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Would you
like a pet who will constantly seek your attention or a pet who
will leave you in peace until you have time for him? Before you
adopt an animal, make a little resume of your personality and
lifestyle, then consider these clues as to just what type of
animal is likely to fit you.
For
pets in general
If you
are considering adopting a pet, consider whether you are a
morning person, or whether you are willing to become one. If you
hate to get up early in the morning, you might want to think
about adopting a fish, gerbil, or reptile. They will be happy to
sit and wait for you to wake up on the weekends. Birds awake
with the sun and they are likely to start singing or chirping at
first light. Cats and dogs are early risers too. Once you have
adopted a cat or dog, he will figure out real fast your sleep
schedule and wake you up faithfully every morning, no matter if
it is Saturday or Sunday. These animals get bored while you are
sleeping and they want your attention first thing in the
morning. Dogs need to go out immediatly to relieve themselves
and cats like to eat as soon as they wake up. The best cat/dog
owner must have a pretty good sense of humour about morning
wake-up calls and do not expect to sleep in.
If you
are thinking of adopting a dog, think about adopting a regular
schedule too. If you spend long hours at work, cats or gerbils
make much better companions than dogs because they can easily
entertain themselves. If you suffer through long working days,
so will your dog. He will get bored and depressed if you are out
for more than eight hours a day. He may even become destructive
and he might start overturning trash cans or chewing your shoes
and books.
Before
you bring home a spider, fish, or a reptile, think about your
own personality. These animals are very quiet. They do not
demand a lot of attention the way cats and dogs do. They are
pets to watch, and they do not mind being left alone. But a
quiet pet will not nag you when he is hungry or when he needs
his cage to be cleaned up. He will just suffer quietly and die.
If you are a careful, even meticulous, person, you will make a
good fish or reptile owner. If you need the occasional reminder,
go for an animal who can nuzzle you when necessary.
For
cats
If your
household has many quiet hours during the dat, a cat is more
appropriate for you than a dog. Cats are not as needy as dogs.
In fact, cats seem to pride themselves on their independence.
They nap whenever they want to, they stay up all night if they
feel like it, and they can keep themselves entertained while you
are out. But they still will greet you with greedy affection
when you come back home.
If you
know that you want a cat with a particular personality, the best
thing to do is adopt a cat who is at least a year old. Cats do
not imprint the personalities of their owners in the same way
dogs do. So a cat is likely to be the same - needy and
affectionate, aloof or curious - no matter who takes care of
him. The problem is to identify that personality. All kittens
are pretty much alike. They are fuzzy, adorable, and sometimes
completely crazy. But if you adopt an older cat instead of a
kitten, you will have a better chance knowing everything about
his habits and quirks.
If you
decide to adopt your cat from an animal shelter, or any other
organizations, ask the staff about the backgrounds of the cats
they have. Some of their cats may have been returned over to the
shelters by loving families who were moving or who could no
longer care for them. The shelter will know the medical history
of these animals and they should know about their personalities
and habits as well. They can tell you if a cat is a lap cat or
an independent sort.
Do not
turn your back on stray cats with little or no known medical or
family history. You might be suprised to learn that the best and
most loving cats are former stray cats. Having been without food
and shelter for a while, they are grateful for their new
security and home. Unlike dogs who turn shy and mistrustful for
a while after a trauma, cats seem to look on the bright side.
When you give them a good home, they know they have been rescued
and they make wonderful pets.
If you
spend a lot of time quietly at home, and you are looking for a
cat, consider adopting a Persian or an Abyssinian. They are
generally very affectionate pets who will follow their owner
from room to room. They love owners who are at home a lot and
available to serve as furniture. They demand as much as you can
give and they are best for people who are willing to lavish love
and attention on them. They become depressed of they are
ignored.
Some
people like chatty cats who give off great big meows. If you
would like to adopt a cat who has an opinion on everything,
consider the Siamese. These cats seem to be involved in an
ongoing commentary on world events, and that is part of their
popularity. They make great companions for people who are at
home a lot and they are therefore able to keep up their end of
the conversation.
If you
would like to adopt a cat who will need a lot of attention and
love, consider a longhaired cat. In fact, longhaired breeds in
general tend to be vain and they are more often most content
when they are the center of attention.
If you
are more interested in an active cat than a cuddly ball of fur,
think about shorthaired cats. These cats tend to be more active,
curious, and interested in catching mice and play with you. In
fact, they love to play, interact with others, especially
children and other pets.
If you
are a dog owner who would like to turn yourself into a cat
owner, consider adopting the Maine Coon. He is a large cat and
his temperament is actually much like a dog's. He is loyal and
affectionate, bonding especially to one owner. The Maine Coon is
so active that he needs a lot of space and he usually prefers
the outdoors.
Althought
it is helpful to pay attention to breed when making your choice,
it is also important to know that breed will not tell you
everything about your future pet's personality. When you adopt a
cat, you need to be prepared to take a bit of a chance. Cats
have been bred purely for their looks, with personality as an
afterthought. No matter how many times a breeder tells you that
Persians are needy, do not be sure that the one you are holding
is not a rebel.
For
dogs
If your
house is bustling with lots of kids, you should consider getting
a dog rather than a cat. Usually cats shy away from loud noise,
conversation, and music. Dogs, however, love stimulation. They
thrive on activity, and the more people there are around the
house, the more likely your dog will get attention and love. If
one or two people are especially active or enjoy long walks, you
dog will be in heaven.
If you
love to go on long hikes or need a dog who will jog with you,
you might want to consider an active breed such as a setter,
pointer or retriever. They love the outdoors and they need space
to move. When they are cooped up, these dogs become miserable
and depressed.
Some
people want a baby to fuss over, and there is no bigger baby
than a toy dog. If you spend a lot of time at home and you are
prepared to lavish attention on a dog, consider adopting one of
these miniature pets. Toy dogs do not require a lot of space,
but they give and need tremendous amounts of love and attention.
They will pine for you when you are gone.
Before
you decide to adopt a greyhound, think about where you are going
to spend your next vacation. Then think about where your dog
will spend it. An adoption center may ask you a guarantee that
you will not put the dog in a kennel with other dogs when you go
away on vacation. Once they get used to home life, greyhounds
become very stressed-out if they have to go back to a kennel.
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