Bringing home a family pet is a big responsibility, double so if you’ve got kids. After all, a new member of the family can be tricky to settle in when there’s someone wanting to pet and play with all the time! And that’s why it’s so important to choose the right pet for your family. You need to take so many things into account here for the kids’ sake, and bringing home a puppy or a kitten on impulse is right out!
But don’t let yourself worry too much about the decision; getting a pet should be an exciting and happy time in your life. And we’ve made this post to help you really pin down what pet your family will be able to care for. Here are the points to keep in mind when the kids are constantly badgering you for an animal and you’d love to bring a pet into the mix.
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Think About Personality Traits First
The personality of the animal you bring home is much more important than the breed or coloring. As such, it’s best to start by thinking about what kind of pet would fit into your home in the best way. Whether you want a big pet like a dog or cat, or you’d prefer a smaller pet like a rabbit or a hamster, it’s all about their character!
For example, if you want a pet that loves to cuddle and relax, an American Shorthair cat could be the one. Or if you’d like your dog to be friendly and energetic, sourcing your pup from a place like Lucky labs could be the perfect solution. If you’d like a small animal, a Dutch Lop rabbit loves to come and sit on your lap, which is great when there are kids involved!
All in all, before you lock down on an animal type or breed, look into your lifestyle and into the way different breeds tend to behave. Only then can you start to narrow down your search to certain pets in particular.
How Often Will Someone Be Around?
This is a huge concern you need to take into account early. The kind of pet you get will very much depend on whether or not you can meet its needs, and an animal like a dog won’t fare well if you’re never home. The same goes for cats, who are usually thought of as simply independent, outdoor animals. They still need you to be there for them, and not just to provide bowls of food!
Adult dogs can be left alone for up to 6 hours, as a general rule. If they’re a puppy they can’t be alone for more than two hours, and an older dog could fare just fine for up to 6 hours as well. Cats can be alright on their own for around a day if you’ve left food, water, and clean litter for them to use.
For smaller animals like rabbits and guinea pigs, and even birds, it’s going to be hard to leave them alone for more than 24 hours. If you know you’re going to be away for a weekend or more, it’s best to ask a friend or neighbor to look in and feed them to make sure they’re alright while you’re out.
Consider Your Budget
The next defining factor in what pet you get is your budget. Bigger animals are going to cost more, in terms of dietary, hygiene, exercise, and insurance needs. Indeed, the average monthly premium for dogs sits at around $50 with cats coming in at nearly $30. If you consider the yearly costs, that’s upwards of $300 either way.
And then you’ve got to consider food, beds, collars and leads, toys and accessories, and also litter if you want a cat. Pet owners can spend nearly $100 on these items in bulk per month, but if your pet gets sick or changes in some way, that cost is going to vary wildly. All in all, the budget is really where you have to sit down and think hard about what pet you can get.
Talk to Other Pet Owners
Now it’s time to do a bit of research amongst your nearest and dearest. Talk to other pet owners that you know and ask them how they get on. What did they find challenging when raising their pet? What training routines do their dogs or cats respond to? And what positive experiences have they got out of it? Get a bit of advice from those you trust, rather than combing through message boards online, and you’ll be a lot more confident about bringing any kind of pet home!
And to top it all off, even certain types of smaller pets can be tricky for the kids to care for. Hamsters are a good example here – they love to sleep during the day, and it’s rare to see them up and about when the sun is out. As such the kids might not see much of their pet when they’re also awake, and that can be hard when you just want to pet and play with the cute creature in your house!
Even Small Animals Can Be Tricky for Kids
Keep this in mind before you get a small pet; a lot of families invest in them just to keep the kids quiet for the time being! But they’re still animals who need a lot of love and care and children can sometimes get bored if their pet isn’t as present as they are. On the other hand, however, not all rodents are the same. Gerbils, the hamster’s slightly smaller cousin, love to be up and about during the day!
If you want to bring home a pet for your family, you need to think about your family first! What are you all like? How would a pet fit into your household? Take some time to think about this all together and make a decision that benefits all of you.
