Are you feeling lonely and perhaps looking for a furry animal to keep you company? Then, you must ask yourself the important question, “am I ready for a pet?” The answer to that depends on various factors. You might be anxious about the idea of raising an animal for the first time because you’ve never done it before. Moreover, you might be thinking about the costs and paperwork that goes into owning a pet. However, you’re looking at all the benefits of having a pet, and you want to have one for yourself.

Want to see if you’re ready for it? Here are the five most important things that you will need to be ready to have a pet.

Stability

Stability is the most important factor in owning a pet. It refers to the three main components: income, household, and lifestyle. First and foremost, you must have a stable income in order to pay the bills and care for your furry pal. Secondly, you must have a stable home for them to live in. On top of this, you need to be able to follow a steady routine that your animal will follow in turn. Do you travel a lot? Then, you might not be ready for a pet yet. A stable home and a fixed routine are essential to animals and, more specifically, cats. It reduces stress, separation anxiety, and other mental health problems in pets.

Commitment

Instead of wondering, “am I ready for a pet?”, ask yourself if you’re committed enough to own one, to begin with. Raising a pet is a lifelong responsibility that you set yourself up for. Depending on the animal, it could take up to 15 years of commitment to an animal that you must care for every day. There is a reason why owners are called pet parents. Pets are part of the family.

Cat insurance from From	Dog insurance from	Coverage	Contribution	Own risk
€8.46	€12.11	€3.250 — €6.000	10% — 50%	€0 — €150 per year	View
€14.05	€17.77	€3.000 — €6.000	20%	€30 — €50 per year	View
€12.16	€17.42	€3.000 — €5.000	20% — 50%	€0 — €250 per year	View
€13.27	€20,14	€3.000 — €6.000	20%	none	View
€13.86	€14.67	€2.500 — €5.000	20%	none	View
€10.56	€13.14	€3.500	25%	€25 per claim	View

Research

Raising an animal requires a lot of research. You must know basics such as what food to give them, when to give it to them, how often to wash them, etc. Depending on the type of animal, you will have a different set of responsibilities. You must educate yourself on how to care for them. Do not assume you know things if you haven’t done proper research on them.

Time

Owning a pet requires a lot of effort that you will need a lot of time to sacrifice for. This means that you will need to limit your travels, set aside a hobby, skip a workout day, etc. in order to care for your animal. You are responsible for the amount of love, attention, and care that they get. Remember to allocate as much time with them as you can, especially when you’re busy most days with work.

Training

Training your pet whether they’re a dog or a cat, is crucial to raising them right. You must dedicate time, effort, and money to give them the proper training they need. Remember, each animal and each breed is different! So, you might need a little extra effort for certain dogs such as German Shepherds. At the end of the day, no matter what animal, it is important that you teach them manners and good behavior. Do not neglect obedience training, especially if you adopt them as infants.