PET SURVEY

Mufasa0331

Ok so I am severely bored and lets not forget to mention completely lonely... so everyone keeps telling me to get a pet...but what the heck.. what do I get?

I started looking online at adoption agencies and rescue shelters and i found a few that really broke my heart....*sigh*

dogs vs cats?
what kinds shed the least?

I thought a dog...so it can go walking with me...but a cat would be better because my work schedule is so unpredictable and sometimes i stay at the office for like 15-16 hours straight...

ahh i dunno im confused...as usual lol

Mufasa0331

Ok so I am severely bored and lets not forget to mention completely lonely... so everyone keeps telling me to get a pet...but what the heck.. what do I get?

I started looking online at adoption agencies and rescue shelters and i found a few that really broke my heart....*sigh*

dogs vs cats?
what kinds shed the least?

I thought a dog...so it can go walking with me...but a cat would be better because my work schedule is so unpredictable and sometimes i stay at the office for like 15-16 hours straight...

ahh i dunno im confused...as usual lol

Renae_Nae

Dogs are a lot of work! Cats are pretty easy and maintain themselves. If you don't want to walk a dog every day, then get a cat!

Mufasa0331

But don't cats shed like a mofo?? lol I know that sounds retarded but I waist length curly hair that is already EVERYWHERE I mean literally everywhere...plus do I really wanna be the single woman with a cat??

so stereo-typical :laugh:
SORRY I COULDNT HELP MYSELF

jules1984

Well you can't keep a dog cooped up for that long, you'd just have to find a way to stop home and let him out. I would still say dog though - just get one that needs less attention - not a puppy.

http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselector.do - to pick a breed

www.petfinder.com - to find a pet

Good Luck! Best Decision Ever

Wynnie

Cats do handle long "alone" hours better, but even a kitten will be lonely with no one home that long. Maybe get a beta fish? (I work those insane hours too, and I want a pet so badly - just can't do it yet).

fit_amy

I'd say cat. A dog would go crazy being left alone that long. Most people I know with dogs need to go home on lunch break to let them out mid-way through the day. Or they use those doggy pad things in the house that the dogs pee on.

I my cat!! Who cares if you're the single lady with a cat!? You'll be much happier and calmer with a pet. It's awesome--when you're feeling down, they always make you feel better! :flowerforyou: As far as shedding, my cat is a regular ol tabby type of guy, and I really don't have much of a problem with the fur. I should probably brush him more than I do... sometimes I go two weeks in between brushing. There's definitely more fur in the spring when he loses his winter coat. I guess it just depends on how particular you are about car hair being on stuff. For me, the benefits of having his company far outweigh the cons!

tookieb

I would go for a cat, they are much less work and they don't smell as bad. (Can you tell I'ma cat person) lol If you are trying to adopt which I think is the best, call around and see if they will let you take home the pet of your choice on a trial basis. I've had several cats over the years and found that the short haired ones shed the worst. I know that sound backwards but at one point I had 3 cats, 2 long hair and 1 short and the hair in my house was terrible I had to vacuum everday and twice if I was having people over. I ended up giving my short hair away to a farm because she scratched my daughter (unprovoked). I couldn't believe it I was down to vacuuming 1-2 times a week.

Oh and as for going for walks you can train a cat to go on a leash, I have seen lots of people do it.

ShanIsRad

A long-haired cat would be best for your situation. I've had cats my entire life, and my long-haired boy sheds way less than my tabby girl does. You just have to brush them to make sure that they don't get knots.

prairiemom

CATS. I have two and love them to death. They are easier to cleanup after. You can leave them alone all day and they still look out the window and start purring when you get home. A short har cat won't shed as bad as a long hair cat. It's okay to be a cat woman. Lots of us are:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

PrincessLaundry

Start with a fish...If all else fails, they die quickly. They can handle little attention, a small bill for food, and little cleaning. They don't require cuddling, they can stand being left home alone all day, and don't require potty training.

We have a dog and I am a stay at home Mom. He gets tons of love, and thankfully I run and walk with him at night. But with sports season for my kids in full swing, I hate that it is too hot for him to tag along, and he is often at home without us. I hate that! We have to really double up on the love when we are home to make sure he doesn't feel left out or neglected.

Moral of the story about a pet for your lifestyle...

Get a pet that fits!

And good luck, let us know what you choose! :flowerforyou:

marshall153

my pup is home alone for about 4hrs (5 most) most days and I feel TERRIBLE!!!! I'm so scared he's lonely and bored, I set up a kong treat, a bone to chew and a ball treat dispenser thing as well as other things and my lounge is covered in dog toys!! Yeah.... best to get a kitty cat!

fit_amy

hum... on second thought... how many days a week are you working 15 hour days? My cat would not be happy if I was away for such a long amount of time. Ultimately, you want your animal friend to be as happy with you as you are with him.

