PetsThis is a care guide, not veterinary advice. It covers housing, food, routine and safety. It does not diagnose or treat illness. If your pet seems unwell, is hurt or behaves differently, take it to a qualified veterinarian without delay.
Before you bring a pet home
- Count the years. A cat may live 15 years or more and a cockatiel 20. Will your home, work and family suit a pet for that long?
- Count the time. Be honest about how many hours you can give every day, including busy days.
- Count the cost. Food, housing, vet visits and care when you travel add up for the animal's whole life.
- Ask everyone at home. A pet needs the agreement of the whole household, and an adult who is responsible.
- Find a vet first. Know where you will take the animal before it arrives.
Useful pages
- Foods pets must never eat, in one table.
- The first week with a new pet.
- Summer, monsoon and fireworks care.
- Pets and the law in India.
Questions
Which pet is easiest to look after?
No pet is effortless. Fish need the least daily time once the tank is set up correctly, but the setting up takes care and patience. Hamsters need little space. Dogs need the most time. Use the "Which pet?" page to match a pet to your home and routine.
Can I keep a parrot or a tortoise I found or bought at a market?
Native Indian wild animals and birds, including parakeets, munias, mynas and the Indian star tortoise, are protected by law and must not be kept. Captive-bred budgerigars and cockatiels are legal. See the page on pets and the law.
How do I know if my pet is ill?
Changes are the sign: not eating, hiding, unusual tiredness, changes in droppings or breathing. These guides do not diagnose illness. Take the pet to a qualified vet without delay.
Should I buy or adopt?
Adoption gives a home to an animal that needs one, and shelters can tell you about its nature. If you buy, see where and how the animal was raised. Never buy on impulse.