Before you bring a pet home is the guide to read first. A pet is a daily commitment for the length of its life, and most of the problems a first-time owner meets in the first year were decided before the animal arrived: not enough time, not enough money, the wrong species for the home, or a household that never agreed on who does what.
This guide walks through those four decisions, then a short checklist for the day before the pet arrives.
Contents
Time
Every pet needs some of your day, every day, including the days you are tired or away. Write down an ordinary weekday and mark where the pet fits: the morning walk or feed, the midday check, the evening exercise, the cleaning. If the honest answer is that nobody is home for ten hours, a dog is the wrong choice and a cat, a pair of birds, or a pair of rabbits deserves a look.[1]
Then think in years. A dog or a cat is a commitment past the next decade. A large parrot can outlive its first owner. Decide now who takes the animal if you move abroad, change jobs, or have a child.
Money
The purchase price is the smallest cost. The recurring costs are food, the yearly veterinary visit with vaccines, parasite control every month, and at least one unplanned veterinary bill a year. Add sterilisation in the first year. Add grooming for a long coat, boarding when you travel, and a fee if your building or landlord charges one.
Price these at a clinic near you before you choose. Costs differ by species, by size, and by city, and a large dog eats several times what a cat eats.
Space
- Dog. A yard is not a substitute for walks. A flat is fine for a dog that is walked twice a day. Check that the building allows dogs and whether it limits size.
- Cat. An indoor cat lives well in a flat with windows, shelves, and a scratching post. Screen the windows and balcony first.
- Bird. A cage wide enough to stretch both wings, plus a room where the bird can fly with the windows closed and the fans off, every day.
- Rabbit. A room or a large pen, not a hutch, with hiding places and everything chewable out of reach. Indoors, because of the heat.
The household agreement
Sit everyone down before the animal arrives and decide five things. Who feeds it and when. Who walks or cleans, morning and evening. Where it sleeps and which rooms are off limits. Who pays the veterinary bills. Who takes over when the main carer is away. Write the answers on the fridge. A child can help with every one of these tasks and should be responsible for none of them alone.[2]
Ask about allergies now, not after. Spend an afternoon with a friend's cat or dog before you commit.
Which species fits
| Species | Daily time | Fits a flat | Noise | Alone all day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dog | Two walks, training, company | Yes, with walks | Barks | Poorly |
| Cat | Feed, tray, play | Yes | Low | Well, with a second cat or enrichment |
| Bird | Feed, clean, hours of contact or a companion bird | Small species only | Loud at dawn and dusk | Poorly alone; better as a pair |
| Rabbit | Hay, greens, litter, exercise | Yes, with a pen | Silent | Poorly alone; better as a pair |
Where the pet comes from
- Adoption. Shelters, rescue groups, and city pounds place healthy animals, often sterilised and vaccinated. Ask for the vaccination and deworming record.
- A breeder. Visit. See the mother and the place the litter lives. Ask for the parents' health records, the litter's vaccination record, and the age of the animal. A puppy or kitten should be at least eight weeks old and weaned before it leaves.[3]
- A shop or an online seller. Apply the same questions, and walk away from any seller who cannot show where the animal was born or refuses a veterinary check before payment.
- A native wild animal. Not a pet. Keeping one needs a permit under the Wildlife Act, and the sale is usually the crime.
The day before
- One quiet room ready: bed, water, food, tray or toilet spot, and nothing to chew that matters.
- The same food the animal eats now, for the first two weeks.
- A carrier, a collar with a tag that carries your phone number, and a leash for a dog.
- A veterinarian chosen, with the first visit booked for the first week.
- The household agreement written down.
- Windows, balcony, wires, plants, and cleaning chemicals checked.
What happens after the animal arrives is in The first week at home.
Common questions
Is a puppy or a kitten easier than an adult?
No. A young animal needs more time, more supervision, and more vet visits in the first year. An adult from a shelter shows you its temperament before you commit.
Can a child be the pet's owner?
A child can share the care. An adult is the owner, in the household and in the eyes of the law.
Should I get two at once?
For rabbits and for most small birds, a pair is the kinder choice. For dogs and cats, one first; add a second only after the first is settled and trained.
See also
- The first week at home
- How to identify and register your pet
- How IAGD records complement your government paperwork
