choosing pet

Question
my parents say i can get a pet but im not sure what kind. we live in a big
house and have an acre or two of land. would u be able to recomend a pet?  

Answer
Hi, Amber.  Of course, I will recommend getting a cat, because they're my favorite animal!  Here are some reasons why cats are now America's most popular pet:

1.)  They're neat and tidy.  They don't require baths, and their fur stays clean and smells sweet.

2.)  They are easily litter trained.  That means you don't have to bring them outside during bad weather, like you do with dogs.  And litter training comes naturally to cats.  Housebreaking dogs can takes weeks or months.

3.)  They're usually quiet.  No barking or squaking.  The exception is the Siamese, which tends to be very talkative.

4.)  They're independent.  You can leave them alone for many hours without worry.  Dogs tend to get bored when left alone, and sometimes will chew things up and make messes.  This usually isn't a problem with cats.

5.)  They make nice lapwarmers.  Many dogs are too big to sit on laps.  Other pets refuse to be lap pets.  A lot of cats adore sitting on laps.

Some reasons why people may chose dogs over cats are:

1.)  To have someone to walk with and take for rides.

2.)  Dogs are easier to teach tricks to.

3.)  Dogs are usually more obedient, but this takes lots of time training.

4.)  To provide protection.

Other animals, like rabbits, mice, and birds, can make nice pets, but they aren't usually as cuddly as dogs or cats, and they require special diets.  They also need to be caged, and these cages need to be cleaned often.  Fish and lizards, etc., make nice pets for people who just want something pretty to look at but don't have much time to spend.

If you decide to get a cat, they make the best pets when they're kept indoors at all times, and they are spayed or neutered.  The outdoors are very dangerous today, with predators, traffic, parasites, diseases, etc.  In fact, the average lifespan of an indoor/outdoor cat is only 2-4 years.  The average lifespan of an indoor-only cat is 12-15 years.  And outdoor cats may run away for days or even weeks, and come home dirty, raggedy, and beat up, or worse, never come home at all.

Spaying and neutering prevents problems like urine marking in the house, loud crying, aggression, and also prevents many types of cancer and deadly infections.  

If you decide to go with a cat, you will need a litter box and a tall scratching post.  Kittens are pretty easily taught to scratch posts instead of furniture, and they take to litter boxes naturally.  

The cat will need his box scooped daily, and dumped out, washed, and refilled weekly.  He'll also need vaccinations.  You should bring the cat to the vet as soon as you get him to make sure he's healthy, and to discuss which vaccinations your cat should have.

Longhair cats should be brushed every day or two, and shorthair cats should be brushed once a week.  There are some other things that not all people do - trim their nails, brush their teeth.  Besides that, fresh water and food twice a day (or 3 times for kittens) is about all you'll need, along with some cat toys.  If possible, two cats are better than one.  They're happier with the company of another cat, and make better pets.