Age is not always just a number.
By Tim Baribault
Melanie DeFazio / Stocksy
If you’re thinking of adopting a pet, it can be hard to ignore the unmatched cuteness of puppies and kittens when deciding who to bring home. But the process of deciding which animal to adopt is more than just surrendering to the fresh smell of a puppy or the little beans of a kitten. In some cases, a grown pet may suit you and your lifestyle better. Additionally, adult dogs and older pets often need a home more urgently than puppies and kittens. So how do you decide which one is right for you?
Adopt a puppy or kitten if:
I have plenty of time and energy to train.
Perhaps the biggest and most intensive part of adopting a young animal is that you need to participate in their training. This is more true for dogs than for cats (hopefully they should at least be potty trained when they get home). A large part of the first relationship with a young pet is training it to be a well-behaved family member. . Especially for dogs, that means breaking into the house. Basic commands (sit, stay, heel). lead training; and interaction with other people and animals. For cats, when they are young, it is the best time to train them to accept being handled by humans, especially in sensitive areas such as the stomach and paws, and to avoid any kind of play so they don’t think they are hurting. Hands are so much fun.
I don’t mind cleaning it.
Let’s be honest, pet cleanup will be a frequent occurrence over the years, but it starts full steam ahead with a puppy or kitten. Even if the owner is on track with a disturbed or potty-trained animal, small animals may not get where they need to be in time. Combine this with the fact that young animals often have more sensitive stomachs (meaning you may experience occasional stomach pains). vomit again diarrhea cleaning), cleaning supplies should be kept on hand. Fortunately, this (usually) resolves over time.
You are at home more often.
Younger animals require more consistent care and attention. Puppies and kittens, even when they are one to two years old, need frequent human proximity, especially if you are raising baby animals. This includes managing needs so your puppy can go potty whenever he needs it, but it’s also the socialization and enrichment side. The more time they spend playing with humans as young animals, the more comfortable they will be near humans as grown-up pets. And tired and well-played animals are less destructive than bored ones.As Dilara Goksel Parry, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant cat heart and Program Manager at Cattown Auckland Explain that kittens “play nonstop” and need the attention they deserve.
I would like to anticipate the cost of the veterinarian.
pet insurance An important investment in animal health. That can mean the difference between spending tens of thousands on important formalities or just a few hundred on deductibles. Getting pet insurance while your pet is young will ensure that you are covered from the start by getting pet insurance before being punished for a “pre-existing condition.”
I don’t mind the bite marks.
Teething means chewed up shoes, power cables, table legs, toes, and more. It doesn’t matter if it’s a cat or a dog. Its tiny needle teeth will chew on whatever chew toy you put in front of you. Do your best to deal with the bitter spray. But also note that it is almost inevitable.
Adopt an adult animal if:
You want (mostly) trained animals.
Most adult animals come to you with at least some training. The dog is probably domesticated (and may know some basic commands) and the cat is potty trained. There are some outliers in this regard, but knowing the basics can be reliable. You may want to do more training eventually, but having an animal that knows when it needs to be taken outside can be very helpful.
Suppose you want an animal whose personality you know.
As Parry explains, if you want an animal that matches a particular type of behavior, choose an older animal. “The most common behavior that adopters want is a kneeling cat. If you want a cat that rides on your lap, hire an adult who already exhibits that behavior,” she says. “A lot of people think, ‘I can shape my kitten any way I want,’ but I think the same thing about puppies. And that’s really not what’s really going on. Sure. , we can encourage them to do things we like, we can train them, but when it comes to temperament, there’s a lot we can’t control.”
I want to omit the handling fee.
To allow adults to go to loving homes, many adopters reduce or waive fees for older animals. This often saves hundreds of dollars from the get-go for animals that are already microchipped, spayed and neutered, and up to date on all vaccinations. While this may not make a huge difference in the end in the big picture of your pet’s life, it does matter a lot when you first set up your home with everything you need.
We want to support animals whose owners may not be found.
It’s even harder to find homes that are willing to bring adult (and even older) pets. They may end up in an adoption center for a variety of reasons, but they deserve a loving home just like any other puppy or kitten. If you want to help an animal that is about to be adopted, bringing home an adult animal is definitely the way to go. And they will give you as much love and affection as a baby.
Working hours are longer.
Adult animals do not need as much manual care as very young animals. Adult cats are generally fine with being on their own throughout the working day (they’ll find a warm spot to sleep into the late afternoon anyway). For an adult dog, a short outing or walk during work hours is sufficient. one day. Having an adult animal is a good idea if you already have a schedule you want to follow.
you want a quiet home
Pets tend to become calmer as they age. While a puppy or kitten may roam the house 24/7 or throw up at whatever they think will bring them even a moment of entertainment, an adult pet probably spends most of the day rumbling in its comfort zone. I would be much happier if I did. . That doesn’t mean a grown cat won’t decide at 3 a.m. that he has a terrible case of zoomy, or that an adult dog won’t bark at a squirrel walking past the window. be quiet Not quiet.
Owning a pet is one of the most rewarding things you can do and brings great wealth to your home. Deciding whether to bring home a puppy, kitten, or adopt an adult cat is a big decision that can make a big difference in your day-to-day animal care. Neither is better than the other. It’s just that different people have different needs. So weigh your pet’s potential needs and decide which makes the most sense for you.
Tim Baribault is a freelance writer, editor, cat father, and consultant who “helps her boyfriend buy the perfect suit just once.” He was previously the editor of Style and Pets. wire cutterand many publications that no longer exist (and some that still do) have bylines.