Cat or dog for first pet at 50?

[wonderingwhattodo50]

Would like a pet to add to our small family- me dh and dd 13. We both wfh part of the week and our office allows well behaved dogs too. We live on a busy road and have been trying to get a rescue cat for ages but have been declined. Our garden is full of tall trees and hedges so difficult to cat proof and I don’t like the idea of keeping a cat indoors all the time.

have always wanted a dog but worried about commitment. I mention my age as I have always wanted a dog so thought I should be able to have one at 50! but equally need to be realistic about the limitations

so honest accounts please. How hard is it having pets and what would you recommend in our circumstances?
thanks

Do you have time to walk a dog adequately?

What do you mean about your limitations? Have you got health issues? 50 obviously isn’t too old to get a dog and you can’t have a cat if you don’t have an indoor one so dog seems like the obvious choice as long as you can afford it and have time to walk it

You should get the animal that you want. Sounds ridiculous but they’re going to be a massive part of your life and involve huge sacrifices so you should really really want them.

Can’t speak about cats, I’m not a cat person. I love dogs, love training dogs and love going for long walks, but, I’ll be honest, the puppy stage nearly broke me. And I have an easy to train lab. The training stage is hard work but so worth it. Just don’t underestimate how much time you have to devote to a puppy or a rescue before they become an amazing dog.

You can rehome cats that are FIV positive - they’re not allowed outside, so you wouldn’t have to feel guilty about the decision to keep it in!

Lots of cats that can't go outside for various reasons would love to live with you. But I agree you have to go with your heart over whether a dog or cat as it's a massive long term commitment whatever you decide.

If you are going to get a cat, it must be an indoor one, with the main road so close. You can't train cats like you can dogs, and it'll be heartbreaking to hear it's been run over, or suffered. If it's going to be indoors, then get a young a kitten as you can. If they've never been outdoors, they don't seem to miss it, but you must make sure you keep them entertained or get two, so they're company for each other.
A dog, on the other hand is a lot more commitment. Walks, can you take them into anywhere when you go out. Take them with you on holiday, or if not who looks after them.
Don't forget insurance/vaccinations too. My wee dog's insurance has gone up no end this year, as she's getting older.
All that said, please try and rescue, not feed the breed of some breeders (I know not all)

When I say limitations I mean being in the office a couple of days a week, needing to take dc to football matches on the weekend ( where I don’t think dogs would be allowed) maybe a couple of holidays a year. I don’t think I’m going to retire any time soon so will not be off travelling the world but need to think about how tieing and what a commitment a dog would be.

You will need dog walkers to come in at least once a day for your office days. Possibly twice depending on breed and how long you are absent.

I have always taken DDog to football. He loves it!

Can you afford dog walkers on your office days? You are right about football, many don’t allow it and most prefer you not to even if they do allow it. But there’s no reason a dog can’t be left alone for a few hours on a Saturday when they are already used to it a few days during the week. Holidays is the same for any pet you get

@wonderingwhattodo50 It ties you enormously. We loved our dog but we’ve not had another one. You need someone to look after your dog every time you go somewhere and dog isn’t allowed. When they are young the dog cannot go everywhere and be quiet. Dog has to be left. It’s very limiting for holidays and dog sitting costs are mega. Do
you have anyone else to look after the dog if you want to go abroad? Are you ok taking dog with you everywhere? You will have dc at university and you will be tied to the dog.

Dogs are a lifestyle. You need to embrace the lifestyle or have very deep pockets. Our dig had 4 operations (2 on an eye and 2 knee ligament ops). Insurance covered eye ops but only 1 knee op. The knee op was £1400. This was 15 years ago! Heavens knows what the cost would be now. You need to budget for vets costs.

So, weigh it up. The money and outlay must be worth it. Even buying a decent pedigree dog costs £ thousands.

Yes I need to think about dc off at uni and being tied to a dog but suspect I will still be working anyway.

where else can’t dogs go? They seem to be allowed everywhere nowadays!

