<p>If your kids grew up in a home with pets, a lot of them will probably want pets of their own some day. When do you think is a good age or life stage for a young person to get a pet?</p>
<p>By the way, this has nothing to do with me. It’s just something my friend and I have been discussing (I have animals, and he is considering getting one in the future), and I am wondering what more experienced people have to say.</p>
<p>“When do you think is a good age or life stage for a young person to get a pet?”</p>
<p>When they can provide a steady home, food, and attention and be able and willing to pay for medical care (some medical procedures can cost thousands of $$).</p>
<p>By the way, the question assumes that the person has financial means to support the said animal (vet bills, food, etc.)</p>
<p>I think for most students, college isn’t an ideal time to have a pet. Pets are a lot of responsibility and take up a lot of time (especially if you get a baby animal, and more specifically a puppy.) They can be expensive . . . Spay/neuter, annual vet exam, vaccinations, and the risk that it will eat something it shouldn’t and need more major vet bills. Pets limit your ability to travel; you will need to find someone to pet-sit for you or stay home. Even staying away all day can result in puddles on the rug if you have a dog. If some college acquaintances are stupid or irresponsible, the kid will have to have the guts to tell them “no” when they want to get the cat high or drunk. Some very responsible and “with it” kids can handle having a pet in college, though. I would recommend kids going that route get pet insurance in case of emergencies.</p>
<p>In terms of younger kids, like grade-schoolers or high school students, I would say a pet can be added to the family any time the parents can handle it. I say “the parents” because in many cases they will be the ones who end up taking care of the animal, no matter what the kid promises they’ll do for the pet. If the kid DOES end up walking, feeding, and training the pet, then hurrah! But mom and dad should always prepare themselves for the possibility that they will be taking care of Fido or Fluffy. It’s not fair to a pet to neglect its needs to “teach Junior a lesson.”</p>
<p>For kids interested in getting a pet, I would go with either something easily contained (rats, mice, gerbils–however, these animals will still need socialization, especially rats, which are very social) or a cat, preferably an adult cat. Cats can use a litterbox while you’re away and sleep a lot when you’re gone. Kittens require a lot more attention and get into a lot more trouble. I would recommend against a puppy or dog unless the kid has done a TON of research and is willing to commit to a TON of time to train and socialize the dog.</p>
<p>I didn’t have a dog until I was 11 and I kept telling my parents how my 6th grade teacher said every child should have a pet.</p>
<p>Our first cat came to us when she was about 5 months old and our daughter was 1 & 1/2.
We got our dog when our oldest was 12 and our youngest was four.
I think the age depends on the pet.
Before we had our dog, we had also had mice and a bunny.</p>
<p>But I am unclear if you are asking about what age your child would be ready, or when someone who is living on their own should get a pet.</p>
<p>It can be difficult to find a place to live with a dog or a cat, but that also depends on the city.
My daughter has been able to find places to live with a dog, although she currently doesn’t have one, she has been volunteering at the Humane Society and is trained as a foster parent for dogs recovering from surgery or otherwise fragile who are waiting for adoption.
That may be something to think about to give a connection to animals, but still the flexibility to travel, etc.</p>
<p>A dog is a big commitment ( so is a cat- our cats lived into their 20’s, although cats can stay by themselves for a few days, whereas a dog would need to be boarded)
Pets also can be expensive, just in the past year we have spent thousands of dollars for our elderly labs medical care, but she is part of our family and we wouldn’t consider anything less.</p>
<p>Bunsen Burner, I entered my response just as you entered yours. I think that should be a given. I think the question is more about certain limitations (not necessarily financial ones) that come with having a pet vs. the happiness that comes with having one.</p>
<p>A good stage in life for a young person to get a pet? After you get married and have a home with a yard, and your kids are old enough to help take care of the pet.</p>
<p>Emeraldkity4, just to clarify, I do mean someone living on their own/supporting themselves.</p>
<p>And yes, the limitations with finding apartments, travel, vacations is what I am talking about. Would you want your child to make such a big commitment early on (if their finances allow them), or would you want them to wait and not have to deal with as much responsibility early on?</p>
<p>And one more thing to clarify, I am not a college student any more (have to get my name changed!) and neither is the friend that I have been discussing it with. I also think college is a pretty bad time to get a pet.</p>
<p>It really depends on the pet. Dog? Cat? Fish? Each has its requirements. which vary considerably.</p>
<p>I had two cats while I was in college. My daughter had one. I think we were both good cat moms. A dog is a great deal more responsibility and I wouldn’t recommend it. </p>
<p>My daughter has never had any problems finding someone to take care of the cat for a day or two. For longer vacations, the cat drove home with her, complaining the whole way. Her cat had been her best friend from the age of 7–of course she went to college with her. (Reed allows cats in some dorms.) When the cat died last year–age 16 1/2–my daughter was with her for her final moments. (She has another cat now.)</p>
<p>To answer the question: you get a pet when you can’t stand the thought of living without one and are prepared to organize your life appropriately.</p>
<p>for recent college grads … travel is a HUGE consideration … if your job requires a lot of travel who will take care of your pet; or is it even fair to the pet (say a consultant travelling 4 nights a week) … even a hobby like skiing or hiking can be tough for someone who wants to get a dog (going away for weekends can be tough). I know folks who got pets while in apartments as undergrads and did fine … and others who never did because they thought they couldn’t proved a good enough home. It’s very dependent on the person, their lifestyle, and how important the pets are to them.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I take my cat to our lake house all the time. She complains pretty heartily when I first put her in her crate, but once the car gets going, I don’t hear a peep out of her. If she meowed all the way, I think I’d have a nervous breakdown! Your daughter must have a good temperment, lol.</p>
<p>No pets in college, too much commitment and too much moving around, but grad school I think it can work. My DD plans to take her/my/our cat when she heads to med school, she wants some one to love and the cat is older and content to be home alone all day yet still lovingly snuggly all night :)</p>
<p>I have a cat who meows incessantly while in a crate in the car and also gets so upset he starts to hyperventilate. 
