Pet ownership is one of the true joys in life, but it has drawbacks. It's much more intensive than watching your pet lovingly and marveling at its cuteness! Recently, pet owners from around the world met in an online forum to reveal all the downsides of having a pet that people are afraid to discuss.
1. Loss of Freedom and Convenience
While pet ownership has countless advantages, there is a significant trade-off: Sacrificing convenience and freedom. Almost instantly, you are unable to move freely — even activities like going to a restaurant to meet friends involve meticulously planning around your pet's eating and bathroom habits.
Long-term vacations mean bringing your pet along, boarding them, or coaxing a family member or friend into looking after them while you're gone. It's a lot of work!
2. Worrying About Them
You may have noticed there's a language gap between pets and humans. Unfortunately, many owners of dogs and cats lament that it's hard to know what's wrong with them when they seem ill. "Sometimes they don't feel well and can't tell you what's bothering them," reports one owner.
3. Being A Pet Owner Makes Dealing With People Worse
If you think people, in general, are awful, wait until you get a wonderful pet who loves you unconditionally and never argues with you! It will ruin human beings for you. Regarding making us happy, pets are the best of the best.
4. Eventually Saying Goodbye
Many pet owners dread saying goodbye to their pets for good, citing it as the biggest downside to having a pet. "All those times you got irritated with them, you would give anything to do it again if you got to see them one more time," explains one woman. "Even the hard times are now great memories you wish you could live again. It never gets easier, no matter how old you are or how many pets you have."
5. Vet Visits Are Costly
When pets get older, visits to the vet become increasingly more common. Unfortunately, these visits quickly add up in cost, giving you yet another bill to pay during a time in your life when you're looking to cut down on expenses, not add more.
6. There's Hair and Fur Everywhere
While this downside doesn't exist if you only have goldfish, with most pets, it applies. Pet ownership is synonymous with two words: Hair everywhere. Pet owners express constant disbelief over the amount of hair, fur, and general dirtiness that accumulates throughout their home once a pet is brought into the mix.
7. Cleaning Up After Them
Unless you've never seen a pet in action, you already know one of the most significant downsides to owning them: They make messes. From their bathroom habits to constant wear and tear in their home, many people get exhausted just thinking about the endless required clean-up sessions.
8. Harder To Find Places To Rent
Finding places to live as a pet owner means you'll sadly be prohibited from renting specific properties regardless of your renting history. "If you're a renter, finding a place to live with a pet can be a nightmare," explains one woman. "Finding a landlord who understands your bond with your pet is extremely difficult and rare."
9. They're a Huge Commitment
In most cases, having a pet isn't something you only have to deal with for a weekend. Pets frequently live up to 20 years — so in a way, pet ownership is similar to marriage, as it's just as "Til death do us part" as getting married.
10. Feeling Like You've Let Them Down
Many pet owners describe feelings of inadequacy when they find their schedules cannot meet their pet's demands. Let's face it: We'd all love to walk our dogs 50 times daily, but we don't have the time for it. This conundrum is a tough pill to swallow for many.
11. They Never Pamper You
Sure, they are huggable and loveable and sit with you on the couch or crowd you in the bed...but can they run your bath water or make your dinner? Sadly not.
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Adding a pet to your family can be one of life's greatest joys. Those suffering from mild or severe pet allergies may opt not to have pets. While there is no such thing as a genuinely hypoallergenic animal, there are pets you can own that are low allergen, making pet ownership a possibility if you have allergies.
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Pets and plants are alluring housemates, especially for the friendship and beauty they bestow. Some plants, however, are toxic to our furry friends, posing significant health risks when ingested. These plants harm your dog and cat's health, and you should avoid having them around your home. Source: Reddit.