He wakes us up early in the morning, knocks things off of even the highest shelf, and tears up anything with feathers including preschool artwork. But we love him dearly and he is a part of the family. Any child who is old enough to understand not to pull tails or ears or squeeze too hard may be ready to have a pet. However, while even preschoolers can help with pet care tasks, like scooping dry food and filling water bowls, kids generally aren't ready to take primary responsibility for a pet until they are teens or possibly pre-teens. In addition to the cost of the animal itself, you may need to purchase bedding, cages, food, feeding dishes, or toys.
Food alone can be expensive, especially for a large dog or cat.
Veterinary care can also be expensive, especially for cats and dogs, which need to have regular checkups, vaccinations, and heartworm treatments if you live in an area with heartworms. And as the pet ages and needs more care, the cost of veterinary care goes up. Smaller pets are less expensive, but they still have recurring costs, like food. Before buying a pet, you'll have to analyze your budget and decide if you can afford it. Life style Another thing to consider is your lifestyle.