What do you think of having a cat or a dog during retirement. Are they a help or a hindrance?

JustBonee said:
Could not imagine life without my Bichon, Lil'Bear .... it's like having a small furry fitness trainer around. :)

He wakes me at 6AM everyday for our morning walk. And he knows when it's time for afternoon and evening walks too.
Without his daily determination, and need for exercise, I would probably get lazy.
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Only thing missing, is a whistle around his neck ...😄
 
We have an aging dog now and that might be our last dog. It becomes complicated to travel. But if I were alone, I think a small to medium size dog would be nice to have.

We have two outdoor cats that are very low maintenance. They have a heated space and get all their vet care. They will always come when called (to eat!) and earn their keep killing harmful rodents. We will keep having a few cats this way.

And yes, vet bills are becoming very high!
 

Muskrat said:
For those who want a pet but hesitate because they “might” outlive their pet may I suggest some sort of rescue. Not all shelters are “no kill”. Therefore you can feel like you are giving a life to something that may not get one any other way. If you are concerned about vet bills make decisions about what and what not you are willing to treat before younpick your animal. Most healthy vaccinated animals will need little to none healthxare after initial spay/neuter with care. Good luck with deciding…
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Little to no health care...except in cases like ours. We lived on a small dirt country road with only 3 houses on it. No one hardly ever came down the road, but one day an idiot decided to race down the road and hit our golden in front of our house. He ended up with 2 metal plates in his leg...thousands of dollars. The next golden we got had an allergy of some sort and had constant skin problems requiring special creams, shots, etc. at quite a cost. And no matter how much we cleaned his ears, he always seemed to get an ear infection...more expensive medicine and more trips to the vet. Add all that to regular office visits to the vet for all his required shots and you're talking quite a bit of money. I'm not even going to go into the cost of food.

It doesn't matter how healthy your pet is, things happen and it will cost you big time. So what are we "willing to treat"? Should we have put down our dog for a broken leg? Or bad allergies? No, you treat everything, grit your teeth and pay.
 
Pepper said:
Vets, like everyone else, have to be millionaires. I'm disgusted by their gouging and lost respect for them. Animals are just money to them; it's a job like any other job. They use our love for our pets against us, even by giving false hopes for dying pets so they can charge for mri's, x rays, etc. They are helping to make having pets a luxury.

Something's very wrong here. I've had cats most of my life and have only seen this greed since this century.

eta
as for adopting older pets, that just means more illness to pay for.
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We had two vets in a row that were overcharging jerks. Now we have a great one and we tell him often.
 
We have always had dogs. Hunting labs. About 13 years ago I adopted a Jack Russell from a nearby breeder. I always wanted to have a small dog. We have been inseparable. He's 15 now and wakes me up to go out at least once often twice a night. Its really starting to wear on me and interrupts my sleep. But I can't imagine life without him. I won't be replacing him when the time comes.
 
hawkdon said:
Well last eve I almost had me a cat!!! A yellow cat has been
coming by for food I leave out back porch...and I opened the door and spoke to him(?) and he walked right in....very nervous but petable and friendly...I was both surprised and excited...so he would come and go in and out, and I had set at the computer once and he started messing with my bare toes, and started nipping at me, so that was a sign for me to let him out again, I bleed to quickly to be chomped on by a excited cat....
If he keeps coming around I may call animal control and get him rescued.......but is was fun for awhile.....don
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A cat that is an outdoors cat and strange to your ways may nip at you to get your attention and want to play. If you kept the cat, those ways seem to disappear. My indoor, previously "feral" cat was that way at the beginning...no way now. I have also adopted two outdoor cats from the neighbors on the acreage next door. I let them in the garage at night. One of them liked to reach out and grab me with her paw because she wanted attention and hadn't had anyone pay attention to her much. I pet her every day and now she doesn't do that any more. Too bad more people don't realize that.
 
The sad reality is that millions of pets are killed in shelters every year. If you die before a pet at least it had a good home for awhile versus being killed within a few days.

19 years ago I got a Maltese and have mostly rescued older dogs that others don’t want. Some have been expensive in regard to vet bills and some very cheap.

Right now I have two that are 9 and 6. If I die a friend will take them. When I travel if it’s a road trip I take them and if not I hire a friend to live at my house. Life for me is not worth living without a dog.
 
NorthernLight said:
My then-boyfriend knew I didn't like dogs. One day, out of the blue, he said I should get a dog. I reminded him that I didn't like dogs.

He said, "Just a little one." 😹
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Little ones are the worst in my opinion. I've owned both. We now have a small dog and we have to put down a pee pad for it every evening or it goes on the floor. If it's raining out, forget it. It will shit on the floor right in front of you. If we take him out in the rain he will spend all his time trying to get back in and not do his business. When he's in the house all he does is sleep.
 
Teacher Terry said:
I always train my little dogs to pee pads because it makes life so easy. When I had my house and was home would take them outside but if there was any kind of weather they would go on the covered patio 😂.
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I don't have the luxury of a covered patio. I have a covered living room, dining room, kitchen etc.
 
Youngster said:
I don't have the luxury of a covered patio. I have a covered living room, dining room, kitchen etc.
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I don’t either anymore as I live in a 855 sq ft condo now. I have potty pads in both bedrooms. Sometimes when I am gone one of them gets mad at me and pees or poops on the floor. I always check when I first get home so as not to step in it. Small dogs are less reliable than big ones in the potty department but definitely worth it for me.
 