Maybe a hamster? They're kinda fun!

ligytha

hmm... long hours. Maybe hamsters, mice, rats, or gerbils? If you have more room, maybe a bunny or a ferret (assuming it isn't illegal in your state).

nightangelstars

I would agree with many others and say that cats are definitely lower-maintenance animals than dogs (and they can be just as much fun to play with, especially if you bring catnip home ). If you're worried about shedding, get a cat with a single-layer coat. Lots of cats have a second thicker downy layer under the longer, shinier first coat, and it's the second layer that sheds like nuts. Most tabbies will probably have the double coat (my boyfriend has a white patched tabby with long dual-layer fur that gets EVERYWHERE, but he also has a little black female who's sooo sweet and has a gorgeous shiny single-layered coat, very minimal shedding). Play with an animal before you get one though - see if their personality fits yours, and you can tell how much they shed pretty quickly :laugh: .

Also if you're worried about the kitten being lonely, consider the possibility of getting two, preferably litter-mates. Cats are social animals but getting litter-mates will most likely ensure that they get along well and play together well. Otherwise I wouldn't worry about them being alone especially if you're going to let them outside, they're pretty good at keeping themselves occupied (they do sleep 16 hours a day, after all! A warm patch of sunshine and they're happy til you come home!)

Sorry to go on so much! I wish you the best of luck on your pet-search!

jlwhelan1

Edit: I just read of your long hours. Hmm. Dogs need to go out sooner than 15 hours. A cat would be better, or two cats. Dogs would work if you or someone else could spend some time with them to let them out and play for 1/2 hour or so at lunch or even at the nine hour mark. Or, get two female rats. They are smart and friendly like tiny dogs. They love human companionship but will be okay with just each other for the 15 hours in their cage, just give them a decent size cage with activities to keep them busy. They can be trained and will come when you call them. I loved having pet rats.

But think of the pet. It is alive and dependent on you. If you occasionally work 15 hours it is okay and the pet will be fine. If you regularly work long hours the pet will be lonely. Lonely pets either become problem pets with behavior issues or they mope and become depressed and or sick. If you really are this busy it might not be the ideal time to have a pet. You could volunteer with animals or find a neighbor who has a dog and ask if you can borrow it for a walk or playtime a few times a week.

Fitness_Chick

But don't cats shed like a mofo?? lol I know that sounds retarded but I waist length curly hair that is already EVERYWHERE I mean literally everywhere...plus do I really wanna be the single woman with a cat??

so stereo-typical :laugh:
SORRY I COULDNT HELP MYSELF

ah no! rules have changed abit on that....that only applies if you live on a corner and have over 14 cats....or you resemble this woman below...in England:noway:

Ok, well guess it might be 130 now.... oh my!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1J6zbqOLtc

briblue72

I have 2 cats and couldn't love them more!! My husband and I are both super busy people with long, unpredictable hours, so the cats get along well without us. They don't need to be walked, let out, etc. every day.

They provide plenty of entertainment and love!! Also, my long-haired girl sheds way LESS than the short-haired boy.

Good luck!! Pet adoption is super rewarding! They'll love you forever!

elliott062907

Ok so I am severely bored and lets not forget to mention completely lonely... so everyone keeps telling me to get a pet...but what the heck.. what do I get?

I started looking online at adoption agencies and rescue shelters and i found a few that really broke my heart....*sigh*

dogs vs cats?
what kinds shed the least?

I thought a dog...so it can go walking with me...but a cat would be better because my work schedule is so unpredictable and sometimes i stay at the office for like 15-16 hours straight...

ahh i dunno im confused...as usual lol

where do you live?? I have a kitten and a young mommy cat...... mt sister needs a home for them.... hum, animal shipping, maybe wouldn't work.

Losing_It

Another cat vote!!!! :drinker: I totally agree about the shedding...the long haired cats shed waaaaaaaaay less! Good luck!:flowerforyou:

maggie2020

ok I am not real cat fan but my love dogs, as matter of fact my dog saved my life, she is the one who found my cancer,, I have a beagle, her name is jessie,, Go DOGS,,,, :flowerforyou:

PrincessLaundry

What about my vote for a fish???

Or try Fish Tycoon for 3 months first. lol

Anna_Banana

There are some breeds of dogs that don't shed at all. Poodle, Shih-Tzu, Yorkies..., I love dogs, but they do require attention and care.

Cats, on the other hand, are pretty care free. The short hair versions don't really require any brushing. You don't have to let them out. You can dump them a ton of food if you gone and they won't eat it all in one setting.

