There are some basic rules of thumb that every pet owner should know about. While they may not be 100% true for every pet, and in every nation, they are pretty correct most of the time and should be something people remember. Some of these rules are common sense. some are actually pet laws in many areas.

• Purebred animals must have registration papers, in most areas it is illegal to represent an animal as a purebred unless it has papers.
• Registration papers do not prove quality, only parentage.
• A breeder cannot offer a pet for sale at one price without papers, and another price with papers.
• It is the breeders responsibility to provide registration papers to the new owner.
• Pet stores sell “pet quality” animals, not breeding, or show, quality ones.
• Pet stores get the bulk of their pets from mass breeders where the animals are not handled prior to arrival at the store, thus they tend to be less friendly (particularly their small animals). 
• Pet stores will deny supporting puppy mills and low quality breeders, but no reputable breeder would ever sell to a store, nor would they need to.
• Reputable breeders take their dogs/cats to shows to prove their worth as breeding animals, and have them tested by veterinarians for genetic health concerns.
• Reputable breeders never advertise pups/kittens for sale in newspapers, they breed only AFTER they have a waiting list of people wanting pups.
• Reputable breeders will take back unwanted animals any time during their lifetime.
• Puppy mills are not always horridly filthy places but they are always bad because they breed for profit, rather than quality.
• Reputable breeders invest so much money in proving their dogs/cats worthiness that they do not make a profit.
• Never pay a cent for a dog, or cat, that is not vaccinated and has not been seen by a veterinarian.
• Unregistered cats or dogs are only worth the price of the medical that has been done to them prior to their being sold (eg. Vaccinations, worming).
• Designer dogs are unregistered cross bred dogs, with fancy names, and inflated price tags.
• Flea collars are not very effective against fleas and have been linked to some pet deaths.
• Over the counter worming medications do not kill all types of worms.
• Manx cats have a spinal deformity which often makes their tails shorter, but may also cause some litter box problems.
• Cats with litter box problems should be seen by a vet to rule out medical problems such as bladder infections.
• Declawing cats often results in them failing to use their litter, particularly later in life. Many also become nervous biters.
• Most cats are lactose intolerant and should never have milk, even the milk treat sold in some stores has no nutritional value.
• Cats tend to prefer non-scented clumping cat litter.
• Cats should not have fish, particularly tuna, it's yummy, but not particularly good for them.
• To help a cat improve its urinary tract health, an owner can feed it small amounts of canned food mixed with water to increase the cats water intake. *If a cat has an infection it should be treated by a vet.
• If you cannot keep a pet, in most areas it is illegal to turn the animal loose, as that is Animal Abandonment.

photo by Author.

• Pet food sold in grocery stores, or department stores, is usually junk.
• If a pet food has lots of commercials they are putting their money into advertising, not ingredients.
• If a pet food contains any “by-products” it is junk.
• If a cat or dog food contains corn in any of the first three ingredient positions, it is junk.
• If a cat or dog food has multicolored pieces (a marketing ploy for humans) it is junk.
• Better pet foods are sold in specialty stores, pet groomers, and some livestock supply stores.
• Veterinarians sometimes sell lower quality foods because the representative of that food convinced them it was good food. Vets often do not receive any in class instruction on food ingredients other than what company representatives tell them.
• Better food means less poop!
• Big dogs can do more damage when they bite, but it is often the small, poorly socialized dog that bites strangers.
• Kittens and puppies should not be allowed outside (specifically not off your property) until they are vaccinated.
• People who cannot afford to spay or neuter their cat or dog, can adopt one that is already fixed.
• Adoption from a non-profit society is cheaper in the long run than taking a free kitten or puppy and having the medical done to it on ones own.
• Hamsters, Hedgehogs, and Sugar Gliders, are all nocturnal, they make keep owners awake at night.
• Cedar shavings might smell good to owners, but harm the lungs of small animals.
• The bigger the cage, the better, but even still small pets need time out of their age.
• If a parent is not willing to help care for a pet, or to care for a pet if the child gets bored with it, they should not get a pet for their child.
• Smart pets, such as smart dogs, parrots, and so on, will be destructive if their mental needs are not met.
• Birds are like airplanes, not helicopters, their cages should be long with lots of flight room, not tall to fit into our homes.
• Most problem behaviors in pets start as the result of owner error.
• “Teacup” is a gimmick term given to small pets, often stunted through poor nutrition or bad genetics, they are prone to health problems.
• A shiny coat doesn't mean a healthy pet, it might mean high fat content in a food.
• Just because you “think” your pet is healthy, does not mean it is, see a veterinarian to be sure.
• In most areas an exotic pet is anything other than a cat, dog, or livestock.
• You "Buy" from stores and other owners, you "Adopt" from non-profit shelters.

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