You normally plan what happens to your "war chest" when you die, right?! Just be sure to have a couple people lined up to take your dog or cat if something should happen to you...after all, it can happen to younger people too - put it in your will.
 
Liberty said:
You normally plan what happens to your "war chest" when you die, right?! Just be sure to have a couple people lined up to take your dog or cat if something should happen to you...after all, it can happen to younger people too - put it in your will.
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Its so heart breaking to see senior dogs being given away because their owner died or went to a nursing home. Our town has a two dog limit which hubs thanks God for. He knows I'd bring every one home.
 
I wish to add to my response. I feel a cat or dog is appropriate only if we are able to care for it well on our own. Meaning taking the dog out to walk (assuming you do not have an enclosed yard) to be able to afford good quality food and vet care. Be able to change the kitty litter without a lot of assistance etc. A way to get the pet to regular vet visits etc.
 
Marie5656 said:
I wish to add to my response. I feel a cat or dog is appropriate only if we are able to care for it well on our own. Meaning taking the dog out to walk (assuming you do not have an enclosed yard) to be able to afford good quality food and vet care. Be able to change the kitty litter without a lot of assistance etc. A way to get the pet to regular vet visits etc.
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Marie, for small dogs you can have potty pads and don’t have to take it outside. Small dogs don’t need walks if you play with them inside. You can tire them out with a game of fetch. Older dogs just want to eat, sleep and be loved. Having a pet is also great for a senior’s mental health.
 
Liberty said:
You normally plan what happens to your "war chest" when you die, right?! Just be sure to have a couple people lined up to take your dog or cat if something should happen to you...after all, it can happen to younger people too - put it in your will.
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Sure, but not everyone has "a couple of people" in their lives, who would be willing to take on such a responsibility. I certainly don't.

A young woman had a lifestyle change and had to get rid of her dog. Someone thought this was shocking, and asked, "Why didn't her mother take the dog?" Yeah, like mom is a dumping ground for unwanted dogs.
 
Ronni said:
We will always have a dog. At the moment we have three, my old lady 3 pound chihuahua Jazz, my stepdaughter’s old man (60 pound mix) Racer, and our newest addition Remy, an 8 month old Chinese crested powderpuff.

My daughter is an animal lover and is very active in volunteering and fostering for one of our local shelters. I have a solid agreement with her that if something should happen to where we can’t care for a dog any more, she will take our dog(s) and either keep them herself or find forever homes for them.

Those of you who would like a pet but can’t afford the cost, you might want to consider fostering for your local shelter or humane association. Typically, the organization your fostering for pays all medical or other costs, and you provide a home till the animal can be adopted.

You can specialize in what you prefer too, with some shelters. Only small dogs, or just cats, or special needs animals, or tiny kittens or puppies who’ve lost their mama and need to be bottle fed….so many shelter needs so lots of choices.

My daughter because of her vet tech training, specializes in special needs/hospice fosters. Dogs who’ve been shot or Injured, dogs who are so shut down from stress/trauma that they’re almost catatonic, animals with neuro issues, parvovirus dogs, seniors who need to be evaluated because of age related issues…she’s taken them all in over time and most she’s nursed back to health or given the shelter a solid evaluation as to an animal’s demeanor. It’s very rewarding work for her.
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Your daughter is wonderful. We have fostered so many thru the years, & loved it. I cannot imagine life without a dog friend, & we have
two cats, too. Must move soon to Ind. Living, & found a place that will take them all. After we're gone, if any remain, our children who
are also active in rescue, will keep them. You can also set up a plan with a rescue organization. Dogs are the best anti depressant!
 
When we lost our two dogs due to old age, we decided to stay without animals. It did not last! The house was so empty! We decided to get a kitten from an animal shelter. She was looking for a partner, so we went back and got another kitten. They became wonderful cats. We enjoy them very much.
We live in a 55 plus community and dogs rule around here. They are always on a leash and they are well behaved. The owners clean up after them as well. We take care of each other. If someone is indisposed, a friend will quickly stepped in to take care of their animals or take a dog for a walk. Dogsitting is readily available as well. If people can no longer take care of their dog, they will ask one of us to take them in or find them a new home.
Some of my neighbors volunteer their time in animal shelters (no kill) and often become foster parents for an animal.
We have programs here in Florida for seniors to adopt senior dogs as well. It is very good for both of them.
 
I am a cat person & have pretty much had them my whole life. We just have Lucy now (a boy - long story on the name!!) He is almost 14. About 5 years ago a cat showed up at our home & we couldn't get it to leave. He looked pitiful - full of fleas, hair was so thin, etc. We ended up getting rid of the fleas, kept him in our garage for several months, then after a vet visit we moved him into our home (Lucy didn't really like that!). This cat was the most affectionate & friendliest cat that I ever had. Lucy is probably the least affectionate one! Anyway, this cat we rescued was diagnosed with feline diabetes after a couple years & only lived for a year after diagnoses. I spent so much money at the vet! Anyway, if we outlive Lucy I don't know if we'll get another cat. I know it would be lonely without.
 
NorthernLight said:
Sure, but not everyone has "a couple of people" in their lives, who would be willing to take on such a responsibility. I certainly don't.

A young woman had a lifestyle change and had to get rid of her dog. Someone thought this was shocking, and asked, "Why didn't her mother take the dog?" Yeah, like mom is a dumping ground for unwanted dogs.
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Have you checked with your local "no kill" shelter to see what they recommend? You might be surprised as they often have foster families ready to step up to the plate if necessary.
 

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