DW knows all: pet edition

[oyceter]

So. I have had pet rats for the past 7 years, and although I love them to pieces, I think their short lifespans (2-3 years) are really wearing on me emotionally. (Poor Ed-rat. I think he is getting lonely too... he is getting kind of neurotic when I play with him.)

I think I am currently looking for a pet that isn't too high maintenance or expensive. I'm not interested in getting a dog, and I'm slightly allergic to cats. I'd prefer something that can't mess furniture up. I also tend to like the older guy rats because they're lazy and squishy and cuddly, as opposed to the more energetic girl rats. I'd also like something that lives for at least 5 years.

So far, I have been thinking of either ferrets or guinea pigs, but I have no idea outside of random things I've read on the Internet. I would also not be opposed to getting a litter-trained non-kitten cat or so, but have no idea how much work cats are. I'd also prefer adopting from a rescue agency over getting a pet from a breeder or pet store.

Also, I went to a local rat adoption fair and nearly succumbed. There was a pair of one-year-old boy rats, all fat and squishy, and one of them was a black berkshire like Fitz-rat, and one of them was a black rex like Ren. SO CUTE! Especially the black rex! He was even kind of balding like Ren! I so wanted to take them home! I always get so sad seeing the adult rats in adoption fairs, because their chances of being adopted are so low, thanks to the lifespan thing. I was trying to tell myself that if I got the two boys, maybe I wouldn't get as attached to them when they died in a year or so? Ha.

Comments

[oyceter]

Ooo okay. How much is it to keep cats? I vaguely know they require more vet visits and vaccinations and stuff than rats, but that's about all I know...

[sophia_helix]

The good thing about getting a shelter cat is that they've generally had all the major medical stuff done -- spaying/neutering, feline leukemia vaccine, and others. You are probably supposed to get more stuff done but, um, we never have. Lily's been to the doctor once since we got her, and that was for the big traumatic hit-by-car thing. Otherwise we buy a bag of cat food and a bag of crystal litter a month (we use less since she's half-outdoor) and that's all our expenses.

As someone says below, they can be a little more high maintenance temperment-wise, but it really, really depends on the animal. You would get along great, for example, with my mom's sleepy cat Noodle, who just wants to nap next to you and get petted sometimes. The people at the shelter will probably talk to you a lot about what you're looking for.

I recommend against hedgehogs, in the small rodent category -- not only are they illegal in CA, but they are tumor-prone and not really sociable or cuddly.

[mme_hardy]

If you're slightly allergic to cats, in my experience living with one will make you more so, especially if you give in to the insistence they make that they get to sleep with you.

But visiting the shelter would tell you -- if your eyes start to water, you'll know.

[jumpuphigh]

That's what I was going to say. Slightly allergic now means having to give up the cat later.

[tessercat]

My experience is the opposite: I got used to my cat (and dog, when we had one; being allergic to both), but other people's cats/dogs still set me off.

That said, the cat doesn't get to sleep on my side of the bed or get up in my face. He has my spouse for that. :)

[veejane]

My local SPCA gives a discount for adopting a cat that's more than a year old -- $80 inclusive of all shots and spaying, rather than $110. I think they really struggle to give away cats that are middle-aged, so they might be eager to work with you if you tell them what you're looking for. And yes, neutered middle-aged males tend to be mooshy, sedate fellows.

Officially cats are supposed to get checkups each year, and shots series on a 1-3 year basis. Rabies and FeLV (feline leukemia, which unlike human leukemia is an infectious disease) are the two big shots I can think of, although a solo, 100% indoor cat has very few sources of disease. I've slacked off and on about checkups for my cat, but she's 10 years old and healthy. That might be up to $100 a year if you're faithful, more if your cat has something like decaying teeth, as often strikes elderly cats. Rarely, some cats eat things like plastic bags and get an obstruction (this is a common, pricey problem with dogs), and that requires surgery and is expensive. My cat has never done this, because my cat is not so stupid she thinks a plastic bag is food.

I buy expensive food for my cat (Science Diet) and scoopable litter (more expensive, but more convenient) and spend maybe $40 every 3 months? Not sure on that. At any rate, she doesn't feel like a big commitment, money-wise.

[lady_ganesh]

An allergy note: My cat allergies seem to range from 'mild' to OH HELL NO, and we ended up adopting two kittens due to a long series of circumstances. Things seem fine. They are never allowed in my bedroom, and I Allerpet them once a week as the bottle says. It may be placebo, but it seems to work. We buy expensive food (which is expensive, especially for growing kittens) and expensive litter (which is not actually that much, because it's better quality-- I've had the same 40-lb bag since before Christmas).