unless you are home during the day. Adult cats are a better choice–not only are they litter-trained, most have graduated from the rowdy ankle-attacking stages of adolescence. Oh, and if you want a long-haired cat, be prepared to brush, brush, brush!
WAY TO GO if you’ve done your research and decided on a cat of an appropriate age for your household. Be sure to check out your shelter for a great selection (purebreds, too, if that’s your thing) and have your new pet spayed or neutered, por favor.
FOR MORE INFO, check out our Basic Cat Care. Kids who like cats can visit ASPCA Animaland.
