Do You Want More Pets Than You Need?
When you’re a dog or cat lover, your heart is big enough for multiple pets. You feel a twinge of excitement when you’re near a pet store. Whenever you see a stray you want to scoop him up and take him home. You even get a little crazy when a non-pet person struts around with a little dog just for style.
When you want multiple pets, the feeling is hard to fight. Do yourself a favor and think twice before you turn your single pet into a dog or cat collection.
Think About the Cost
If you’ve lived with a pet for a while, you already understand how much they can cost. If you’re new to pet ownership, the investment will likely come as a surprise.
The Cost of Dog Ownership
The American Kennel Club researched the annual first-year costs based on dog size. Their estimates include food, veterinarian costs, and medications, and other costs. The AKC’s estimated dog costs are about twice the amount of the ASPCA’s estimated costs for the same items.
- Large Dogs: $3239
- Medium-Sized Dogs: $2889
- Small Dogs: $2674
The Cost of Cat Ownership
The ASPCA’s Pet Care Cost survey evaluated the first-year costs for a cat. Their first-year costs included food, veterinarian care, cat toys, litter, litter box, and incidentals. They arrived at a first-year cost total of $1,174.
Multiple Pets Affect Your Housing Options
Whether or not you love your pet, you have to admit that they don’t make perfect roommates. Landlords know that. That’s why they’re banned from many rental properties. Property owners who do rent to pet owners often require a higher deposit and rent.
When dogs get upset or lonely or need to go out for a bathroom break, they bark and whine and create a disturbance until you give in to their pleas. No matter how you try to convince your neighbors that your big dog’s big teeth will never bite them, some people will always see him as a threat. These problems often increase with each pet you own.
When cats feel intimidated, they mark doorways, carpeting, and bare wooden floors with their own unique scent that’s hard to remove. Cats whine when they hear odd noises or see birds outside. They sharpen their claws on doors, door jambs, screens, and other places, causing damage in the process.
Your Dogs May Like Each More Than They Like You
When you buy your second dog your close owner/pet relationship often changes. As the American Humane Society explains, two puppies often bond so strongly, they might not bond with you. To avoid this dilemma, your two (or more) dogs will require separate walking, training, and sleeping arrangements.
Your Cats Must Learn to Get Along
Cats have the opposite problem. When you introduce a new cat to your old cat, you’ll have to train them to be friends. The American Humane Society suggests that a new cat/old cat relationship works best when you choose your new cat based on age and temperament. An adult cat is more likely to accept a kitten over an older cat. The AHS recommends that you avoid cats that hiss, growl or behave badly. That antisocial behavior will likely continue.
Do It Anyway!
Taking care of multiple pets isn’t easy. It’s costly. It’s sometimes annoying. It’s always a lot of work but if it makes you happy do it anyway.
Contact Hebron Veterinary Hospital
If you want to learn more about the challenges of owning multiple pets, visit our contact page or give us a call at (860) 228-4324.