Has anyone got a dog/cat then regretted it?

[toastytea]

Basically q above. Would like to add to the family but wanted to hear some opinions.

Also, anyone got a cat/dog and really happy with their addition to the family?

Thanks

Had one while growing up and absolutely loved it. We can’t have one where we are but we’re on a site called “borrow my doggy” so have one to sit now and again which is wonderful

I've never regretted a pet, but have friend who got rescue dog as first dog, and regretted it. I've had rescue dogs, but, big but, I've owned many dogs and have discounted many possible rescues, as I can see by their breed characteristics / behaviour that they're not for me.

noooo, of course not regretted it.............

He's gorgeous and he will grow out of it and I wouldn't be without him, but oy the puppy stage can be hard work.

I keep showing him the breed info that he's supposed to be very calm and gentle and low energy, but he won't read it.

If it's a dog you are thinking of getting but are not sure why not try "Borrowmydoggy" first? You can literally try out having a dog and see how you get on.

I have had dogs and cats all my married life (over 30 years). I haven't regretted any of them although I did find having a puppy very hard work and for a couple of weeks wondered if we had done the right thing.

One of my dogs now is a rescue and whilst I can get a bit frustrated by his behaviour - walking him is a nightmare because he is scared of everything and hates seeing other dogs (where I live is dog central!) - I don't regret getting him and certainly don't regret changing his awful life for a much better one.

In the gaps between dogs and cats when one died and we couldn't face getting another for a while, I always found our house felt empty.

We've had rescue dogs over the years. One in particular was a complete dick. We didn't give up on him,and he lived out his years with us, but he certainly wasn't an easy dog or one that I would have again if I could go back in time.

recently had to re home my dog after almost 7 years. I miss him SO MUCH he was such a character, but he just didn't get the attention he needed, I am in the process of a divorce so that attention was going to be even less.
I work long shifts (but have more days off)
Whilst we had him, he was a loving dog and very much part of our family, but.... it was hard work as he needed a lot of exercise, a lot of attentions, it cost a fortune in kennels whenever we went away, he needed a lot of training and was huge consideration when we moved house due to him jumping fences and needing a space to run around in the garden.

I have had cats for over twenty years and they can be equally as loving and comforting if had from kittens and are far easier to care for

consider it carefully as its broke my heart losing my dog

DD was mad for a dog. We borrowed a dog from a friend to walk twice a week after school. It took about six weeks before she was sick of it. We didn't get a dog. My Grandparents are great dog owners but they will tell you they are very tying. The amount of planning you have to do around which places will or won't let you bring dogs, and how long can you leave the dog before you have to get back... I love dogs, but other peoples.

Cats... we have been lucky with our cats. Our sofa is a bit wrecked by clawing but I accept that's part of having a cat.

Love my dog to bits
Waited years to get him, researched carefully etc etc
If I could turn the clock back we would probably be dogless

Absolutely no regrets! Love her more every day

Thanks everyone. Think I'll be going to a cat rescue! I've walked neighbours/friends dogs in the past cos I regularly go out walking. That's one of the things I really enjoy and why I would like a dog. However im not confident about training a puppy and would feel awful if I had to leave the dog at home all day for any reason. So not for me..yet!! I do wonder how other ppl manage to work, have kids and have a dog. Full on!!

We choose cats as puppies looked like a lot of hard work. Kittens/ cats are a lot more self sufficient and walk themselves!

There's a big difference between the amount of work involved in looking after dogs v looking after cats. As dogs are more work I expect more people regret getting a dog than getting a cat (with the exception of cats with behavioural issues).

Never experienced regretting any of my pets. It's good to know though that before getting a pet that you want, you consider the breed and if it's a fit to the family like if a large dog breed sits well with where you live plus the pet behavior. There are a lot to consider actually but I guess it's good to start with this one.

DD was mad for a dog. We borrowed a dog from a friend to walk twice a week after school. It took about six weeks before she was sick of it. We didn't get a dog.

