Pet Ownership Compare and Contrast

Pet ownership can be a true time commitment. Not only is a person responsible for the pet, but also responsible for anything that pet does to someone else. A commitment that can last for years, pet ownership must be taken seriously. That is why it is important to understand the expense of owning a pet, how much time someone is willing to invest in the care and raising of the pet, and how much bonding someone wants when purchasing a pet.

Some people cannot dedicate much time to a pet and mainly want one that is easy to care for and low maintenance. A cat may be a great choice for such a potential pet owner. However, if someone can dedicate the time, attention, and care that a dog constantly requires, a dog may just be the perfect pet. Pets can be expensive. If someone decides to own a pet, there are several expenses to consider. The first would be vaccinations and spaying/neutering.

All cats and dogs must be vaccinated to avoid the pet or someone interacting with the pet from getting sick. Vaccinations can run several hundred dollars and charged separately from spaying/neutering. If someone for example wants to be a breeder, they do not have to spay/neuter their pet. However, since most pet owners are not breeders, it is the responsible thing to do to spay and/neuter a pet. Dogs will go through these things similarly as cats. This is what both have in common.

However, dogs also have other problems that cat owners may not have to deal with. For example, grooming and a dog walker. Dogs unless they are paper trained, have to go outside to use the bathroom. If someone is not around to walk them, they will piddle or defecate on the floor. They also cannot bathe themselves so they need to be washed and/or groomed periodically. Cats however, are more low maintenance. They do not have to bathe like dogs do or be groomed.

They normally are indoor cats and therefore do not require being walked as they can use the bathroom in a litter box. Cats also typically require less food as dogs, big dogs, eat more due to their size. Since most cats are small, they will eat less. Cats overall are less expensive then dogs when it comes to those areas. The next thing to look at is time commitment.

Pets require a person to spend time with them either by playing with them, walking them, petting them, or even talking to them. If pets get bored or the pet owner does not spend enough time training the pet, there could be serious consequences. Pets can bite and injure people as well as damage furniture if they are not properly trained. Dogs are a big time commitment.

Because they need to be trained and walked, a person has to exert effort in taking care of his or her dog every day. Training dogs can be difficult as they tend to be rebellious and stubborn at times, depending on the breed. If they do not get the constant attention they crave, they may also be noisy, and destroy things in the house. Dogs need stimulation and without enough of a time commitment, they can turn into bad behaving dogs.

Cats on the other hand, are not a big time commitment. They still require attention and to a lesser extent, training. But, because they are much less active and often only do things indoors, it is fairly easy to own a cat and not worry about devoting too much time to it. Cats are low-maintenance pets, much like lizards or birds, although there is some time and bonding that is required, but not to the extent as dogs. Bonding is another important aspect of pet ownership.

Pets need to feel loved. They need their owners to play with them. If they do not get that, they feel lonely and depressed. Dogs always need to be a part of something. They are pack animals and while some breeds are happy being lap dogs, others need more stimulus and may need their owner to join them in some physical activities. Things like Frisbee or runs can help an owner get along with their dog. Cats are also need bonding.

While cats are not as active as dogs, they still need mental stimulation. Games like cat and mouse or letting them play with a.