A GUIDE FOR FIRST-TIME OWNERS

What to expect before getting your first pet.

Find a pet that fits your home, budget, and everyday life. Get the facts, hear from real owners, and make a plan before you bring one home.

Compare first pets Read real stories

A relaxed dog and a tabby cat sitting together on a living room rug — Life with a pet starts at home.

01 Compare daily care 02 Work out the cost 03 Get your home ready

01 / FIND YOUR FIT

What fits your life?

Start with an ordinary weekday. Think about who handles feeding, cleaning, exercise, and care when you’re away.

Dogs

Varies by size and breed

Walks, bathroom breaks, feeding, play, and training.

Before you decide

Plan daytime care when nobody is home. Ask about the individual dog’s exercise and training needs.

ASPCA dog care ↗

Cats

Around 12 years on average

Meals, fresh water, a clean litter box, and daily play.

Before you decide

Make room for scratching, climbing, and a quiet place to retreat. Check who can stop by when you travel.

ASPCA cat care ↗

Rabbits

8–12 years

Daily hay, water, cleanup, and time to move around.

Before you decide

Plan space for a compatible rabbit companion and check that you can reach a rabbit-savvy vet.

Blue Cross rabbit care ↗

Guinea pigs

4–8 years

Hay, fresh food and water, and daily spot-cleaning.

Before you decide

Plan for compatible companionship, a roomy enclosure, and a vet who sees guinea pigs.

Blue Cross guinea pig care ↗

Aquarium fish

Varies widely by species

Feed and observe the fish, check equipment, and make time for testing and water changes.

Before you decide

Pick a species before you buy a tank, and learn how to cycle the aquarium before adding fish.

RSPCA aquarium water quality ↗

Lifespans are planning estimates. Select an estimate to see its source.

02 / FROM PEOPLE WHO’VE BEEN THERE

Real first-pet stories

Read how people adjusted after bringing a pet home. These are summaries of independently published stories, with links to the originals.

Dog

Quiggley’s first months at home

Sarah Bradham’s first dog was an adult rescue. Early house-training setbacks left her overwhelmed. She asked other shelter volunteers for help, and the routine gradually got easier.

What to take from it Plan who you’ll call if the first week feels harder than expected.

Oregon Humane Society magazine

Cat

The cat who came along for the moves

An Animal Welfare League of Alexandria foster volunteer recalls adopting Kira in college. The pair stayed together through moves and changing households for nearly 17 years.

What to take from it Think about how a pet will fit if you move or share a home with someone new.

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria

Rabbit

How Herman became a house rabbit

Marinell Harriman recalls finding a rabbit in her backyard when she had no experience caring for one. The outdoor hutch the family considered never went up, and Herman settled into life indoors.

What to take from it Work out where a rabbit can live and move around before you bring one home.

Rabbit.org interview

Fish

A first aquarium taught patience

Michelle Chen describes getting her first tank as a child, learning about freshwater ecosystems, and discovering how slowly an aquarium changes even when you’re paying close attention.

What to take from it Budget time to learn how the tank works before you buy the fish.

KQED Perspectives

03 / DO THE MATH

What will the first year cost?

Use prices from your local shelter, vet, and pet supply store. Enter a zero for any item that doesn’t apply.

YOUR FIRST-YEAR ESTIMATE

$0.00

One-time costs: $0.00
Monthly costs: $0.00

One-time costs plus 12 months of ongoing expenses. Leave room for an unexpected vet bill or a change in your plans.

04 / BEFORE THE FIRST DAY

Make a plan for coming home.

Check these off before adoption day. You can print the list to take with you.

Check your lease or household rules and agree on who will handle daily care. Set up the habitat or a quiet place to settle in, with supplies ready. Ask about the animal’s routine, behavior, records, and any known care needs. Find a local vet who sees that species and note an after-hours option. Decide who will help when you travel or your schedule changes.

05 / ADOPTION IN THE U.S.

Find a shelter or rescue.

Start with your ZIP code or check your local government’s website for the municipal animal shelter, sometimes called the pound.

Search by ZIP code

Browse adoptable pets and check the listing organization’s application and fees.

Search Petfinder ↗Search Adopt a Pet ↗

Find a local shelter

The ASPCA offers a starting point for finding shelter and rescue organizations near you.

ASPCA shelter finder ↗

Check the city or county pound

Search your city or county name plus animal shelter or animal control. Use the official city or county site for hours, fees, and adoption rules.

See a county adoption page ↗

Ask what the fee includes, whether visits need an appointment, and what the shelter knows about the animal’s history and routine.