We have two dogs and a cat, and I honestly think it depends what you want from a pet. Cats are often very independent and do what they want, so if it's a close companionship you're after, a dog is more likely to suit.
My experience and opinion are quite different to the one above, as I absolutely don't think you need to take your dog everywhere with you/have someone to look after it every time you visit somewhere that's not dog friendly.
Obviously while you're training you need to build things up slowly, but once in that routine, many people (myself included) are able to leave their dogs at home for short times while they're at work, out shopping, etc. A lot of dogs can be trained to suit your routine - within reason of course -, so I wouldn't let things like a weekly football match be a reason you can't get a dog. As long as you provide the exercise and mental stimulation they need, you don't need to be home every hour of every day.
Holidays are trickier if you do want to go abroad and don't have anyone that will look after your dog. Dog sitters are very expensive unfortunately, so if you're not bothered about going abroad regularly then that obviously helps a lot.
When I was young, my parents would just take us on UK holidays to dog friendly cottages or caravans, and I'm sure there are more and more of these that pop up each year. There are doggy daycares in most areas that you can book them into if you want a day of activities you can't take dogs to.
I've never felt that having them is extremely limiting, especially in recent years - there are so many dog friendly cafes/restaurants, activities, campsites, holiday rentals, parks, etc. that you still have plenty of choice.
I definitely think dogs are worth the commitment, sacrifice and time if that's what you want. I have always lived with dogs though so I don't really know a life without!
Good luck whatever you decide :)

Agree with @SugarPlumFairyPop - depends entirely on what you want out of the experience. I’m a single parent and work FT (mostly from home but fairly regularly I need to travel). Ive had dogs for well over 20 years and could never be a cat owner. I love the affection I get from my dogs, and I’d also hate the loss of control of an animal out on its own.

I’ve walked twice a day now for so long I’d miss it, and on days when I need to be away he goes to my sister - we have a reciprocal arrangement and I have her dog when needed too. It’s this arrangement which makes it easy, and one which other dog owning friends have developed between them.

But dogs are a far bigger commitment than cats. It’s what you’re prepared to do that matters.

Team Cat here!

Cats are less high maintenance than dogs, but still need love & affection.

Kittens need more attention than adults, but still manageable for someone 50+.

I have two cats, they comfort and play with each other, but are very much lap cats that love a cuddle.

I’ve looked after friends’ dogs, and they were lovely, but needed a lot more attention. You can’t leave the dog alone for a day, or take it to some places. They need a lot of training if getting a puppy & seem to cost more (grooming, insurance and more vet visits due to likelier to have accidents). And you have to be prepared to walk the dog in all weathers, deal with socialising it etc. It’s a bigger commitment. I’d actually try a site like BorrowMyDoggy to temporarily dog sit local dogs for free to see if it’s for you.

Just to add I have pedigree cats that aren’t allowed outside, as they’re not street savvy and it was a condition of the breeder that sold them, which is common for pedigrees.

Some cat breeds are v people orientated, so don’t believe the myth of “independent cats”.

Lots of places don’t allow dogs - many beaches ban them, you can’t take them on a day out to the zoo or a theme park or a lot of NT properties if you want to go inside. They can’t go into a lot of service stations and if you bring them on holiday in the UK they can’t be left unattended in the vast majority of holiday homes or hotels - which means that if you’re away and bring your dog, a lot of attractions are suddenly off limits as are evening meals unless you’re happy to go to dog friendly pubs all the time (though many restrict dogs to outside or the bar anyway).

Many rescues have cats that need to be indoor cats, or you could consider building a catio.

Do you have anyone that could pet sit if you go away. Alot of people with dogs take them on holiday with them.

I have a cat who is indoor only. We see/hear about so many cats killed on the roads here and there are some horrible people around so we just decided it's safer to keep her in. She doesn't seem to mind, never cries to get out or races for the door opening. I would only get a dog if you are able to give it the attention it needs, dogs need to be walked and can't be left alone for too long, needs access to outside at all times for toileting. When we were looking at getting a pet we decided against a dog cos we both worked full time, now i don't work but I am not mobile enough to be able to walk a dog, a cat was our best choice.