Dog and cat and too many kids!

[MiRN]

I have a wonderful Brittany dog and a great Manx cat. Our dog is Zoe and cat is Aedan.

[leefreeman]

Choosing the Right Pet for You
Sharing your life with an animal has great benefits and can bring you great joy. If you are
thinking about adding a pet to your family, it’s best to learn about the needs of different
types of pets to find one that will best suit your lifestyle. Each type of pet is different in
terms of care, feeding, behavior, cost, housing and demands on your time. If you know
what you’re getting into, you’ll be more likely to have a happy animal, a good relationship
with your pet, and an easier time dealing with any challenges that might arise.
Here are some questions to ask yourself as you consider what type of pet to get:
• What type of animal is the best fit for your home? Will you be able to live with pet
hair, a litter box or the occasional wear-and-tear caused by pets?
• If you have children, how will having a pet affect them? Will everyone in your
home welcome an animal?
• If you rent, do you have permission from the property owner?
• How much ****e do you have inside and outside your home? Will you need a
fenced yard? If you get a cat, will you want an outdoor enclosure (a cattery) so
your kitty can spend time safely outdoors?
• How much time do you have to spend with a pet?
• What is your activity level? Are you sedentary or physically active?
• Do you have the financial resources if your pet has a medical crisis and has high
veterinary bills?
• Do you have someone who can be a secondary caregiver if you are away from
home? If not, how will you provide care for your pet when you travel?
One key question is where to get your new pet. Please consider adopting. Although
animals can be purchased in markets and on the streets of Shanghai, these animals
are often very sick, and there is a fair chance that the animals are from Chinese puppy
and kitten mills (inhumane breeding factories).
Puppies or Dogs
Dogs are very social creatures; they aren’t happy left
outside or chained up in the yard alone all the time. If
you are thinking about getting a dog, make sure you’re
going to be able to spend several hours a day with him
or her.
Also, consider carefully what kind of dog to get.
Adopting a puppy is a huge commitment, since you
cannot leave a puppy home alone all day. Most puppies
need to eliminate every two hours or so. Also, in order
to co-exist happily with humans, puppies must be taught
house-training skills and basic commands. If puppies
are not handled often and socialized when young, they will become shy and fearful.
If you’re thinking about getting a particular breed of dog, you might want to read up on
various breeds before deciding what type of dog to get. Different breeds of dogs have
different characteristics. You can still adopt from your local shelter even if you want a
purebred dog, since a quarter of the dogs at shelters are purebreds. We at SCAA,
however, hope that you will decide not to go to a breeder for a purebred dog, but will
choose one of the abandoned, mixed breed dogs that we save and rehome; these
animals need as much, or more, love than purebreds!
You’ll also want to consider where you live, how much ****e you have, and what your
lifestyle is. For example, larger dogs may not do well confined to a small apartment or
living in a big city, unless you are thoroughly committed to providing your dog with
plenty of exercise. All dogs should have at least one walk a day outside their home turf,
but some dogs need much more. If you are a fairly sedentary person, you probably
want to find a dog (perhaps an older dog) who doesn’t require that much activity. Keep
in mind that not all small dogs are less active and not all large dogs need a great deal
of exercise. You’ll want to learn more about the traits of the dog you’re thinking about
getting, even if he or she is a mixed breed, to see if you are compatible.
Dogs need quite a bit of interaction with their humans in order to be happy. If you’re
very busy and spend little time at home, a dog might not be a suitable pet for you,
unless you can bring your dog along when you’re away from home. You’ll also need to
spend some time training your dog to do basic commands like sit, stay and come.
Make sure you have enough money to support a dog. Costs associated with dog care
include food, toys, leashes, training, grooming, spay/neuter surgery, routine vet care
and, sometimes, emergency vet care.
Whatever dog you choose, keep in mind that you are making a long-term commitment,
since dogs live 10 years or more. Your dog will need attention, love and respect from
you: food and water are not enough. Consider your dog to be part of your family – to
your dog, you and he (and your other family members) are a pack.
Kittens or Cats
Contrary to popular opinion, many cats are social animals
and love attention. Though most cats don’t require as
much attention as dogs, they still need play time and
petting on a daily basis. Spending time every day with
your kitty can be the difference between a happy cat and
a bored cat.
Make sure you have enough money to support a cat. The
costs of caring for a cat include food, toys, litter and a
litter box, spay/neuter surgery, and vet care. Here are
some other things that you need to know before adopting a cat:
• Cats are very fastidious about their litter box habits, so it’s important to keep the
litter box clean and fresh.
• Cats can live up to 15 years or more, so you should be prepared to make a longterm
commitment if you adopt a kitten.
• Cats need to scratch, so a sturdy scratching post is necessary. Declawing a cat
to protect your furniture is cruel and unnecessary. Declawing, which involves the
removal of the first knuckle of each toe, is extremely painful for the cat. You can
learn to trim your cat’s nails to prevent damage to furniture; besides scratching
posts, there are many other products, available at pet supply stores, that deter
cats from damaging furniture.
• Kittens are not suitable if you have children less than three years of age in your
home. An adult kitty would be a better choice.
• Cats have different personalities. Some like to be held and snuggled; others are
more aloof and don’t like to be picked up. So, be prepared to adapt to your new
cat’s individual personality traits. If you go to a shelter or contact a local rescue
group to adopt a cat, they will be able to advise you on the personalities of the
cats in their care and help you choose just the right cat for you.
You’ll have to make a decision about whether to have an indoor or outdoor cat. Many
organizations will not adopt cats out as outdoor pets because of the risk of disease or
injury. In most locations, indoors is a much safer place for cats. Indoor kitties live longer
and are generally healthier. You’ll want to provide your indoor kitty with plenty of toys
and regular play time. You might also think about adding a cattery or cat enclosure to
your home so your cat can enjoy the outdoors safely.
Cats can be wonderful companions, but before you get a cat, make sure you are willing
to make the commitment to provide your cat with the necessities, and you will not mind
adapting your life a little bit to accommodate your new feline family member.
Other Types of Pets
For information on other types of pets, check out these websites:
Birds: Avian Welfare Resource Center from the Avian Welfare Coalition.
Rabbits: House Rabbit Society Rabbit Care Guide.
Fish: Tropical Fish Tank Tips--Just for Kids at American Humane Association
Ferrets: Ferret Central, Ferret Wise - Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (Ferret Wise Rescue and
Rehabilitation Center) or Ferret Information Rescue Shelter & Trust Society (FIRST) (Ferret Information Rescue Shelter and Trust
Society).
Rats: Rat Fan Club
Mice: www.horns.freeserve.co.uk/mouse.htm
Hamsters: www.hilltopanimalhospital.com/hamsters.h...
Gerbils: www.animalhospitals-usa.com/small_pets/g...
Guinea Pigs: Guinea Pig Education, Care, Rescue and Adoption at Cavy Spirit
Chinchillas: Essortment Articles: Free Online Articles on Health, Science, Education & More...
Pot-Bellied Pigs: Pigs, a Sanctuary
Reptiles (Snakes, Lizards, Turtles): NEHS Homepage

[MiRN]

Thanks for the insight. I already have a cat and a dog and am not interested in any more pets at this time.

Thanks for the info though...