Do you travel frequently? Cats are definitely lower maintenance pets for travelers. For short trips out of town, you can often leave cats with a self feeder and water bowl, particularly if you have an automated litter box.

Are you looking for a companion who can run or walk with you? Active people often do better with active dog breeds. Many strong and sturdy breeds like Labrador retrievers can be trained to run right alongside runners.

How much time can you devote? – Dogs take more training than cats, and require more human interaction to be happy. If you need a really low maintenance animal, a dog is probably not for you.

How much space do you have? You can have either a dog or a cat in a small area, but not every breed of dog is suited to apartment living. Some dogs need plenty of exercise, and really need a fenced area for playing, along with regular walks with you.

How much are you looking to gain from the relationship? Though some cats are extremely friendly and loving, and some breeds of cat (like the Maine Coon) can even exhibit dog like behaviors, people who want a very interactive relationship with their pets usually choose dogs. Some cats can be somewhat aloof; preferring to dictate the level of interaction. Most dogs, on the other hand, will lap up every bit of time and attention you can give them.

How much cleanup are you willing to do? While you may have some cleanup to do with a puppy until he’s housetrained, most dogs will require very little cleaning up after them once they’re trained. With indoor cats, however, you must be prepared to clean the litter box daily unless you want your entire house to smell like the litter box.

Do you have children? Though either dogs or cats can be very good with children, you should consider your children’s ages and behavior when choosing a pet, and in determining what kind of pet to choose. Toddlers tend to play rough, and toddlers and puppies in combination can be tough to deal with. Middle aged dogs and cats are often good choices for families with small children, provided the pet has the right temperament. Most shelters can help you choose a pet that gets along well with little ones.

Keep in mind, however, that I am in no way discouraging families with children from having pets. Raising pets is a great childhood joy, and children and their pets often bond very closely. Children learn empathy and responsibility from pet ownership. But, when choosing your pet, you must be realistic about your family’s capabilities and you must be committed to training both the pet and the children on how to interact appropriately with each other.

Bringing home a new pet is a special joy. And, if you’ve chosen that pet wisely, it’s a joy that will last for many years to come.

Phyllis Zerkle blogs about how to peruse through online vet tech programs.