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Companion animals bring a great deal of benefits to the elderly, as they usually begin to notice the physical and psychological problems of aging. Having a pet you are responsible for can help improve your health while enriching your daily life.
Elderly people who have let go of their responsibilities may feel alone or isolated. Being responsible for an animal can help in your self-esteem, due to the great affection that is created with animals, and can also help in cases of depression. Furthermore, they improve physical activity and socialization.
Before choosing pets for the elderly, you should know what the future pet's needs are and whether or not it will have the capacity to take care of the animal completely. They must have empathy without being overwhelmed. Continue reading this PeritoAnimal article and find out what they are the best pets for seniors.
birds
Birds are very suitable companion animals for the elderly, especially for those people with limited mobility and that they can't take care of a pet that needs more attention.
Hearing them sing, cleaning their cage and feeding them can make a person have a cheerful and fun companion by their side, so they will feel constantly accompanied. In addition, the singing of these animals is so beautiful that you will brighten the day with just the first rays of sunlight.
Although birds don't need a lot of space, remember that the bigger your cage, the better it will live. Some of the easiest birds to care for and recommendable for the elderly are canaries, parakeets or cockatiel.
Cats
Cats are ideal for those people who have limited mobility and cannot go out for a walk. Yours care is basic, since they only need a litter box for their needs, a scraper, clean water and feed. In addition, they are very clean animals, taking care of their own hygiene.
House cats can spend long periods alone in the house if they have water and food, so if they have to go out to the doctor or be out all day, this won't be a problem for them. Remember that the ideal is to adopt an adult cat already neutered (adopting it, for example, in an animal refuge), this way you will have a calm cat who has already learned to do his own needs in the indicated place.
More and more homes for the elderly accept that cats accompany their owners, so if the elderly person needs to move into one, they can look for a place where they can continue living with their feline companion.
dogs
Dogs are the most recommended companion animals for seniors. Due to their needs, they force their owners to go out into the street, so improve their physical condition and socialize more. However, before choosing this option, you should consider the person's physical abilities.
A puppy needs to go out at least twice a day, so its owner should have enough mobility to carry it out. Also, puppies are very social animals, so they can't spend too much time alone or they can develop behavior and mood problems.
On the other hand, those people who have the ability to live with one, will be lucky enough to share their life with an animal that will give an unconditional affection and that it will help reduce the chances of suffering from diseases such as osteoporosis, arthritis or hypertension, for example.
As with cats, it is preferable to adopt an adult dog. Puppies have too much energy and need more attention and care, so it can be too much for an elderly person. The ideal is to adopt dogs whose care is not too complicated, with short, strong fur and a calm character.
Remember that...
Regardless of whether it's a bird, a cat or a dog, everyone needs to have it on their side someone who can take care of the animal in case of any unforeseen circumstances. It is very important to understand that, no matter how independent an animal, it cannot go more than a day or two without supervision and companionship.
In addition, it is also highly recommended. bet on adult or elderly animals, since they have a calmer and kinder character.
