A puppy or kitten can be a wonderful thing to add to the family, but deciding to get one should require more than just a spontaneous decision spurred by your begging kids. This article will discuss what to consider before getting a puppy or kitten.
If your kids have been nagging you about getting a pet for the house, you are not alone. Many parents have to fight off their kids’ requests for a playful puppy or sweet kitten for years. Having a pet can actually teach kids about responsibility, help them build empathy, and are wonderful additions to a household. However, having a pet is also a 10 to 15 year commitment, and most of the time, it’s the adults who end up having to care for the pets.
This checklist will help you make a smart decision before you bring an animal home.
1. Who is really going to look after the pet?
Children tend to promise to feed, walk, and clean up after a pet, and they usually mean it. However, excitement will fade, and school and play will get in the way of remembering tasks. It’s good to consider yourself as the primary caregiver, and treat your children’s help as a bonus.
Ask yourselves:
- Are both parents (or carers) genuinely on board?
- Is there an adult with the time and energy to handle daily care, even on the days everyone is tired?
- Who will look after the pet during holidays, illness or busy periods?
2. Is your children’s age and temperament a good match?
Very small children can accidentally be too rough on a pet, which can stress them out and lead to accidental nips and scratches. It’s important to supervise all child-pet interactions in the early years. Make sure you teach your kids how to properly approach, touch, and hold an animal.
Teach the basics early:
- Let sleeping pets lie, and never disturb an eating or resting pet.
- Offer a gentle, flat hand before patting, and keep patting to the shoulders and chest rather than reaching over the head.
- Give pets a safe space (a crate, bed or quiet corner) that children aren’t allowed to enter.
3. Does the pet suit your lifestyle and home?
Before choosing a species or breed, be sure to consider how they will fit in your daily routine.
- Time: Puppies need frequent toilet trips, walks, training and socialisation. Adult dogs need daily exercise. Cats are often more independent, but still need attention and enrichment.
- Space: Do you have a secure, fenced yard? Is your home suitable for a larger or high-energy breed or can it only handle a calm low-energy one? If you rent, is a pet allowed in your apartment or house?
- Energy levels: Get a breed that matches your lifestyle. A high-energy breed in a household that rarely gets outside will be difficult for both sides.
- Allergies: If anyone in the family has allergies or asthma, spend time around the type of animal you’re considering before you commit.
- Queensland’s climate: Hot summers matter. Think about shade, water, cool resting spots and how they will get exercise during the warmer months.
4. Can you afford it?
The cost of buying or adopting is just the first step. Having a pet can have ongoing costs as you’ll be spending on food, toys, and medical expenses. Build a realistic budget that covers:
- Quality food
- Vaccinations, worming, flea and tick prevention and regular vet checks
- Desexing and microchipping (microchipping is a legal requirement in Queensland)
- Council registration for dogs
- Pet insurance or an emergency fund for unexpected medical bills
- Bedding, bowls, leads, toys, grooming and training costs
- Boarding or pet sitting when you travel
It may be wise getting advice from your local vet on how much a realistic yearly budget for a dog or cat of your chosen breed is, that way, you won’t be surprised later on.
5. Do you have time for training and socialisation?
If you want a well-behaved pet, you’ll need to train them consistently. In the early months, kittens and puppies will need socialisation and patient guidance. If your family does not know how to train a pet, you may benefit from puppy school or basic obedience training. Make sure you teach kids how to communicate with your chosen pet to make them better pet carers.
Be honest about how much time you’re willing to commit and discuss it as a family so that you won’t end up frustrated later on.
6. Where will you find your pet?
Where you find your pet matters. A good breeder will have the necessary documents and health testing done to show that the pet you’re receiving is in good health. They will also be able to show you that the dog or cat was raised in humane conditions.
Look for people who are open about the animal’s health, background and temperament, and provide health checks, vaccinations and microchipping before the animal goes home. A good pet seller will also ask you questions as well because they care about where the animal ends up and how well you can care for them.
Be wary of anyone who pressures you to decide quickly, won’t let you visit or can’t provide health information.
7. Do a trial run first
If you’re still unsure, there are some ways for you to see how your family deals with a pet:
- Foster: Many rescue groups welcome short-term foster carers.
- Pet-sit for friends or family: A weekend with someone else’s pet shows what daily care really involves.
- Volunteer: Local shelters and rescue groups often welcome helpers, including older kids with a parent.
- Start with the family conversation: Ask your children to describe what a pet’s day looks like, from feeding to cleaning up. Their answers will tell you a lot about what they think having a pet entails and how ready they are.
8. Prepare your home before the pet arrives
Once you’ve decided, a little preparation makes the first weeks far easier. Set up a safe sleeping area, remove hazards such as loose cables, toxic plants and small objects, and gather the essentials before the big day. A basic starter kit typically includes:
- Food and water bowls (a spill-resistant water bowl is handy in the car and around the house)
- A comfortable bed, with a cooling mat for warmer months
- A lead, collar or harness and ID tag
- Chew toys and enrichment toys to keep curious minds busy
- A basic pet first aid kit
- A safe way to travel, such as a car seat belt tether or carrier
If you’re shopping for supplies, RPBA Shop’s Black Friday collection has discounts on a range of pet products, and the puppy packs, kitten packs, dog toys and dog first aid categories are good places to start. Stock and pricing change, so check the site for current offers.
Final thoughts
A family pet can be one of the best things that ever happens to your household, and the families who get the most from the experience tend to be the ones who planned for it. Take your time, ask the hard questions and involve your children in the process. If the answer is “not yet”, that’s a perfectly good answer too, and it’s far kinder to an animal than a rushed decision.