First thing's first, owning a pet is literally like having a child. Had I known I would've had a such a difficult time with Greyleigh (our wonderful little Russian Blue angel), I may not have adopted her. Now, however, I can't imagine our lives without her. So in this post, I want to debunk some common misconceptions about owning pets, how to budget for one, and a couple of things I never even thought of when we adopted Greyleigh. Also, the image below is Greyleigh!
Debunking Common Pet Misconceptions
Misconception: Cats are way easier to take care of than dogs. They're not needy at all. All you gotta do is feed them and clean their litter box.
Fact: Cats are generally less needy than dogs because they're usually more independent, but they also like to be shown affection and attention. Greyleigh, for instance, will walk up to my chair and put her paws on my legs so I can stop working and start petting her. She also loves to play! If you're thinking of adopting ANY pet, you have to consider how much time you may or may not need to spend with it.
Misconception: I don't need to take my pet to the vet unless it's for an emergency.
Fact: Sure, vet visits can be expensive. But think of it this way, this pet is essentially your child. If your child doesn't have an emergency, you'd still make regular doctor appointments. Generally, cats need to see the vet less often than dogs (unless they're sick), but they still should go when you first adopt them. The first time I took Greyleigh to the vet, I had to pay for her anti-anxiety medication, heart worm preventative medication, and a calming spray out-of-pocket. It was NOT cheap. However, I knew I was providing her with the necessary care to make sure she lives as long as possible and won't be in any pain. Also, most shelters offer free initial consultations for your pet's first vet visit! Ask them about it!
Misconception: Any old pet food will do.
Fact: I thought this, too. With my previous cat, Devon (R.I.P. little one), we fed him any old kind of food. We didn't really care if it was nutritious or good for him because he would eat literally anything you gave him. With Greyleigh, my boyfriend and I are more cautious. We made sure to do our research and ask about wet food that doesn't have "filler" ingredients and dry food that actually promotes an all-around healthier cat. Also, the shelter gave us a free bag of Hill's Science Diet Optimal Care dry food and a couple of cans of wet food. Since then, I've been exploring different kinds of quality, dry and wet cat food and have come to the conclusion that Hill's is the best dry food for Greyleigh (and it makes her coat nice and shiny), and WholeHearted (available at PetCo) is the best wet food. Do your research beforehand, and weigh cost options.
Misconception: I can feed my pet a cup or so of food twice a day, or whatever. It'll eat it all.
Fact: NO. Please follow the directions for administering food to your pet that's on the bag or can! Devon got SO chunky because we just fed him as much as we thought he should eat. Also, we ran out of food more often. Save yourself some coin, a trip to the store, and a vet appointment, and follow the directions on the bag. And, don't forget to give your little baby fresh water at each meal.
Budgeting for Your First Pet
I'll keep it real: I didn't really budget for Greyleigh. In fact, I got her on a whim, the day after pay day. Don't be like me. BUDGET. Save up around $250 to cover the first vet visit, food, toys, treats, and the adoption fee. Here are some other expenses to keep in mind when you adopt your first pet:
Adoption shelter fee
Pet food: dry food, wet food, treats
Medication
Surprise vet visits, vaccinations, and emergencies
Toys (try and find more durable toys for dogs), towers (for cats), scratching posts
Protective items (to protect your furniture and doors in case your pet likes to scratch on everything)
Comfort items (if your pet has anxiety, you can purchase diffusers and sprays to help your pet feel more calm)
Bed, blanket
Food and water bowls (and possibly an automatic feeder if you're away from home more often)
Litter box, litter mat (which helps decrease the amount of litter tracked through your house)
Leash/harness
Sweater, booties/boots
Odor eliminating spray
Air purifier: We LOVE our Honeywell Air Purifier from Best Buy; it helps to get rid of dust and allergens. It's also Bluetooth compatible and has a timer.
Things I Never Thought About...
Aside from the fact that Greyleigh is really affectionate and can be very anxious or overwhelmed, there were a couple of other things I never even thought of when we decided to adopt her:
Allergic reactions to medications (for which we had to buy the medication to treat the allergic reaction)
Inability to eat certain medications: Greyleigh refused to take the medication which would treat her allergic reaction, even if I mixed it with her favorite wet food. At one point, I had to hold her down, open her mouth, and put the pill in her mouth. She was extremely upset and scared afterward. I succeeded maybe twice out of the several times I tried to pill her and realized it was best to just let the medication she did eat do its thing and hope that her skin irritation would heal on its own. It did heal on its own, and she's doing just fine.
A "needy" pet being left alone when you go out of town: I'm lucky my cousin was available to cat sit for us, but other people may not be as lucky. Remember that some pets are more independent than others, and some pets may react well to pet hotels, while others won't. Keep your pet's personality in mind when you need to go out of town for a few days.
The possibility of having a bad veterinarian: Ours is great! We love our vet. I did have some initial worries, however, because I've heard of some horror stories. If you're anxious about taking your pet to the vet, do some research and read the reviews.
If you're considering getting a pet, make sure you can not only afford one, but that you will have the time for one. And, if you realize you can't afford it or won't have time for it, don't be ashamed of taking him/her back to the shelter. Don't neglect your pet to protect your own pride!
