Choosing A Pet

Pets are much treasured members of the family and bring us a tremendous amount of pleasure, but they are also a major responsibility and can have a huge impact on our lives.

Here are some important things to consider when making your choice of family pet.

How much spare time do you have to care for a pet?
How much space do you have in your home?
Do you have someone to look after your pet when you are away?
Are you aware of the long term cost of food, healthcare, veterinary care etc?

With your answers to these questions in mind, click on the headings below for more specific information on choosing a pet that will suit you and your lifestyle.

Dogs

Cats

Rabbits and other small furries

Reptiles, amphibians, birds and fish

Rabbits And Other Small Furries

One of the first considerations when thinking about a small mammal as a pet is how long a commitment you are happy to make. Rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets, on average, live for about 7 to 8 years, mice and hamsters for around 2 years, rats for around 3 years.

As a general rule with small furries, it is best to get them while they are young and handle them frequently to avoid them biting later on. If you do this, they are usually quite fun pets to have.

To find out more, please click on the headings below.

If you do not find all the information that you need, please click onto the Lifelearn link which will take you through to a 'pet information' site that we recommend.