Is the perfect pet companion for you a dog or a cat?

If you plan to retire and spend most of your days out and about away from home, stop reading. A pet is not for you, and you are not for a pet. From a pet animal’s view, your decision to bring them into your home is a lifelong commitment. If you plan to enjoy time at home in your retirement with your perfect pet, keep reading.

Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet.

– French novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette

Which perfect pets have found their way into Australian households?

According to the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world.

If you go for a walk down your street, three out of every five houses you pass will be home to a pet. You’ll walk past more dogs than cats. Fish and birds may live in your neighbourhood, but there will be less of them than cats – just by preference, not because of the natural predator relationship! Every now and then you’ll pass by a household that has small mammals or reptiles in their midst.

Is your perfect pet to accompany you through your senior years, a dog or a cat? Many people believe they fall very cleanly into a dog person or cat person category. Keep an open mind when it comes to deciding on your perfect pet. You’ll be sharing each other’s lives for anywhere up to a couple of decades (or maybe more if you decide on a cat) so don’t assume anything.

Is a dog the perfect pet companion for you?

Dogs are social pack animals that love company. They seek and return affection. If their basic needs are met they’ll greet you happily every time you come home. Dogs’ basic needs include good nutrition, somewhere to sleep, shelter, hydration, exercise, training and grooming.

A pet dog is a perfect pet companion for you if you are:

• A confident leader. You’re someone who can be firm and consistent in setting expectations of acceptable behaviour and habits with housemates.
• At home more than you are out. Or, if you are out often, you’ll mostly take your four legged canine companion with you.
• An outside type, more than an inside type. Most breeds of dogs need plenty of outdoor space to exercise.
• Up for regular walks. You don’t need too much encouragement to head out for a stroll around your local neighbourhood, or further afield.
• Needy of approval and affection. Needy in a positive way of course!
• Someone who enjoys fussing over grooming. Brushing coats, trimming nails, washing, cleaning ears and eyes are regular commitments you’ll need to take on.
• A loyal companion. Dogs are loyal companions that thrive on loyal, warm companionship. If you’re generally aloof and prefer your companions to keep their distance a dog is not for you.
• Mostly routine in how you go about your day to day. Dogs like to know what is about to happen and when. If you feed your dog at 5:45pm, expect your dog to be giving you cues almost to the minute!
• Financially okay. You need to be able to budget for regular veterinary check-ups, regular flea and worming treatments, vaccinations and unplanned vet emergencies.
• Not fastidious. You are fairly laid back in that a stray dog hair or two won’t ruffle you too much (depending on the breed of the dog).
• Physically affectionate. You enjoy offering physical affection and are okay with petting your dog regularly.

If a dog is your kind of animal companion, its time for some more research. Explore which dog breed will best suit your lifestyle.

Is a cat the perfect pet companion for you?

Despite the myth, cats are sociable animals. For this reason, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) recommends bringing two cats into a household. Cats generally live longer than dogs – 20 years and older – and will be in your life for a long time. Cats need to be protected from disease and injury they can be exposed to when roaming. It is advisable to have a space to contain them in outside of daylight hours.

A pet cat is a perfect pet companion for you if you are:

• Confident in yourself. You are someone who doesn’t seek external approval from your companions, but you do enjoy being surprised by acknowledgement.
• At home more than you are out. Despite their reputation of being aloof, cats are social and enjoy companionship.
• More of an inside person than an outside person. It can be tricky to contain a cat that likes to roam. If you spend a lot of time outside, your cat is unlikely to be happy inside, alone. An alternative is to cat proof your garden, not an easy feat.
• Okay with having your pet, hairballs and kitty litter inside your home. Because of their roaming nature exposing them to cat fights, disease and injury, cats contained indoors generally live longer.
• Creative and okay with committing some of your physical space. Cats need mental stimulation when they’re not able to practice their instinctual hunting activities. Building cat climbing and scratching stations, or setting up interesting spaces with boxes and balls will help keep your cat mentally stimulated.
• Able to provide an enclosed space at night – preferably indoors and outdoors. From dusk to dawn, for their own safety and the safety of our wildlife, you need to be able to contain cats in a space they’ll be happy in.
• Financially okay. You need to be able to budget for regular veterinary check-ups, regular flea and worming treatments, vaccinations and unplanned vet emergencies.
• Not fastidious. You are fairly laid back in that a stray cat hair or two and coughed up hair balls won’t ruffle you too much (depending on the breed of the cat).

If a cat is your perfect pet companion, invest time in researching which breed will best suit your lifestyle and priorities.

For further research about finding your perfect pet

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) > Australia Knowledgebase

Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) > for the public > about pets

Better still, contact your local veterinarian.