Are you considering a pet for your home?

considering a pet
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Many us love animals and we know that having a pet in the family home will be a joyous experience for our children (who probably won’t be doing the bulk of the work!). If you’re considering getting a pet, then it makes sense to think about how much time you can realistically give it, how it will fit into the family environment and how much it will cost us each year. These are all important factors to think about before deciding to go ahead because ultimately pets are a serious commitment.

Whether you want an animal that becomes very much part of the family, such as a dog or cat, or an animal that can mostly look after itself like a goldfish or hamster, they are still a responsibility and have ongoing costs. Money-saving experts Voucherbox discovered how much pet owners were spending on their family pet, and some of the figures are quite astonishing! A family typically spend an average lifetime cost of around £15,382 for a dog and £10,395 for a feline friend. A rabbit costs on average £7,368 and even a goldfish is £877 which still seems a lot of money!

When considering a family pet, think about how you can afford to give it the best life and the love it deserves. Of course, it is lovely for children to grow up with a pet like a cat which is part of the family, but making sure you have weighed the pros and cons.

Dogs

Dogs are probably one of the most reliant pets, needing their owners to feed them daily and walk them. Dogs should not be left alone all day, so if you go out to work then you will need to consider a dog walker or someone who can look after your dog during the day. However, dogs are man’s best friend and can be one of the most rewarding pets to have.

Cats

The advantage to having a cat is that they can look after themselves most of the time as they are quite independent. Cats need feeding, grooming and cuddling – but otherwise they will walk themselves and do not require as much attention as dogs.

Rabbits

Rabbits are independent and so long as they have clean bedding, some space to run, food and water they can pretty much please themselves. Rabbits do still like to have attention and can get quite attached to their owners.

Fish

Goldfish or tropical fish need feeding daily and their tanks cleaning regularly. However, they are probably the least messy pets and will otherwise look after themselves. Fish tanks can also add a nice atmosphere to a home, literally becoming part of the decor!

Hamsters

A hamster’s typical lifetime is only 3 years, so although children love these furry little creatures, remember they will not last a long time. Hamsters need daily feeding and the cage needs regular cleaning, but otherwise they are independent and one of the least time-consuming pets.

No matter what pet you decide to choose, there is always some degree of taking care of them. Children love to have pets so it’s important that you consider it carefully before agreeing to have one in the home, because it is a commitment. If you have the time and care to give it, then having a family pet is a rewarding experience and one that your children will remember as an important part of their childhood.

Are you thinking about getting a pet? Or perhaps you already have a pet and have advice to offer? Do share in a comment below.

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6 comments

  1. Hello Tayla, I’m considering getting a pet at home this year and your blog will really help me which pet can I get for my home. Thank you so much for sharing!

  2. Hey Talya, love the site and as a mum of 2 I can really relate. I have 2 dogs and a cat and one thing people need to be prepared for is the extra cleaning. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t be without the fur-legged darlings but it is something to consider. Pet hair can get everywhere, particularly when they shed their winter coat in the spring, and you need to keep on top of it.

  3. When I read the article and saw how much dog owners spent for their dog in average, I had a kind of “jaw drop” moment. We do not realize how much money we spend in general, because we do not really think about it in each moment we spend it, right? Once we have it visually shown to us like here in the article it leaves us in disbelieve. Therefore, I want to thank you for the article and eye opener.

  4. Thanks for putting the average amount each pet costs. That is something I think people don’t take too much into consideration when buying a pet. It’s true that dogs are more expensive, but I think they are the most rewarding 🙂 Thanks for the thoughts!

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