I Want a Pet, But What Kind Should I Get?

Every parent finds themselves being asked at some stage: “I want a pet, can I get a pet?
Kids should grow up with pets, and adults should have them too. There is published medical and other data that shows that owning a pet improves your health, gets you involved with like minded people and helps your mental health as well.

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Below is a handy checklist to help you work out what kind of pet is good for you and how to get one that suits your needs.

GET A DOG IF….

[private_passionate pet owner]

• you enjoy being outdoors
• you can work with your pet
• you are prepared to connect to your pet emotionally
• you like an adult:child relationship with unconditional love
• you enjoy the fact that the pet learns new things
• you like to play and socialise – with your pet and with your friends
• you can love your dog for 15 years (unless you get an adult dog)

Common dog myths exposed:

My yard isn’t big enough

Most dogs can be happy even in apartments if they are with you and are exercised. The answer here is to get the right breed (see separate sheet)

I work, I exercise, I socialise, I don’t have the time to spend with a dog

This is only partially a myth. Many people who “don’t have time for a dog” still go to the gym (why not jog?), spend hours in front of the TV (why not with a dog?) or visit friends (who probably love to meet the dog!). Many workplaces now also allow dogs at work.

I can’t afford a dog

Again, only partially a myth. You can spend big $$ on fancy housing, little coats and jewelled leashes, but owning a dog can be as little as $10/week, provided you can afford vet treatment when it is needed.

[/private_passionate pet owner]

GET A CAT IF…..

[private_passionate pet owner]

• you prefer an adult:adult relationship with your pet
• you prefer a “clean” pet
• you spend more time indoors
• you like to play, but also know when to stop
• you can love your pet for around 15 years (unless you get an adult)

Common cat myths

Cats kill wildlife

Cats only kill things if they are allowed outside, and particularly at night. Recent research is proving what so many cat lovers have known for many years – cats are the perfect indoor pet

Cats cause allergies and that harms health

Cats have a substance in their saliva that can trigger allergies in some people, but while it is a nuisance it is very rarely damaging to health.

Pregnant women shouldn’t own cats

This tragic myth results in many well loved cats being turned into shelters for euthanasia. Some cats can carry a little organism called “Toxoplasmosis” in their faeces which can affect unborn children only if their mother gets the organism when she is pregnant. Most cat owning “mums-to-be” already have antibodies to Toxoplasma, and the simple act of wearing gloves when changing the litter tray and good hygiene minimises any risk.

Cats are a low maintenance pet

Cats NEED at least 20 minutes per day of “quality time” with their owner to be healthy and happy – this includes playtime. Long haired cats need grooming at least weekly, and daily is better. .

[/private_passionate pet owner]

GET A PET BIRD IF…..

[private_passionate pet owner]

• you love colour, sound and playtime
• you love to laugh at and with your pet
• you are prepared to care for your bird for 5-100 years (depending on the breed)
• you love attracting birds to your garden
• you are prepared to spend time with your bird and enjoy the idea of training it

Common Bird Myths

You don’t need to spend much time with your bird

Almost all birds kept as pets are flock (social) creatures – being alone is not good for their physical or mental health. The more time you spend handling and interacting with your bird, the better the pet they will be. Getting out of the cage (where possible) and being with you is also good for the health and welfare of the pet bird.

You can let your bird go if you don’t want it anymore

Almost all domestic bird pets die quickly if they are released, because they were not raised to understand the dangers in the wild

Birds caught from the wild make great pets

This is just plain wrong, birds from domestic stock and particularly hand raised birds make the best pets.

Pet Birds are stupid

Many birds can be taught to talk, play basketball, ride little scooters, climb ladders, open boxes – many will train themselves to do things that make you smile.

[/private_passionate pet owner]

GET A FISH TANK IF……

[private_passionate pet owner]

• you love the colour, calm and movement of your living tank environment
• you love to see many kinds of fish in the one tank
• you prefer a pet that can be left for long periods without social contact
• you like the sound of water and the way the tank brightens up your room
• you like to see your pets develop little personalities
• you can clean the tank and manage water quality

Common Fish Myths

Fish have a 6 second memory

This is just untrue. Published papers show that fish can learn to swim though mazes and solve simple problems. Fish owners often report that their pets learn their faces and respond to different family members, and also respond to the signals of “feeding time”. Some fish owners also report their fish “telling them” when they are hungry.