I have a friend who has a bunny in the house thats litter trained. That could be a cool pet.

kerrilucko

I love both cats and dogs. Right now I have 2 cats. I like them because they are indoor pets. No walking, no taking them outside during frigid temperatures. Plus they love to cuddle and are small enough to sleep comfortably on the bed. If you're looking for a pet to fit into a busy lifestyle a cat will be your best option.

Dogs are awesome, but if you are gone often (at work, on trips, just out) please don't get one. Dogs are extremely social and actually get depressed when they're leftf alone a lot. Cats on the other hand need alone time and won't mind sleeping all day while you're at work as long as you come home to feed and snuggle them at some point. :laugh: As for shedding, there are some breeds of sissy dogs (no offense to the sissy dog owners either, my mom has one) that don't shed. If you're looking for a low-shedding cat, either go with a long haired (I know, sounds messed but it's true, they shed less!) or choose an adult at a shelter. Pet the cat from back to front and see how much hair comes loose. Some cats just naturally shed more than others. Hint- this trick won't help with kittens, their fur consistency is different, just like a human baby's is. When we got our kitten she didn't shed at all, now she's 10 months, and her fur feels completely different and I've noticed shedding.

Good luck :flowerforyou:

plantlady99

I love cats and dogs. But, a cat might be best for you.

:flowerforyou:

Ezzie

.plus do I really wanna be the single woman with a cat??

so stereo-typical :laugh:
SORRY I COULDNT HELP MYSELF

Aaaaahhhh.... the krazy kat ladee! I just knew it... LOL! Honestly tho, cats take a lot lwess maintanence than dogs, and shed far less as well! We have both, and dearly luv our four footed furry wonders. But, as Robert A. Heinlein once said, "Women and cats rule, men and dogs should just get used to the idea"/


OK... the *ONLY* thing worse than the krazy kat laydee is the hubby who didn't bother to check just which user id is up and running on his desktop! Normally Ezzie uses her laptop, and I use the desktop. But she goes to TOPS on Mon am, and so prints out her food logs. Actually, today, (just being helpful) I printed them out for her... then forgot to change user id's! Oh well... she won't know till she comes home, good thing I remembered to delete MY breakfast from HER log!

jamerz3294

Oh my! Why here's a thread I've never seen, maybe I should post a comment.... oh, wait a sec...:blushing:

chrissyh

I have a cat and dog-cat is so much easier but sometimes moodier. What I've found with cats I always heard you shouldn't hold a baby animal too long - well I think the more attention they get from birth, the more they want as they get older. My cat is a big soft baby. I work from home and he sleeps in my office all day - when he wakes up he "hugs" me and meows til I pet him. He's precious!

Very easy when we go out of town for weekend--food, lots of clean water, fresh litter and he's good to go.

3babybeans

I LOVE my 2 dogs. The shedding depends on the breed & sometimes the season. They are a lot of work, though especially if you resuce them from shelters or agencies. We like to say we have a "special needs dog" b/c she has so many anxiety issues. The things she did when we first got her would just make your jaw drop. After a lot of work, though, she's a really good dog.

My cat is a PITA & she sheds worse than the dogs. BUT, my husband loves her so we keep her. She's good company when she wants to be good company. I've had good cats in the past, but she's not one of my favorites.

This may sound funny, but have you ever though of ferrets? My best friend has 4 & she loves them dearly. They play & are entertaining. The only thing that is high maintenance about them is that their cage needs cleaned frequently.

Just do your research & I'm sure you'll make the right decision for you! Good luck! Pets are awesome!

DBranchaud

hmm... long hours. Maybe hamsters, mice, rats, or gerbils? If you have more room, maybe a bunny or a ferret (assuming it isn't illegal in your state).

saying from previous experience FERRETS SMELL WORSE THAN 1000 EVILS IF YOU DON"T CLEAN THEM EVERYDAY!!!!! my niece has a ferret and it's smelling up MY basement


here's a fact. The entire digestive procees takes 3 hours.

Javancub

I have 5 cats. Not single . haha. I can say that I dont have alot of hair problems, 4 out of 5 are short haired. I also use a de-shedder near the beginning of the summer to reduce the shedding. Works like a charm.:bigsmile: I have an automatic toy that I can turn on and set the timer:bigsmile: . I usually put that on when I'm trying to cook dinner or for me time. My cats love it! They love laser lights too, when I don't feel like getting up to run around with them, I'll use the laser to play. Get a few little balls with a bell inside and that keeps them pretty busy. Or, get what they call a cat tree from walmart, best 30 bucks I've spent on a toy. They play on that for hours. Cats are pretty easy to take care of, just get a mat for the litter box so litter doesn't go everywhere or the igloo litter box. It has stairs to collect the litter. It really works. And thats about it.