by Kate Worrall
Pets can be the best things in our lives or they can be royal pains in the bum. If you want a pet you need to make sure that your home is big enough, that you have enough time to spend with a pet, and plenty of money for food and vets bills. If you have children you need to make sure that the pet you get is a patient and sociable animal. If you are trying to find a pet for an elderly person the something with a calm disposition and easily training abilities. A lot of things need to be thought about when getting a pet and here are a few reasons for and against getting a dog, cat, bird or hamster (source).
For a dog there are a few essential things you need. Space should be a big factor, if you have a bedsit there will be no space for a dog such as a Saint Bernard, however a two-story house with a large garden front and back would be perfect. Dogs generally enjoy and even thrive on human companionship and therefore do not like to be left alone for any length of time. If they have to be left on their own some dogs have a tendency to chew furniture so they need to be well trained. Dogs also need plenty exercise which can be great for getting the whole family fitter, however if you have a busy lifestyle this pet may not be the best for you. Food can be quite expensive depending on the size of the dog and type that you get so this needs to be thought about. There is also the horror of having to take your pet to the vet, this can make having a dog a very expensive venture. If you go on holiday, dogs need to either be left with friends of the family, someone they know and they have seen before or left at the kennels. However don't put your pet into the kennel too often as they could become insecure. If you treat a dog right they will reward you with loyalty and respect. This can feel very rewarding.
If a dog is too much work for you, maybe a cat is the answer. They are easier to look after in general and don't need walking. They still need company although many prefer to be outside hunting and left to their own devices. Again depending on the variety of food, and how much they need will determine just how expensive your cat may be. There could still the horror of vet bills but these don't really change whatever pet you have. Having a cat-flap means the cat can come and go as it pleases and if you can put that into the door of your shed or garage they will always have somewhere warm to sleep if you are out. I would recommend the electronic cat-flaps as these only let in the cat with the electronic tag on, meaning that no other cats can get in and either trash your house or eat your cats food. If you go away there are two choices, leave your cat with someone going and feeding them, this works better for cats that are out hunting. The other choice would be a cattery, the same idea as a kennel.
Maybe something smaller than a cat is what you are looking for, if so then a hamster is possibly the pet you are after. These small pets can be just as rewarding as the bigger pets. The cages can range from a simple box like cage to huge ones with runs, wheels and pipes going from one section to another. They can be a lot of work as their cages need to be cleaned regularly and fed. However they can be lots of fun with things like hamster wheels and other great toys. Be careful if you get two as you may end up with more than you bargained for. A hamster is more a family pet, especially if you have young children. It isn't easy for them to walk a dog, but they can certainly help feed the hamster, or clean its cage etc.
Perhaps you don't really fancy a little rodent in your home, as our final pet we have the bird. Birds can range in price and you have just a simple budgerigar or a more exotic creature. They need a cage, which will need to be cleaned out on a regular basis, toys to keep them amused and to encourage them to release any pent up feelings, this can stop any unwanted screeching from them. Some birds can be very noisy if they are stuck in their cage with nothing to do. There are many varieties of food, of toys, perches and cages for them and they will also need a blanket to darken their cage at night. They can be very sociable animals and a big part of everyday life in your household.
With all of these animals you can reap great rewards from them and live a very nice existence together. When choosing a pet, keep all these little tips in mind and you will have a long happy relationship with your pet for years to come.
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