Fish have no personality

New Scientist reported on personality types in Siamese Fighting Fish (Bettas) and surprisingly many fish do have a form of “personality”

Fish die easily

Fish are actually quite robust, provided their environment is kept within the acceptable range and the water clean. The Guiness Book of records notes that the oldest goldfish is 43 years!

[/private_passionate pet owner]

GET A REPTILE IF……

[private_passionate pet owner]

• you are passionate about learning all about your pet – its habits, it needs and its requirements
• you want a lower maintenance pet
• you crave variety becoming an expert in pets that other people aren’t
• you are OK about cleaning cages
• you prefer a pet who needs less personal attention than other pets
• you prefer a “Carer” relationship with your pet

Common Reptile Myths

You can release them back into the wild if you don’t want them anymore

Most reptiles on sale are domestically bred and have no knowledge of local wild environments – so most of them die if released.

You have to feed reptiles live food

Most reptiles can live happily on frozen or killed food and companies are now developing nutritionally balanced blended foods for reptiles as well.

Reptiles are too complicated to keep as pets

They are not more complicated than any other pet – like all pets, it’s just about knowing what makes them happy.

Its cruel to keep reptiles as pets

The reptiles themselves give us the answer to this one – many captive reptiles live longer than their wild cousins because they have good food, a good environment and good care, especially when they are feeling a bit poorly.

/[private_passionate pet owner]

GET A GUINEA PIG IF…

[private_passionate pet owner]

• you want a small, manageable and relatively low maintenance pet
• you are OK with cleaning cages
• you are prepared to spend some time handling your pet
• you are happy to commit for your pet’s lifespan of 5-7 years

Common Guinea Pig Myths

You only need a small cage for Guinea Pigs

Unfortunately many stores sell cages that are just too small for these active little critters. You need as much space as you can manage and ideally over more than one level, with regular “out of cage” time.

You shouldn’t have or touch guinea Pigs if you are pregnant.

While Guinea Pigs can only rarely get the Toxoplasma organism (which can cause problems to unborn babies if their mother gets Toxoplasmosis for the first time while she is pregnant), they are not known as a good source of transmission. It is easy to avoid risk by wearing gloves when cleaning out cages.

[/private_passionate pet owner]

GET A RABBIT IF…….

[private_passionate pet owner]

• you want a pet who is a great companion and you are prepared to spend lots of time with it
• you are OK with preparing fresh foods and cleaning cages daily
• you are prepared to brush and groom your pet (long haired varieties)
• you have the space to keep them (often not apartments) and the time to exercise them

Common Rabbit Myths

We can have just one rabbit in a cage

Rabbits are social animals who generally live in family groups. “The hutch in the back garden” just doesn’t cut it anymore, you should consider indoor hutches and plenty of human contact, or same-sex groups for optimal health.

I can let my rabbit go into the wild if I don’t want him

Like most other domesticated animals, pet rabbits released to the wild generally die a nasty death – attacked by dogs or cats, driven out of territory by wild rabbits and starving because they don’t know where to find their usual food.

Rabbits are dirty animals

Actually the reverse is true – bunnies use their instinct to “toilet” in one specific area and they can also be trained to use a litter box.

[/private_passionate pet owner]

GET RATS OR MICE IF….

[private_passionate pet owner]

• you want small, easy care and easy to handle pets
• you are happy with a pet with a short lifespan – only 2-3 years
• you prefer intelligent, social pets
• you like to train your pets
• you tend to interact with your pets mornings and evenings rather than during the day

Common rats and mice myths

All mice and rats are smelly

Generally the females do not smell, it is the territory-marking scent produced by the males in their urine that causes the musky smell

Rats and mice are stupid

Blessed with a really big brain for their body size, these pets are not stupid and can be trained just like dogs.

Rats and mice have poor eyesight

They generally don’t see too well beyond a metre, but then again they don’t need to, either. So their eyesight is not ”poor”, just adapted to their conditions.

[/private_passionate pet owner]

GET A FERRET IF…

[private_passionate pet owner]

• you prefer a really active pet that needs a lot of personal attention’
• you love to have fun with your pet but want a smaller pet
• you are prepared to clean cages regularly
• you love a cute pet with loads of personality

Common Ferret Myths

Ferrets are rodents

Not only are ferrets not rodents, like rats and mice, but they will eat them if they get the chance.

Ferrets are wild animals.

Ferrets released into the wild will generally die

Ferrets stink

This can be true if the ferret is not bathed at least once per month. Having a vet remove the scent glands on the tail base can also help.

[/private_passionate pet owner]