Take Your Pick: Litter Everywhere or Constant Drool
Who doesn’t love cats? Who doesn’t love dogs? Both are adorable, and they do wonders for our physical and mental health! However, pet ownership isn’t always a walk in the dog park, and we’re here to reveal the stuff no one talks about.
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1. Astronomical Vet Bills
While any vet bill can prove troublesome, some dogs come with an onslaught of health problems. You’re then left to pick up the bill, manage their care, and try not to worry yourself sick. Studies show that many dog owners can’t foot a bill under $2,000, while more than half can’t afford $5,000—and unfortunately, those costs can only get worse.
2. Interrupted Sleep
Are you in the middle of a great nap? Doesn’t matter. Is it two o’clock in the morning? Also doesn’t matter. Dogs may have an internal schedule, but that won’t stop them from barking or whining at random times! Though it could indicate a health issue, sometimes it just boils down to their personality.
3. Disruptive Behaviors
Dogs are a lot of work, and pet parents need to steel themselves against the challenge. They might rip up carpets when they’re bored. They may scratch the door when they’re lonely. They might bark at any leaf that blows by the window. Most pet parents find quirks to be cute, but it can get on others’ nerves.
4. Training Can Be a Pain
If you’ve never trained a dog before, you’re in for a real mountain to climb! Some breeds are better than others, but proper training requires persistence and diligence regardless. You can always invest in a reputable trainer, but that’s more money out of pocket.
5. Get Ready to Clean
Long-haired, short-haired, it doesn’t matter! Puppies shed, they drool, and they defecate at least once a day—and that’s all on you to clean. You probably knew all that going into dog ownership, but those furballs can surprise you with the mess they make.
6. You Don’t Really Have Days Off
Dogs are social creatures, and that means you’re on friendship duty 24/7. It sounds like a great gig until you get sick or held up at work, and you’re poor dog doesn’t understand. Some are also a little clingy, which only makes your lack of personal space worse.
7. Trying to Find Pet Care
Doggy daycare sounds adorable on paper, but it can cost a fortune if you work long hours. Boarding and dog walkers can cost a pretty penny too, which just adds to the seemingly endless expense of pet ownership.
8. Prepare for Personality Quirks
We love hilarious personalities, but they’re still a shock! You never know what your dog will be afraid of or who they’ll have a problem with—and you never know how you’ll have to adapt.
9. Your Lifestyle Changes
Kiss those lazy Sundays goodbye! Dogs need attention and daily exercise, so you’ll need to make the time. It doesn’t really matter if you had a long day at work or caught a cold; your puppy still needs you out and about.
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10. Dogs Do a Lot of Gross Things
Aside from the drooling and the daily poop patrol, dogs aren’t known for everyday hygiene. They’ll roll around in waste. They may even eat it. Dogs don’t really care about mud puddles, and they’ll definitely snatch small animals, too. So, you’ve been warned.
Cats aren’t in the clear either! Without further ado, it’s time to confront some hard truths about those little furballs.
1. Cats Can Be…Weird
To call cats weird is an understatement. They can scoot around at night, walk in creepy ways, and vocalize their need for food they won’t eat—all in the same day. Cats have big personalities, and it can be a little jarring if you’ve never had one before.
2. You Can’t Buy Their Love
Dogs are pretty easily paid off with a good snack. Cats? Not so much. There’s a reason owners are so surprised at a morsel of affection; cats can’t be bought, and it can take a while before they warm up to you.
3. Forget About Flowers
Oh, you thought that vase was safe on the table? You think that plant is well out of reach on the top shelf? Think again! Cats are climbers, miscreants, and unafraid to show those petals who’s boss.
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4. They’re Your New Sleep Paralysis Demon
You’ll probably never get a good night’s sleep with a cat in the house. They don’t exactly have what we call schedules, which means paws to the face in the middle of the night. Just be glad they didn’t sit directly on your face.
5. Litter Everywhere
No litterbox is big enough for your cat. They’ll bury their waste (forcing the humiliation of finding it) and scratch litter right out of the box and onto the floor. It’s probably best to keep a broom in the bathroom.
6. You Need to Appeal to Their Instincts
We mentioned that cats are climbers, but they’re also scratchers and scavengers. Without the means to do so, they’ll adhere to their instincts in destructive ways. Unless you want scratched furniture or newly discovered danger, invest in a cat tree and some good, interactive toys.
7. Everything is Coated in Fur
We hope you don’t like dark clothing because it’ll never be safe again. Cat hair on your clothes. Cat hair under the sofa. Cat hair in your mouth. It’ll be everywhere! It’s hard to believe such a tiny animal has that much to shed, but here we are.
8. Don’t Even Think About Petting Them
Well, it’s not that you can’t pet them. Don’t get us wrong, some cats are total velcro pets and won’t even let you go to the bathroom alone. But it’s really a dice roll on which ones will let you snuggle…and which ones will give you cut-eye for trying.
9. You Aren’t Ready for Hairballs
Say what you want about dogs—at least they don’t hack up hunks of their own hair. Cats are sticklers about their cleanliness, which sometimes means hours of grooming. While that’s a good thing, the aftermath of such a routine can be pretty gross.
10. They’re Ninjas
It’s not your house anymore, it’s your cat’s house, and that means no walking at night or sitting down without looking or getting up without permission. You’d be surprised just how sneaky cats can be, and they’ll make it your problem if you don’t sense their hiding spots.
