How to choose the perfect pet to fit your lifestyle

Pets are the best. They keep us company, they bring our mood up, they keep us fit and they can help protect the home. While there are so many positives to owning a furry friend, choosing the right fit for your lifestyle and personality is important not only for yourself but also for the animal. There are a multitude of factors that need to be evaluated before you take the jump into bringing a new member into your home and here are a few questions you should be asking yourself.

Which animal?

Firstly you must look at the different kinds of pets and the responsibilities they carry and whether or not you can commit to them. If you lead a hectic life that leaves you no time for yourself let alone any time to exercise or groom your pet then choosing a low maintenance animal would be ideal for you. These animals are also great if you have low mobility and can’t spend your time rushing around after speedy animals, bending down to clean up waste or going on walks for their exercise. Animals like gold fish might not hold as much companionship as a cat or dog, but they are extremely cheap and easy to take care of as all they need is a daily feed.
Birds can also be surprisingly easy to take care of and they provide slightly more friendship than a fish. They’re great as you can spend as little or as much as you wish on different breeds including finches, canaries and parakeets. They only require water and food and a cage clean out every so often. While they do make much more noise than a fish, they love company and are often pretty friendly once you build a strong bond.
On the other hand, if you are looking to make a lifelong companion and fill extra time in your day with something a bit more challenging then dogs and cats are the best options.

Which breed?

If you decide on a specific animal then it’s time to look into the personality of each breed and how this can affect you. No matter what lifestyle you have, all cats and dogs should be entertained and exercised regularly for them to remain healthy animals. However some breeds are better suited for a less active lifestyle while others need it consistently. These are a few of the best breeds for over 60s.
Dogs:

• Boston Terriers are born for companionship. They are super friendly and energetic and require a small amount of daily exercise before being happy to just relax with their owners.
• Pugs are entertaining to watch but also enjoy being entertained. They don’t like too much exercise and their small snout means they can easily overheat so it’s important to keep them in a cool environment.
• Cocker Spaniel’s are the perfect size for any home as they don’t take up too much room. They are a very happy and relaxed breed and won’t be too stressed about constant exercise.
• Greyhounds are a larger breed of dog that enjoy running off the lead every so often but mostly will thrive in a quiet environment with a nice napping place.

Cats:

• Russian blue cats are the happiest looking breed of cat that enjoy playing with toys and spending time around their owners. They are relaxed and love a solid routine.
• Ragdoll cats are not only exquisite to look at but also gentle and very quiet cats. They do shed as they are long haired animals but with daily grooming and a lint roller on standby you shouldn’t find too much of an issue.
• Persian cats are fluffy, polite and quiet. They are thrive off being around people and will enjoy their daily groom rather than running away.
• Manx cats enjoy a daily walk and is a good option for a more active cat. They can also jump onto any surface so some amount of training may be in order.

What was your favourite pet? Are you looking for a new companion?