Is it better to own more than one pet?
When it comes to owning pets some people believe that more is better. Certainly we can understand the added advantage of having more than one animal for companionship, but is it really a good idea? What are the implications of owning multiple pets for owners and the animals? Today Animal Friends is taking a closer look at whether multiple pets are a feasible idea.
Negatives
When owning multiple pets, you have to consider the costs. Food, bedding toys and the time you’ll need to put in to owning multiple pets will increase for each and every pet you add to the family. If a pet is allergic to a type of food, you will need to change brand; the same goes for shampoos or synthetic toys etc. All these costs can quickly rack up and before long the pets you love and adore are costing you more and more each month, and that is before you even consider veterinary costs. Vet bills are increasing all the time, and of course are usually one off payments when your pet has an accident, but may require repeat check-ups and care. If one of your pets catches an illness, however, you may be looking at that disease/infection spreading from pet to pet and suddenly you are dealing with multiple vet bills which can cost in excess of thousands of pounds, as well as causing a lot of stress and trauma for you, this can be very traumatic for the pets as well.
Multiple pets that are hyperactive or clumsy, extremely messy or territorial can often get into fights or trouble in your home and leave a lot of mess behind. If you are prepared to clear this mess up afterwards, this is obviously not going to be as much of a problem for you, but could cause unwanted stress or hassle. Pets that do not get on with each other can cause emotional and physical pain to each other, whilst upsetting you and causing more harm than good – it can be very distressing to have your pets fight and hurt each other, and if worse comes to worse you may even have to take them to the vets after causing serious damage to each other.
Benefits
Obviously there are a number of benefits to owning more than one pet, all of which can change depending on the individual. The first benefit is clearly companionship, which can apply to someone living by themselves, old or young, or to a family. Multiple pets can co-exist peacefully if brought up together properly, and can provide entertainment and friendship to a family group or a single person dependant on circumstance. Certainly, a person living by themselves will feel less alone if they have a cat or dog to look after, and you can therefore assume that by having more pets, they will feel less alone. Commonly, children who are brought up around pets that are well trained are more sociable and accepting people, but also can count the pet as a friend when growing up and can feel more secure with themselves. Any pet owner can tell you that their cat/dog/horse etc. is the best companion that you could ever find – maybe they’ve got a point!
It is well known that cats and dogs can sense when their owner is feeling unwell or stressed, and even sense the change in the owner’s biology before a seizure or similar attack. In this regard, having more than one pet will mean a higher chance of some forewarning before an accident. There has been a great deal of publicity over the years on how pets reduce stress levels, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and help us through emotional difficulty; all brilliant reasons to own more than one pet and stay healthier for longer.
When insuring pets, many pet insurance companies offer a multi-pet discount, where adding more than one pet to a policy equals a reduced premium per pet. In this manner, you can insure your pets for cheaper than it would cost to cover them individually at different insurers, which also means you can stay protected from rising vet bills, and have cover for when those accidents or illnesses do happen.
Animal Friends offers a wide range of comprehensive cover, so for great pet insurance with a multi-pet discount, call us on 0845 55 70 300 or email us at info@animalfriends.co.uk.
