How do you know when you are ready for a pet?

Owning a pet is a lot more responsibility than most people think. Pets offer huge rewards and are more than worth the effort, unless you are unable to put in the effort. So how do you know you are ready for a fluffy addition to the household?

Ask yourself these questions:

How much will it cost?

If you can’t afford food, lodging, vets bills and boarding for when you are away from home, then you are not yet ready for a pet. Some of these expenses can be prepared for, for example, paying a small monthly premium for pet insurance will mean that the bigger vet expenses will be covered, but daily feeding and care still costs money.

How long will my pet live?

A goldfish is a relatively short term investment, while cats can live for 15 years, even longer! Dogs also have longer life spans. Will you be able to care for a pet in ten years time? Are you planning on travelling for long periods of time in the future? Are you planning on moving overseas? If you are not prepared for the long term, then a pet with a long life span may not be the answer.

Can it handle being alone?

If you spend many hours a week at work or out of the house, then where will that leave your pet? A cat or a goldfish may be able to handle a solitary life, but a dog or a rodent will not. If you are not at home very much anyway, then maybe a pet is not the right option for you just yet.

How much of my time will it take up?

You might spend hours at home every day or even work from home, but that doesn’t always mean that you will be spending all this time with your animal. A dog needs walking, grooming and plenty of affection while a cat can survive on much less attention. Rodents need to be taken from their cages for exercise and all caged pets need to have their cages cleaned out regularly. The same goes for fish.

Answering these questions honestly may just show you that you are not quite ready to take on the responsibilities of pet ownership.