Do I Have Enough Time for a Pet?

Gumtree’s guide will help you get to grips with how the most popular pets could fit in with you and your schedule. All to help ensure you have time for a new pet.

Cats are often thought of as independent pets that can fit into busy modern lives. The basic needs of a cat include feeding, interactive play, litter box maintenance, grooming and one-on-one attention. All this can take around an hour a day. However, many cats like their owner to be around for longer so that they can share affection. When considering how much time you should spend with your cat, it’s useful to remember that even felines that don’t like much physical contact can enjoy hanging out and sleeping in the same room as their owner.

Kittens are usually much more time consuming than older cats, This is because they require more time playing with cat toys to burn off energy and extra socialisation to help with their development. It’s a good idea to avoid leaving kittens under six months old alone for more than about four hours at a time. As cats get older, they tend to sleep more and are usually happy to be left alone for longer stretches. However, they’ll still need feeding, playtime and attention each day, plus grooming and care sessions at least weekly. Take a look at our guide to kitten development to understand what to expect in your kitten’s first year.

Caring for a dog and making sure it gets enough exercise each day can be time-consuming. Dogs normally need between 30 minutes and two hours of exercise a day, depending on the breed. They’ll also need to be fed twice a day. Plus it’s sensible to factor in one-on-one attention and playtime with dog toys, which could take about another hour. On top of that, they’ll require regular training and grooming sessions. A dog’s breed and individual personality will determine how long it can be left alone. But it’s a good rule of thumb to make sure that dogs aren’t on their own for more than about five hours at a time.

Puppies and newly adopted dogs usually require a lot of attention to make sure that they’re happy in their new homes. It’s essential to spend time getting them used to new routines and allowing them to bond with you and other people in your home. Puppies also require toilet training, so you might need to get up in the night to let them outside. It’s important not to leave puppies under three months old alone for more than an hour or two at a time. Long periods without company can lead to boredom, loneliness and toilet accidents. The amount of time puppies can spend on their own gradually increases as they become adults.

If you’re considering getting a dog for the first time, take a look at our advice article on the best dogs for first-time owners.

Making time for pets like rabbits can be easier than with larger animals as they can usually be left alone for around eight hours a day. Although rabbits are small animals, they require more daily care than you might expect. You should clean out your rabbit hutch every day and provide fresh bedding and straw. Looking after a rabbit might include about an hour of one-on-one attention each day. This could involve hand-feeding treats or encouraging them to try new toys like tubes. Short-coated rabbits usually need grooming about once a week, but long-coated breeds may require grooming every day. Most rabbits are happy with about three or four hours of exercise a day inside the home or in a large secure rabbit run where they can be supervised.

Fish are sometimes thought of as low-maintenance pets. But it can take time and attention to ensure that they’re as healthy as possible. It’s important to provide fish of all species with a sufficiently large tank that has a water filter and a pump. We’ve put together a handy guide so you know what fish tank size you’ll need. Tropical fish will usually require more equipment, such as a heater, a thermometer and lights – these also need upkeep. Feeding fish will only take between five and ten minutes a day. However, fish tank maintenance can add in extra care time. About twenty per cent of the water in a fish tank should be changed each week. During weekly cleaning, it’s important to remove algae, clean the filter and test the water with a testing kit.

Hamsters are usually nocturnal, so they often make good pets for people who are at home in the evening and at night-time. You should aim to handle a hamster for at least 20 minutes a day and allow them to run or explore outside their cage with supervision for at least 30 minutes a day. It’s best to clean a hamster cage at least once a week. But it might need more regular maintenance to remove soiled litter and nesting or bedding materials.

Guinea pigs require feeding each day, but most maintenance is done on a weekly or monthly basis. It’s crucial that guinea pigs get some time exercising outside of their hutch each day. You could aim to allow guinea pigs to spend one or two hours a day. Ideally they need to explore inside the home or in a secure run. There’s also care and maintenance to think about. It’s important to clean out a guinea pig hutch twice a week and give your guinea pig a wash once a month. If you have a short-haired guinea pig, it can be brushed once a week. While long-haired guinea pigs may benefit from being brushed every day.

It’s worth asking yourself a few extra questions before you commit to giving a new pet a home. For example, would you be available to take your pet to the vet if they had a health problem? You might also want to consider whether you would be able to afford care if your pet developed an illness. And, if you’re thinking of getting more than one animal, will you have the extra time to give all of them enough attention?

Once you feel certain you have the time, space and dedication for a new pet, you can begin to research breeds, And finally, get your home ready for the new arrival. You’ll find lots of useful advice on our pet guides. Handily, you’ll find lots of pet equipment and accessories on Gumtree.