Choosing a pet to suit your Lifestyle

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.

Questions to ask before picking a pet

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 space 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: There are many wonderful dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals at most local animal shelters. There are also rescue groups for many specific dogs breeds and other types of pets. What’s more, the staff at your local animal shelter can help you find just the right pet for you. They know the animals in their care and can help you make a good match for your personality and lifestyle.

1) 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 cues such as “sit,” “stay” and “come.” If puppies are not handled often and socialized when young, they will become shy and fearful.

2) 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 have a cat. The costs of caring for a cat include food, toys, litter and a litter box, spay/neuter surgery, and vet care. 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.

3) Birds

Birds are fascinating and beautiful creatures, but they are not easy-care pets. They are intelligent, social animals and need plenty of attention. Before you add a bird to your family, make sure you’re willing to spend time with your feathered friend each day. Also, in the wild, birds are flock animals, so if you’re thinking about getting a bird, you might think about getting two. Life alone in a cage is not much of a life for a bird.

In nature, birds cover a large amount of territory, so they are ill-suited to life in a small cage. At minimum, a bird’s cage should be large enough so that he can spread his wings fully and “fly” from one side to the other (a width of at least four wing spans). If there’s a room in your house where your birds can safely be let out during the day, a smaller cage to sleep in is OK.

Some birds are also a lifetime commitment; many types of parrots can live 50 years or more.

4) Rabbits

Rabbits are intelligent, social animals who need affection. They can become wonderful companion animals if given a chance to interact with their human families.

Rabbits may live seven to ten years, so make sure you are ready for that kind of commitment. They need daily care, if they are not handled gently and often, they may not be comfortable with being picked up and cuddled.

Rabbits have a fairly delicate digestive system; to obtain necessary nutrients, they must be fed a varied diet. They prefer gentle, quiet environments, so they may not fit in well with a hectic family life and rowdy pet dogs or cats.

As with any family pet, your bunny will need to see the veterinarian for regular checkups. Rabbits should also be spayed or neutered to make them happier, healthier pets. To control the temperature of their environment and to keep them safe from predators, rabbits should be kept inside. Bunnies can be taught to use a litter box, especially if they are spayed or neutered

5) Reptiles

Their blood may be cold, but these reptiles will win your heart!

a) Anole

This cool lizard boasts a colorful neck pouch and is a great choice for novice reptile pet parents. Anoles can live more than five years and grow up to 8 inches long. They like to chillax in a tropical habitat and love to eat crickets and worms.

b) Bearded dragon

Don’t let the name fool you; this reptile is more lizard than dragon! They’re gentle pets and also a good choice if you’re new to reptiles. Beardies enjoy being picked up and eat all sorts of food including crickets, worms and veggies. Be sure you have space and time—they can grow up to 24 inches long and live for more than a decade.

c) Leopard gecko

Friendly and low-maintenance, this is a fantastic first-time lizard. They are calm and easy to handle. These lizards are nocturnal and prefer to have caves to hide in during the day. Leopard geckos grow to about 11 inches long and can live up to 20 years.

d) Snake

Legs are overrated. These twisty pets are surprisingly easy to care for—with gentle treatment, they’re wonderfully docile. Snakes can live 15 to 35 years, depending on the species. They’re often carnivores and can be fed prepared diets of frozen rodents.

e) Tortoise

With an ancient lineage that can be traced all the way back to the days of the dinosaurs, tortoises look amazingly prehistoric. Unlike turtles, these guys are land dwellers and herbivores. Common pet species can grow up to 12 inches and live to be over 50 years old with the right care.

f) Turtle

Turtles spend most of their time in the water, tend to have webbed feet, and are omnivores. The diet of a turtle can include crickets, worms, goldfish, veggies and pellets—definitely no pizza. Turtles can grow up to 11 inches long and can live for more than 30 years.

g) Water Dragon

Hey, good lookin’! This attractive lizard has skin made up of different shades of green and a glamorous head-to-tail crest. Water dragons may require more maintenance than beginner-level reptiles. They grow up to 3 feet long and eat crickets and worms.

Whatever your final choice is, owning a pet can be a long term commitment - be prepared to share your love and home :)