Matters of time

You think of adopting a pet because you would like companionship. No matter the species or breed you want, they all take time. Small, fairly quiet animals such as fish and reptiles need little more than to be fed, to have their cages and tanks cleaned, and to be noticed. Cats and dogs, however, require significant amounts of time and attention every day. Here are some tips to help you make sure the animal you adopt is one your schedule can handle.

For pets in general

Before you adopt a pet, take a minute to think about how long that animal is likely to live. Snakes can live for decades, some breeds of dogs can live for 15 years. A young and healthy African gray parrot may life for 60 to 70 years. Before adopting a pet, think about what will happen to him if something should happen to you. Find a relative or a friend who will be willing to care for your pet or who can find a good home for him. State your wishes in your will, otherwise, your pet will be considered property of the estate and may be inherited by someone wo does not want him.

Knowing your pet's life expectancy at the beginning of your relationship can prepare you for a potentially early demise or lifelong commitment. Here are life expectancies of some pets.

For cats

Longhaired cats need plenty of help with their hair. Plan to spend several hours a week combing small mats out of your cat's coat. Longhaired cats that are not groomed on a regular basis will begin to scratch and tear their coats and may become irritable. They also are more likely to come up with a few extra fur balls.

If you do not want to groom your cat more often than you groom yourself, think about a shorthaired cat. They also need to be brushed, but it does not have to be nearly as frequent. Shorthaired cats will be perfectly satisfied if you groom them just once or twice a month.

If you live in a country house or if you have an outdoor cat, you will need to spend time cleaning up your feline's carnage. Cats are natural hunters that prey on smaller animals, especially rodents and birds. A cat who lives in a house with mice will kill and eat them. The advantage is that you will never have to worry about buying mousetraps again. The inconvenient is that you will come upon little half-eaten mice and you will have to get rid of them.

For dogs

Before you adopt a dog, figure out a way that you can adhere to the same exercise routine every day. Plan on spending about an hour every day taking your dog outside. You will have to divide that hour into three or four trips, depending on the rest of your schedule. A typical routine would include taking the dog out first thing in the morning, right before you leave the house, at midday or when you get home from work, and lone last time before bedtime. At least one of these needs to be a 30-minute walk to keep your dog healthy and alert.

When you adopt a puppy, timing is everything. Try to bring your puppy home at a time in your life when your schedule is really flexible. For the first couple of weeks, you will need to be able to watch him during the day to coach him through the house-training process. Puppies do not have good bladder control. They need to go outside every two to three hours. By spending extra time at home, you will give him his most important lesson about living indoors. If your puppy is left alone for several hours during the day, he will get bored and he will do what puppies do best: chew everything they can.

If you would like to adopt a dog but you do not want to groom him more often than you brush your hair, think about a shorthaired dog such as a dalmatian or chihuahua. The longer and finer the hair on your dog, the more often you will have to brush him to keep the hair from matting and to keep shedding under control.

To receive our newsletters

Copyright Texts and documents (ChatonNath et DouxCoeur)  

© All rights reserved July 02