This is a VERY good idea! If more people did this I think there would be a lot fewer regretful dog owners. We have several friends who've got puppies on a whim and dear god in heaven it looks like an utter fucking nightmare! I'd love a cat though. I always had a cat when I was younger and as long as you don't get a sprayer then they're great. They don't need exercise and will generally curl up and go to sleep when you're out.

no never regretted but as pp say there is a massive difference between puppies and dogs, between dogs and cats and kittens and cats. I have a dog, my 4th now and love the companionship and going out for walks but have had cats previously when I was out working longer hours - I always take on an adult rescue dog or cat would never take on a puppy. I do like cats but some seem to be out alot I have found and I was still lonely!

We got our cats from a cat rescue, they were six months and I really regret not getting them privately as tiny kittens. They were fine to start with but the boy started to get territorial and spraying everywhere and the female would hiss as she walked past him. It was horrid to live with. The boy cat then decided to leave home and we haven't seen him for nearly two years. Needless to say the girl cat is much happier, happy to sit on your lap and be stroked etc. From our experience I would go for one cat and have it from as young as you can from a family with children.

In between dogs...got a cat as not so tying...regretted it. Boring, selfish, ‘intruder’.

Got dog two years later. Intelligent, biddable breed. Fantastic!

A Maine Coon cat is the nearest thing between a cross of a dog and a cat. If I HAD to have another cat it would have to be a Maine Coon.

Now I feel the need to speak up for cats! Ours are lovely. We keep them in at night so they're around in the evening (apart from during the long daylight hours of the summer) and they are often around during the day, they pop in for food and attention, or have a snooze.

Obviously some cats have behavioural issues but you get dogs like that too.

If you do get a cat I think it's really important to observe their behaviour first. We saw ours when they were 5 or 6 weeks old and one of them curled up and went to sleep on DH's lap! So obviously we had to have her She is still very affectionate.

I don't regret getting my cat. He's lovely and we all adore him. However as he gets older he is costing us a lot in terms of insurance, special food, lots of cat litter as he goes out less. I have to admit we weren't prepared for this and we do miss out of other things because of it.
I'm not sure we'll get another pet until the kids are older and we're not paying for childcare too.
He is currently sitting on my lap purring though so worth it!

We got our 2 cats as 8 week old kittens. They are both boys (although were sold to us as girls!). Both neutered just over 4 months. Have never had issues with spraying or doing the toilet where they shouldn't. They seem to still get on and will share sleeping spaces/ lick each other. One is more receptive to clapping/ picking up than the other but the stand-offish one is the one who rubs round your legs to greet you or when you're getting their food for them

Honestly, yes. I regret my cat. And I feel bad saying that.

He is a yowler. Unbelieveably loud ones. I try to have him outside overnight as otherwise he has the whole house awake at 5. I find it so hard to get back to sleep if woken within an hour or so of when i'd be up anyway.

If it's raining or cold I keep him in and it exhausts me.

He is lovely, very cuddly and cute but yes in all honestly, if I knew then what I know now I wouldn't have adopted him.

No, but I suspect a lot of people do, especially these days with the popularity of unhealthy breeds.

PLEASE do a trial first! We thought we were ready for a dog, looked after a friend’s dog for a long weekend - we loved it, but realised that we didn’t want every weekend to have to revolve around the dog.

3 years later we still dog sit for various friends but haven’t committed yet to owning. We get best of both worlds that way. If you haven’t had one before it’s surprising how much of a tie it is.

You regret a cat when they go out jaunting once too often, and try unsuccessfully to play with the traffic; or when they bring in a succession of local (preferably small cute and rare) wildlife; or when they get old and senile, and you have to make That Decision.

Couple of house rabbits, maybe?

I agree about assessing the cat's personality first.

We currently have a stand-offish young cat who looks gloriously affronted if you try to cuddle her -- she's a rescue kitten, and even as a tiny thing they could tell that she wasn't going to be a lapcat (and also that she didn't like other cats, so would be best NOT homed with a sibling, which is unusual advice from this particular rescue).

She will occasionally walk delicately over your lap on the way to an unoccupied bit of sofa, or purr into your ear from the stairs. Otherwise she's strictly there to be admired from a distance.

Suits me quite well, as one of our previous cats was very loud, chatty and needy, and would stand between me and my computer screen or lie on the mousemat the whole bloody time.