We all know that having a pet implies many responsibilities, but to what extent do we know what they are and take them into account when choosing it. Having an animal in our care is not silly because, from the moment you adopt it, its life depends on you
Just as all animals do not need the same care, not all people have the same lifestyle and meet the necessary conditions to know which pet to choose, so if you are thinking of adopting one and you don't know which one is the most suitable for you or the one that best suits your needs, don't miss this article on our site full of tips for choosing a pet
Why do you want to have a pet?
The first piece of advice for choosing a pet is to really think about why you want to have a pet. If the answer is because it is fashionable, because it is what everyone does or because your child does not stop asking you every day, the best thing is not to rush and pay attention to it. In this link you can see some of the children's favorite animals.
Think that a pet is not a toy and your child may get tired of taking care of it after a short time. Some animals, like cats or dogs, can live with you between 10 and 20 years, so you can't take it as something temporary. The ideal is to reflect on why you really want to have a pet by your side and think about the one that best suits your lifestyle.
Have enough time
Another piece of advice for choosing a pet is Be aware of the time you have to devote to it and the hours involved in its care. You do not need the same time to take care of a dog as a cat, for example, because the former will need you to dedicate many more hours of your time to feed it, be there for it, walk it and have enough daily physical activity according to its needs. On the other hand, cats are much more independent and, in addition to not needing to be walked on the street, they can also spend the day alone at home without problems while you go to work.
Therefore, it is important to accurately measure the time available to choose a pet. Because you think that even if you get home tired and don't feel like doing anything, there is a living being that depends on you and you won't be able to avoid your responsibilities if you have to take care of it. So if you don't spend as much time at home as you'd like or you're just not willing to spend a lot of time with your pet, it's better to choose one that doesn't require a lot of care like hamsters, turtles or birds.
Be aware of space and who you live with
Not all pets need the same space to live, so before choosing a pet, make sure that where you live is suitableto have it. If you live in a small apartment and you want to have an exotic animal or a rodent such as guinea pigs, rabbits, or chinchillas, it is important that you have a space to put their cages, just like if you want to have some type of bird as a pet. But if, on the other hand, you prefer a dog or a cat, you should think about their size and their physical needs, because if you have a large dog, for example, you will need to live in a large space with a garden if possible, or be willing to go outside to play and walk him outdoors much longer than a smaller dog.
It is also important to consider the people and other pets you live with, if you have any more. Because you don't only have to think about what you want, but also take into account the opinion of other colleagues, whether human or animal, with whom you share your homeThat's why before you bring a new pet home, make sure that everyone is happy with its arrival and is suitable to get along with others.
Keep your budget in mind
Another piece of advice for choosing a pet that we offer is that you take into account your budget Take to your pet to the vet whenever he needs it, feed him, keep him clean, provide him with a bed to sleep in or a cage to live in, put a chip on him or sterilize him (if he needs it), or buy him toys… these are all things that involve expenses, and you must make sure that you can face them. According to some studies, Spanish families spend an average of between 700 and 1,500 euros a year on their pet if it is a dog, up to 700 euros if it is a cat and up to 250 euros if it is a bird, so do the math, check your budget, and thus you will avoid many problems for you and your animal.
In addition, you not only have to take into account the possible care of your pet, but also unexpected medical emergencies or the possible damage it may cause in your home and if you are willing to let them happen, such as scratches on furniture if you have cats, or chewed slippers and other items if you have dogs. Some of these behaviors can be avoided if we educate them correctly from puppies, but some others cannot. You still need to have time to train your pet though, so think it over.
Think about the holidays
Have you thought about who you're going to leave your pet with if you're not at home or going on vacation? This is one of the questions that few people ask themselves when choosing a pet and it is very important to know the answer, because not everyone has someone to leave their pet with.
If your relatives, your friends or your neighbors are willing to take care of your pet when you're away, congratulations! because you're in luck. But the vast majority of people who adopt a pet today do not think about what they are going to do with it during their vacation period, so this is another piece of advice for choosing a pet that you have to take into account.
You can always take your pet in the car with you, or even travel by plane if you're going on vacation far away and can't leave it in the care of anyone else. And as a last resort, you can also take her to a shelter or hostel so they can take care of her in your absence
Choose according to your personality and lifestyle
If you are a person who is not very responsible, forgetful or simply lazy, it is better that you do not adopt any pet that needs a lot of care such as birds or rodents. On the other hand, if you want to protect your home from intruders or have a faithful and dedicated life partner, the ideal is that you adopt a dog as a pet because it will provide you with security and a lot of love. For those who are more independent but still like to have a companion animal, the best choice would be to have a cat as a pet. And for those who like different or strange things, the best option is exotic animals such as hedgehogs or iguanas.
As you see, it all depends on the needs you seek to cover, the personality you have and the lifestyle that best suits you because, just as not all human beings are the same, neither are animals, and each one of them will be specially indicated for each one of us.
Here are some very interesting links as a complement to the tips for choosing a pet according to your lifestyle and personality:
- What breed of dog suits my personality?
- Cats' personality according to their color
- The 10 most affectionate dogs
- Which is better, dog or cat?
