Children and Pets: When is the Best Time to Adopt a Faithful Friend?

A child with a dog
Photo: Pexels/Katya Wolf

There is a deep and sincere bond between children and animals, but how can a parent decide which is the most suitable pet for their child and when is the best time to adopt a pet?

Children's desire to have a pet stems from the desire to have a faithful friend by their side, who will go through all moments of happiness or sadness together with them. And when the pet is here, it can be a real friend who doesn't ask questions, who doesn't judge you and who just expects lots of hugs.

Many children develop a very close bond with their pet and in general, show an appreciation for animals of all kinds. It is important that from an early age they get to know different animals and their needs, so they will quickly learn what it means to take care of an animal, but also how to give it all the love in this world.

A few examples? They will learn that the cat's tail is not for pulling, that dog food belongs only to the dog, or that the rabbit likes to be left alone when it sleeps or eats.

Discovering the world together with your pet

Children and their faithful furry friends, after an initial introduction, will be ready to discover the world together. Prepare to be inundated with questions: why does a dog "chas" its tail? Why does the rabbit chew its food for so long? Why does the cat lick its fur? These are just a few questions your child will ask you when he meets the animal.

Animals can be of great help to their little friends and make them overcome some obstacles related to misbehavior. A few examples? The dog will know how to show his little friend how to overcome shyness, or the restless child will learn from the cat that he can stay calm and enjoy himself on the sofa without having to constantly run around the house.

Pets for children: hygiene, care and responsibility

If you're thinking about adopting a pet but are worried about hygiene, rest assured that there's no danger of worrying too much. Even if the child feeds the dog from his spoon and then eats with it, he will not get sick from it! It is only important to do periodic check-ups with a veterinarian, taking care of your pet's health.

What should always be kept in mind when choosing a pet is that the main burden of care and responsibility is always on the parents. And it will last for years. Children grow up, they may lose interest in keeping a pet or they will become independent and leave home. And you? Are you ready to take care of your pet yet?

If you want to find out which pet might be the best fit for your family, read the tips.

Advantages and disadvantages of cats as pets

As pets, the care of the cat is very easy, because it can sit for hours alone and does not need to be taken for a walk. In addition, cats know how to take care of themselves. However, in that case they should have the opportunity to go outside.

Because cats are very independent, children must learn when it is best to play with them to avoid scratching. You should also consider that the costs of a cat are about fifty euros per month for food and veterinary examinations.
And don't forget: cats can live up to twenty years!

The dog as a pet for your child

In the list of children's wishes, a dog is usually on the first place! Why?

Dogs are truly an ideal partner for children, if you choose the right breed. The dog is much more affectionate than other animals, it is always ready to play and strengthens the self-confidence of the child.

The dog, however, unlike the cat, requires much more care and this is an aspect that should be considered before adopting a dog. Take into account that three times a day you should go out with him for a walk, regardless of the weather conditions and regardless of your mood, whether you feel like walking or you have responsibilities.

The monthly expenses for a dog are about a hundred euros if we take into account the food and the vet. In addition, for the dog, depending on the breed, you may have costs for all the necessary accessories, for example, for clothes.

What if the child likes a parrot?

Anyone who has ever kept a parrot knows how much fun and satisfaction it can provide. Beautiful to look at with feathers of hundreds of colors, they are gentle animals to entertain or prank.

Parrots love company, so if possible, it is better to get two parrots.

Children often do not find much interest in keeping birds because they cannot be cuddled like kittens or dogs. For this reason, parrots are more suitable for older children rather than small children.

Keeping them at home requires a suitable cage large enough for them to move around or fly in. Although they are small animals, they still have a physiological need to move.

Parrots tend to live for a long time, even 15 years, and since the child will grow up during that period and can easily lose interest in the pet, consider that the care of it will fall on you.

To keep one or two parakeets at home, you need about 1000 MKD per month.

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