Pets are like children in the sense that having one is a full-time job.
You will need to provide for the needs of a pet just like you will for a child, which is important if you want them to grow healthy and strong when they face the world on their own.
Deciding to get a pet is not something you do on a whim because it takes careful consideration.
For instance, you might be starting a new job, which means that you don’t have the time to take care of a pet.
Or you have just bought a new laptop, and you don’t have the budget to afford your future pet’s needs.
There’s never a good or bad time to have a pet, but destiny might be saying that you’re meant to become a fur parent.
If you’re wondering about whether to get a pet or not, then you should look out for these five telltale signs to help you make your decision:
Sign #1: You Have Achieved Stability in Your Life
When you’re financially and emotionally stable enough to care for another living thing, it’s already a sign that you’re ready to have a pet.
This can also manifest in job security because this means that you’re not making any big changes in your career that will force you to relocate any time soon.
Financial stability is important because having a pet can mean covering the costs of pet maintenance such as cleaning products, vet appointments, medications, and food.
On top of that, you might also need to house-train your pet to prepare it for the changes in its environment.
For example, if you are going to get a dog, it is best to enroll it in an obedience class so that it can socialize with other dogs.
Dog training is not mandatory, but it can be the best way to domesticate an animal before you live with it for the rest of your life.
Sign #2: You’ve Wanted a Pet for the Longest Time
The biggest factor that will show how much you can take care of a pet is if you actually want to have one.
Getting a pet means that you’re 100% sure that you are ready for the additional responsibility that you are placing on your shoulders.
However, there’s a fine line between wanting to have a pet and having the ability to care for one.
Make sure that you satisfy both of these criteria before you bring home a pet, because becoming a pet owner can easily change your priorities and how you live your life.
Sign #3: You’re Ready to Get Down and Dirty
Half the time you’re caring for your pet will be spent on the ground, cleaning up after it.
Any pet will need maintenance, which means that it doesn’t matter what kind of animal you get. You’re still going to clean up after it.
For instance, if you are to get a fish or a frog, you will need to routinely clean their aquarium.
A hamster, rat, or other types of rodents in a cage will also need to have its bedding changed every day.
And of course, for a dog, there’s the additional duty of bathing it while collecting its poop in bags.
Sign #4: You’re Eager to Learn and Adapt
By signing up to be a fur parent, you will be responsible for another life besides your own.
Pets are social and thinking creatures who have minds of their own, which they use to communicate to others through the languages they know.
This is very different from the language that people use, which means you need to put in the work.
As a pet owner, you will have to learn how to read your pet’s actions-its non-verbal cues and body language-so that you can provide it with what it needs to survive.
These small actions can be its way of saying that it needs to go outside or feels sick after catching a bug.
By learning the language your pet speaks, you will avoid complications that can potentially threaten its life.
This is another way that pets can be likened to babies because they both can’t verbalize what they’re thinking, which means they need to communicate through other methods.
Sign #5: You Will Benefit from a Lifetime Companion
Animals are social beings because they can offer their owners companionship.
This is one of the best reasons to get a pet. You will have someone who will listen to your problems, provide you with comfort in lonely moments, or laughter when you unknowingly need it.
The bond between man and animal is something that cannot be replaced by technology, no matter how advanced it gets.
Even the simple act of playing with pets can bring happiness, decrease blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and increase their owners’ energy.
A pet may just be what you’re missing in your life, even if you don’t know it yet.
If you tick all the checkboxes for the signs on this list, then you might as well prepare your home for the coming of your new pet.
But always remember that this friendship comes with great responsibility.