How to Choose the Right Pet for Your Family

So, you’ve decided to include a new member in your family? Well, choosing the right pet is a big decision. That might bring up an important question: how to choose the right pet for your family? And what are the factors that you’ll need to consider?

Well, you should evaluate how much care the pet will need, and how much it will cost. You should also examine if your home is suitable for the pet, and how likely the new pet will adjust to your children, or any pre-existing pets.

If you’re still unsure which pet is the right match for you, you’ve come to the right place! In today’s article, we’ve prepared some questions and details you need to think of when choosing a pet. Additionally, we have a list of pets you can decide from. Let’s dive in!

What to Consider When Choosing the Right Pet for Your Family

Getting a new pet is a huge responsibility. For this reason, you should thoroughly evaluate some key elements before you decide which pet to get. These elements are:

1.   Cost

The first thing you should consider when choosing a pet is the cost. Every pet has different needs, thus a different price.

So, you should research the cost of keeping each pet in detail so you’ll know what to expect. You might think a small goldfish would cost less than a dog, yet the fish aquarium will require regular upkeep, which might cost more in the long run!

To put things simply, there are two kinds of pet expenses: one-time expenses and annual expenses.

The one-time expenses are basically what you’ll pay when you’re first adopting your new friend. It includes the following:

• Adoption/buying cost
• Initial vaccinations
• Neutering for cats and dogs

Alternatively, annual pet expenses are the cost of caring for your pet, such as:

• Food
• Medical supplies
• Grooming for cats and dogs
• Housing maintenance (aquarium water changes, cleaning, cat litter, etc.)
• Pet sitting expenses
• Pet insurance

2.   Care

Though pets might seem like fun, low-maintenance friends. They actually require plenty of care. After all, you want to keep the newest addition to your family happy! So, you should evaluate how much time you can give your pet.

For example, dogs need to be walked at least two times a week. Otherwise, they’ll get depressed, anxious, or destructive.

While cats don’t require walking, they need regular litter cleaning and grooming. Fish, on the other hand, need frequent water testing and changes. Simply put, some pets need more care and attention than others.

3.   Housing and Space

Some pets need more space than others! Dogs, for example, are relatively bigger than other pets. They also love to run around the house and play.

This means most dogs wouldn’t be great pets to have if you’re living in a tiny place. So, you might get a small breed or consider another small pet. On the other hand, if you have a garden or a backyard, it’ll be a perfect place for a dog to play around freely.

Additionally, you need to consider how much time you spend at home. If you work for long periods, dogs, and cats aren’t the best options for you. They require companionship most of the time. In this case, fish, birds, and reptiles are good options.

4.   Children

Naturally, if you’re thinking of getting a pet, it must be a correct match for your kids. First of all, you should consider your children’s age. That’s because some pets aren’t suitable for younger children.

You should also make sure your child doesn’t have any allergies that might prevent the family from having a certain pet.

In most cases, pets with fur, like dogs and cats, can trigger an allergic reaction in susceptible people. On the other hand, pets with no fur, like fish, are highly unlikely to cause an allergic reaction to anyone.

5.   Existing Pets

Do you already have pets in your house? Well, you need to consider if they’ll go along with the new family members.

Cats are relatively harder to get along with new pets. That’s simply because they’re delicate and get scared easily.

On the other hand, fish, birds, and reptiles won’t mind having the company of other pets, as they’ll always be safe inside their housing.

With existing pets, you need to consider if you’re ready to take the responsibility of more pets. Getting a new pet shouldn’t mean that your existing pet will have less attention or care.

Which Pet Is Best for Your Family?

So, after considering the factors we’ve previously mentioned, you can now choose the right pet for your family. Here’s a list of the most common pets.

1.   Cats

Cats can be quite low-maintenance. Other than providing food and regular visits to the vet, cats basically care for themselves!

However, the hard part about owning a cat is that cats rarely get along with other pets or small children, especially older cats. For this reason, you’d be better off adopting a young kitten.

2.   Dogs

There are many reasons why dogs have been the perfect companion for humans for thousands of years. They provide endless support for their owner. Dogs can influence the emotional and cognitive development of children.

That’s because most dogs are incredibly affectionate and cuddly, making them great with children. Dogs can also protect your family as many dog breeds are excellent guards.

If those reasons weren’t enough, walking your dog can promote a healthier lifestyle for you!

3.   Birds

Keeping birds is pretty straightforward. All they need is regular food and drink. Then, you’ll get to enjoy their lovely tunes every day!

However, birds can be quite affectionate and fun. In fact, you can keep some types of birds without a cage.

Some types of birds, like parrots, can even roam around the house. Additionally, they’re entertaining to have around. Though, they can become noisy sometimes, so your neighbors might not appreciate them as much.

4.   Rabbits

Despite being cute and fluffy, rabbits actually require high maintenance. For starters, you’ll need to bunny-proof your house and constantly provide them with fresh hay.

They also need regular grooming and a litter box, just like cats. To add, rabbits hate being locked in a cage. They need to exercise every day.

5.   Fish

Fish come in a wide variety of wonderful colors, which makes them amusing to observe all day long! There are also many varieties of fish to choose from. They’re basically a gorgeous addition to your home. Not only that, but decorating your fish tank can be incredibly fun.

While you can’t play with them, some fish can actually recognize their owner and interact with them.

6.   Hamsters

Hamsters are tiny and don’t require much space. So, they’re perfect if you live in a small apartment. Additionally, they require fairly low maintenance.

More importantly, kids love to watch them play around in their cages! The problem is that some types of hamsters are more active during the night. In any case, they make a perfect first pet.

Conclusion

So, how to choose the right pet for your family?

There are a few things that you need to consider. For starters, you need to consider the cost of having a pet and the amount of care they need. Taking care of a pet can require time and effort.

Additionally, you need to consider the space they’re going to need. Some pets require a big space to play and run around. You also need to consider if you have any kids and how they’re going to get along with the pets.