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Original poster

Pets - pros and cons

82 replies

gold123 · 17/07/2004 19:15

Thinking of getting a family pet.

What pets do you have, what do you wish you hadn't had, pros and cons appreciated please.

I was thinking of a dog - it would be lovely to have one for many reasons and I think it would be a good way to get fit and healthy too

Can't quite decide, can't mention my thoughts to dh, because he would be out there getting one with very little thought.

OP posts:
sammymum · 14/07/2004 10:32

message for sweetkitty - i've 3 cats, just bought a leather sofa, and they hate it!!! won't sleep on it, nevermind scratching it. was worried about how the cats would react to dd, the two girls just ignore her, and the tom moved down the cellar - only see him at night now, started calling him a vampire!!

noddy5 · 14/07/2004 10:46

I have 1 big cat and a new kitten 10 weeks old.I love them both to bits.No cons only pros.This kitten has really had an effect on ds as he really loves it and has never shown interest before.I think pets make a house a home

Flouncetta · 14/07/2004 10:50

sammymum, snap. We've just got a leather suite too and our cat won't get on it at all. He has taken to sitting on the cushion on one of the kitchen chairs instead, or lounging on the carpet in the middle of the lounge like a big fur rug, when he isn't lolling about on our bed. I'm really pleased !!

On the pet side. I adore our cat. He is nearly 9 and has calmed down so much in last year or so that my two boys will now stroke him under my supervision ! Before he just used to bolt out of the room if there was a child anywhere near ! Would say a pet bought into a house with kids would be a lot more tolerant. My cat was there first and went a bit nuts when I had my boys.
Wouldn't be without him.

Flouncetta · 14/07/2004 10:52

by the way I'm Kayleigh - changed my name for another thread and forgot to change back

Thomcat · 17/07/2004 19:20

My cat just cost me just over £300, for an ear infection. He got in a scrap and a bit of scar tissue in his ear, got infected, he STANK, took him to vet, he got sedated, ear drum collapsed and needs antobiotics, £300!!!!!!!!!

He scratched side of sofe. He sleeps in places that he shouldn't and leaves cat hair behind. Lottie trues to eat from his cat bowl at every opportunity.

We all love him, esp Lottie.

Blackduck · 17/07/2004 19:24

Have a cat and a dog. Both insured!
Dog - cons - walking in the rain/snow/sleet. Dog hair everywhere, farty!, ds empties waterbowl on himself at regular intervals.
Pros - walks in the sun, ds loves him....

Cat - cons - hair, everywhere...
Pors - pretty self sufficient, can leave with neighbours poppingin if want to go on holiday....

Fio2 · 17/07/2004 19:33

i HAVE GOT 2 DOGS BUT VET BILLS ARE very very expensive. They do keep my house safe though. One thing I found though is people where I used to live werent very tolerant of dogs and barking and I DID used to keep them under control and I didnt used to work so was with them most of the day. But I STILL gotletters off environmental health complaining about them and monitoring the situation. Nothing ever came of it so the dogs musnt have been barking too much but it makes you feel really uncomfortable. Dogs are lovely though and I feel alot safer with them as my husband works away alot

I havent had 1 complaint about them since I moved!

Mine are cheap to feed too as they only like chappie

Blackduck · 17/07/2004 19:35

In my case the dog is cheap to feed...the cat isn't (only does Hill's and steamed chicken!)

Original poster
gold123 · 17/07/2004 19:37

I just have this vision of going up the chase and getting plenty of exercise and company - well yes OK I'll admit it, I think I need the company too.

I have thought about pets in the past and have always been worried about the commitment, but now my mum and dad have moved closer to me, that means if for some reason I have to be out for a long period of time, they are always there to walk/let out - they are pet ditherers too.

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Fio2 · 17/07/2004 19:38

awww gold dont remind me of the chase i miss it soooooo much...sniff sniff

it is one of the only things I miss, that and greenhall!

Blackduck · 17/07/2004 19:40

I think now I have ds it isn't as bad IYKWIM in that I have to get up and deal with him anyway, so factoring dog walks in isn't that bad. BC (before Child) I strongly resisted the dog thing (this is dp's love not mine...), partly because I knew it would be a big commitment what with the walks and going away and all that. I'm very lucky in that dp's parents have the dog when we go on holiday (ad he comes back a damn sight more well-behaved!)

motherinferior · 17/07/2004 20:00

We've just inherited a cat who is a BIG hit with the girls. Not sure how she feels about moving from sedate house in posh bit of North London with one old lady to chaotic house in scruffy bit of South London with a three year old who whoops with delight and a one year old who chuckles and tries to crawl over to her and grab her hair...but we all think she's a fab new addition to the Inferiority Complex.

zebra · 17/07/2004 20:00

Guinea Pigs: Don't bite, dont miss U, don't smell, dont have smelly poops, mow your lawn 4 U, minimal maintenance=clean cage 1x/week, look cute... Boys r more robust than girls, btw.

Fio2 · 17/07/2004 20:01

zebra my girl guinea pigs lived for 8 and 9 years! they were oap's

busybee123 · 17/07/2004 20:04

i am going to buy dd a gerbil tonight.....they only need cleaning every few weeks and its something she can love and look after thats not too much hassle...with no huge vets bills!!!

Thomcat · 17/07/2004 20:13

Yeah but guinea pigs make really annoying squealy noises.
Remember looking after the school one in summer holidays!

nutcracker · 17/07/2004 20:17

Am very interested in this thread as the kids would like a pet for their new house. I think that Dp is quite enough but they aren't convinced .

I would love a dog but again am worried about huge vet bills, leaving it alone for any length of time and it recking my house.

Dd1 asked for a gerbil but i really don't like them , or a rabitt which i don't think much of either.

I think fish would be the easiest but a bit boring.

zebra · 17/07/2004 20:18

Only when hungry, Thomcat?! I think they're cute noises.
Have had rats (friendly, trainable but too carniverous 4 my liking), an assortment of parrots, (sociable but chew & poop 2 much) & fish (pretty, smelly, sensitive).
Bet we dont have a ferret fan... or do we?

nutcracker · 17/07/2004 20:20

Dd keeps begging for a dog, she wants to call it Scooby

Original poster
gold123 · 17/07/2004 20:23

Just spoken to my mum who assures me that if I did get a dog she would be more than willing to kidnap it for the odd day and walk it. Before I mentioned it, she was moaning that her and my dad where on the way up the chase this afternoon, but went to B&Q instead, see I would save them some money too.

Weve had a cat in the past (when I lived at home), it was so independant that, he only ever wanted you at meal times, we had a hampster, it bit dd and ds - thankfully the shop took it back, and we have 3 goldfish, pretty but quite boring.

Will take all your comments on board and decide - if I do get a dog, is a puppy, bitch, dog or rescue the best to have ??? don't want one to big, so alsation, retriever size is out of question, I like spaniel size.

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Original poster
gold123 · 17/07/2004 20:26

love the name scooby, the kids would probably pick clifford though

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nutcracker · 17/07/2004 20:27

Dp has said no to a dog

He fails to remember that i don't usually take any notice of what he says .

I would only want a small one too Gold, and i think i'd prefer a bitch to a dog.

Original poster
gold123 · 17/07/2004 20:30

I think I am going to seriously look into this, tomorrow I will phone the vets and ask about costs involved - injections, the 'op' and insurance etc... does anyone else know the answer to these questions?

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nutcracker · 17/07/2004 20:30

Hmmm mine haven't thought of that yet, will have to avoid Clifford on t.v if we get one

nutcracker · 17/07/2004 20:30

I haven't a clue but will be interested to find out too.