Pet Considerations
Think before you adopt
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Perhaps you spotted a cute kitten in a shelter ad. Or maybe you’d like a puppy similar to one you had as a kid.
Before you let soft fur and sweet expressions get the best of you, consider how a pet would fit into your changing lifestyle. At this stage, you have more going on than you may think.
Many 55-plussers plan to travel in retirement. Cicero’s Cari Thompson, owner of Rock The Cat Spa, cautions people on the cusp of retirement to consider how they plan to spend their time.
“Now that you’re retired, you may want to visit your kids,” she said. “You have to plan on who or where your cat will be when you’re not around during a vacation.”
She added that some pets enjoy traveling — especially if exposed to it early on. To increase the chances, don’t take your cat along only when going to the vets and do leave the carrier out all the time with a bed and toys in it to build a positive association.
Many places of lodging do not accept pets. Most cats would rather stay at home than at someone else’s place. It’s easier to have a pet sitter care for felines.
“When adopting a cat, consider health issues coming up,” Thompson said. “If the pet is older, there could be diabetes or kidney issues. There’re medications. Especially if it’s a diabetic cat, not a lot of boarders do it. You have to do medical boarding. If the cat is overweight, they’re more likely to have diabetes or health issues.”
Choosing the right pet matters for its compatibility. Most dog and cat breeds have a baseline of energy expenditure. For example, the Maine Coon cat remains playful and kitten-like for years. Greyhounds are said to be couch potatoes with lower exercise needs. Australian shepherds are energetic dogs that enjoy plenty of activity.
“I’ve had some customers get a certain breed and thought their pet would be the exception, like Bengals not destroying their house,” Thompson said. “Or Persians that won’t need brushing every day.”
The size of a dog also matters. A tiny dog may be a tripping hazard to someone prone to falls. A large dog can knock down or pull down its owner. However, proper training can mitigate this effect. Lighter color fur may help make your pet more visible in dim lighting, although a reflective collar can help also.
“Are you physically able to hold the dog?” said Dave Wilbert, dog trainer and owner of Sit Means Sit in Syracuse. “Are you ready to make the commitment to the energy the dog has? Consider the age. Are you ready for a puppy? They require a lot more energy up front for training. There’s housebreaking and chewing. Would an adult rescue make more sense? They’re out of the puppy phase of life.”
Planning for a pet means considering one’s mortality.
Planning who will take your pets when you pass — preferably someone your pets know and trust — can ensure that the animals won’t go to a shelter and suffer.
If your teens at home now help with pet care, they’ll leave home eventually and it will all be up to you. As you age, will you be capable of keeping up with Fido and Fluffy if you need surgery or become less physically robust? Walking a dog is tougher than changing cat litter — but in either case, a little help and the right products make a difference. A fenced yard, clean-up service and for exercise a dog walker can make caring for a pooch simpler. For cats, lightweight cat litter takes the heavy lifting out of cat care (some cats dislike this type of litter, so introduce it slowly).
Andrea Giordano, dog trainer and owner of Dogs Among Us in Oswego, stressed planning for unexpected pet health expenses, along with fixed expenses like grooming, food and litter, can help pet care stay within the budget.
“What type of support do you have from family and friends?” she said. “Can someone assist them with the care of the pet should they fall ill or another member of the household fall ill? Can someone assist with daily walks or take in the pet should they become hospitalized?”
She encourages pet owners to create a succession plan for pet care for both short-term and long-term care. Many people believe that their adult children will take in their pet. However, Giordano said that often, this doesn’t happen.
In case of emergencies like car accidents, it’s important to provide contact information for whoever is designated to care for the pets at home (or in the car).
“It could be part of their ICE information or with the registration in the glovebox,” Giordano said.
As a retired state trooper, Giordano said that she almost never saw such a note. However, it can make the difference between a pet suffering neglect or receiving prompter care after an accident.