Finding it difficult to get the best pet!

Pets can bring a lot of joy to their owners. They can make us laugh. Their love is not tainted by discrimination. Every pet has its own personality and each one is loveable in its own way. However, every type of pet needs something different. Whether you choose a dog, or a cat, or a small rodent or a fish, each has its own needs. They have to be considered when finding the right pet for you.

What Are The Most Common Pets?

There are some pets that are highly popular among people. These pets include:

• Dogs
• Cats
• Small Rodents
• Fish
• Birds

Before you can make a decision as to which pet to choose, you have to think about whether they will fit into your lifestyle or not.

Dogs

Dogs are the most popular pet found in people's homes. Many people prefer them. T they are always happy to see you and they are very affectionate and loyal. However, there are some downsides to owning a dog and many people do not realize what a responsibility a dog can actually be.

All dogs need some exercise, usually in the form of a walk. If you are always outside your house you should not prefer a dog that needs lots of exercise.

Some long - haired dogs also malt a lot, and so they have different grooming needs. So if you have allergies or anybody in your household has allergies to pet fur, a long haired dog would not be the best kind of dog for you.

Owning a dog is like having a baby, especially if you get a puppy. They need to be let out frequently. Many puppies chew and they simply do not know the difference between a dog toy and a pair of slippers. so you need to constantly watch them. You should always train your dog from an early age.

Depending on their size, all dogs need different amounts of food. They can cost a lot of money, especially if they need to be taken to the vets.

Overall maintaining dogs require hard work and lot of commitment. Many people buy them without thinking and they end up giving them away. Be responsible and do your research before choosing the right dog for you.

Cats

Cats are known as independent animals and this suits a lot of people. They are ideal pets even if you are out working most of the day. Unlike dogs, all they need is a cat flap and they can roam freely.

However, unlike dogs, they are not always affectionate. They only come to you for affection when they want to. A lot of people prefer this as they say you have to earn a cat's affection unlike dogs who just give affection away to everyone.

Cats can be loyal and they sometimes even follow you around like a dog. You can also play with them, especially when they are kittens. They love chasing things such as string, a stick, or a ball.

Some cats do need regular grooming, depending on what breed you choose. Short-haired cats need less grooming than long-haired cats.

Cats make excellent pets for people who do not always have the time to dedicate to their animals though they need affection. They have to have access to the outdoors otherwise they will constantly whine to be let out and in again. A cat flap does solve a lot of problems.

They are easy to train and their litter trays should be cleaned every day. Cost wise you need to think about a collar, food, litter tray and cat litter and the cost of installing a cat flap. Cats also need injections and you have to spend a lot for treating them with the vet or if they have an accident or if they become ill.

Small Rodents

Small rodents often make ideal children's pets. There is a variety of rodents available including:

• Hamsters
• Gerbils
• Mice
• Rats

The above are the most popular rodents owned by people. They are hardly any hassle, although they do need a certain amount of care to keep them happy and healthy.

While they do cost less than dogs and cats, you can still spend quite a lot of money on their cage, toys and aquarium accessories. Maintaining them doesn't cost that much and if you put the effort, they can make really good pets.

Rats are the most intelligent of the four and they need more stimulation and toys than the other rodents. They also require a large cage. They can be taught simple things and they love to explore and to ride around on your shoulder. They are easy to train and handle.

Hamsters are most grumpy and yet popular. They do not like to be woken up and they tend to sleep all day and wake up at night. They love going through tubes and there are some amazing cages to accommodate your little friend. However bear in mind that the cages can be hard to clean. So if you do not have much time to clean pets, you should think of having a simple designed cage.

Gerbils love to dig. They love peat as it is easy to dig in and make tunnels and they love to chew. The best thing to give them to chew is plastic toys and some tree branches that have been cleaned thoroughly (always check that they are not poisonous).

Mice are the tiniest of the rodents and if you get them as babies they can occasionally fit through the bars of a cage. They can be timid but they are sweet little pets.

All need to be cleaned out at least once a week and their cage should be disinfected when you do so. Costs involved include food, cage, accessories, toys, treats and cleaning equipment.

Fish

They are extremely common pets. You cannot train a goldfish and you cannot touch it. Fish can die from overfeeding or different temperatures and even end up eating each other. As you cannot touch them, it does make it difficult to clean out their tank. There are two types of fish, tropical and coldwater. Coldwater fish are easier than tropical ones.

Tropical fish need certain lighting and heating and they need a lot of accessories in their tank to make them feel safe. Aquarium fish can be really pretty.

Birds

The most common pet bird is budgie. However many people prefer exotic birds such as parrots. There are a large number of parrots for sale, and all of them need a lot of care and attention.

All birds can be extremely vocal so if you live in a house with very thin walls, a bird may not be the right pet for you. It may be worth to discuss with your neighbors beforehand and see if they would have any objection before you purchase a bird. Not all birds are friendly though parrots are easier to tame than any other birds.

Most birds are happier in pairs or more, unless you are going to be there to give them a lot of attention. They are happy in spacious cages as they need to be able to fly around and spread their wings. In order to stop them from becoming bored you also need to provide them with plenty of toys. They need perches in cages to sit on and they like toys such as ropes and bells.

They can be difficult to keep and parrots demand a lot of attention. You can teach some parrots to talk and repeat what you say. They are intelligent and they need a lot of stimulation to keep them happy.

Where to Buy Your Pet

Finding the right pet is important. Whether you choose a dog, a cat, a rodent, fish or a bird, you next need to decide where to buy your pet. There are generally two places to buy a pet. These are:

• Pet Shops
• Specialist breeders

It is usually better to choose an animal, from a specialist breeder. This is because breeders know their animals. They know their temperaments, and they can give you all the advice you need, to take care of your new pet.

Buying from a pet shop gives you the chance to buy everything. However, it may be reasonable to buy a small rodent or fish, from a pet shop, and not a dog or cat. Animals at pet shops also not handled well.

When choosing the right pet you need to do research. Pets, need love and attention and some amount of time.

Related Articles

Cats as Pals! Get to know more
Pet Rabbit Guide
A Flying Companion! Your chirpy delight
Your Pet Fish sick! Do not let their health sink!

Bookmark this Page Email this to your friend Add this page to del.icio.us