Getting a New Pet for Christmas? Read This First

If you’re considering getting a new pet for your family, it’s important to consider the financial implications before making a decision.  With so many people facing financial difficulties these days, you’ll want to be sure you can afford to give your new pet proper care before committing to take it into your home. 

The average cat costs $50 a month in extra expenses such as cat food, litter and shots. A dog may cost double this, especially a larger breed which eats more.

Therefore, although the initial outlay for you pet may seem cheap, don’t forget to think about longer-term essentials you’ll need to fork out for, such as veterinary bills, housing, bedding, food, toys, training, collars, leashes, and many other accessories.

If you’re already strapped for cash, a new pet might not be the best option.  Even if your pet is healthy, you’ll need to be sure you can take care of any unexpected health problems, not to mention other ‘setup’ costs such as flea treatments, shots, boosters, spay or neutering.  So, in addition to normal veterinary visits, you’ll also need to consider financing those unexpected costs.

Since a new pet is a lifelong commitment, buying or adopting a pet is a decision that must be taken seriously.  Buying things like collars, leashes, litter boxes, food bowls, and food might not seem like a lot at first, but those costs can really add up over the months and years. A cat can live up to twenty years, and a dog may well make it to fifteen if it is healthy. Mice and hamsters can live one to five years depending on breed. Reptiles such as iguanas can live to be twenty or more (the Rhino iguana lives for 40), whereas parrots and tortoises can live to be over a hundred!

You should review your budget and make a new one that includes your potential pet so you’ll know if you have the financing to take care of a new pet long term. Your children (and your pet) will never forgive you if you have to sell your pet after a year as you can’t afford its upkeep.

If you’ve weighed the options and feel that you have the financing to take care of a new pet, it’s time to go adopt your pet.  You can save a life by adopting your pet from your local animal shelter rather than buying from a breeder, and this course of action will be much, much cheaper.

If you really must have that fancy breed, do a little Google research to see if that breed has any dedicated rescue shelters nearby who specifically rescue that breed from local pounds. For instance, Boxer Rescues or Greyhound rescues are very widespread, and a visit to their shelter will provide you with a number of animals of your favorite breed to choose from, at a fraction of the price as buying direct from a breeder.

Picking out a pet can be fun for the whole family and, with the right financing; you can keep your pet happy and healthy for its entire life. Just remember that a little financial planning now can save you a lot of stress and heartache down the line.