All the places I’m interested in transfering to are at least six hours drive away. I am not looking forward to this. Maybe the vet can give him something to make him drowsy for six hours . . . (More likely it will just make him carsick and he’ll barf all over the car.)</p>
<p>It’s rare for cats to get carsick, but I don’t know if that would change if he was medicated. Personally, I’d ask the vet for something to calm him down. If he won’t do it, maybe your doctor could prescribe something for YOU (ha ha).</p>
<p>I think it depends on the person. We’ve had cats for as long as I can remember. I got “my own” cat when I was stationed in England. I thought it was funny- had to fill out adoption papers which had a statement in it that said if the RSPCA thought/heard I was abusing or mistreating my cat, they had the right to come into my house and take her away. Hazel made every move in my career- England, California, Washington, Oklahoma nad Virginia. She was 18 years old when we finally had to have her put to sleep. I was heart broken and still think about her, even though it’s been 5 years. She helped me grow in many ways and I think she helped me be a better parent to my two legged kids. I tell my friends who are thinking about having kids who aren’t sure- get a pet. If you can handle a dog or cat, then go for it. If you can’t handle a furry one, then you have no business raising the two legged variety… :)</p>
<p>All I can say- if you are going to get a pet- please go to the shelter or use petfinder dot com to get a pet, don’t pay for a pedigree. They have everything from cats, dogs, to horses, reptiles and little furries. There are too many pets without homes.</p>
<p>*If you can’t handle a furry one, then you have no business raising the two legged variety… *
you should see if you can keep a plant alive first.</p>
<p>When finances aren’t a consideration – whenever you want one! </p>
<p>I’m thinking that you will be able to find a home where you can have a pet, and you will be able to afford boarding or house sitters or day care as necessary – that’s because finances aren’t a problem!</p>
<p>My D’s former boyfriend gave her a cat for her 21st birthday. She was still in college at the time. The 1st time D made the 13 hour trip home with him (on winter break), he cryed for 8 hours almost nonstop. He’d sometimes take a break from meowing if she’d talk to him, or, his favorite, if she’d sing for him. She had anticipated having problems with travelling since he’d cry just making trips to the vet. The vet gave D valium for the cat. It did not seem to help. </p>
<p>D gave the cat a dose of valium before leaving our house to return to school. I saw what the drug did to him. He acted drunk and scared. He was running into furniture, slipping on the hard surface floors, and acting kind of panicky. We had to crate him so he wouldn’t hurt himself. He cried for several hours on D’s trip back to school.</p>
<p>Fast forward to graduation. D moved to NYC and kitty became my pet. D went directly from school to NYC, so my H and I drove the 13 hours with kitty back to our home. After seeing how valium affected him, we decided to try driving sans drugs. The cat meowed a couple of times as we pulled out of D’s apartment parking lot, then he settled down. We didn’t hear a single peep out of him the rest of the trip! My H think that perhaps the cat was frightened by the pitch of D’s car engine. Our car sounds different and perhaps to him it just didn’t sound scary. I also suspect that in a drugged state all car engines sound a lot scarier to him! We’ve made other shorter trips with the cat in the year and a half since we acquired him. He doesn’t like driving in town - too much turning and stopping - but he does really well on the highway. Once we hit the interstate he settles in and rides like a little troooper.</p>
<p>I’m a bit ambivalent about whether or not it was a good idea for D to get a cat while still in college. When H and I learned she’d received a kitten for her birthday we were 99% sure he’d end up becoming our pet. We knew D planned to move to NYC to pursue a theater career. We knew that she was likely to be moving around a lot in her 1st few years after graduation. If she ended up doing a nationwide tour, she’d literally be living out of hotel rooms. That’s not exactly compatible with cat ownership. On the one hand, D was happier having a cat companion at school. The cat she’d grown up with (who was 3 years older than she) died in November of her senior year of H.S. She really missed her. Getting a new cat filled a gap in D’s life. On the other hand, H and I knew that her career plans would most likely force her to turn her pet over to us. D still thinks that “someday” she’ll collect her cat and they’ll live together again. I don’t think it’s very likely. Even if she finally has a place where she can keep him, it will be hard on him to make the move. The cat is now 3 years old and my H and I have had him for 19 months. We’ve spent more time being his owners than D has!! We let D fantasize about being with kitty again, but the reality is, he considers me and H to be his “parents”.</p>