The internet loves cats (and doggos!), there’s no doubt about it. But scrolling through cute images of cats and kittens is not quite the same as taking on the responsibility to actually own one, or two, or many. You see, being a mom or a dad to the furry baby is a challenge on its own, which can make your and your pet’s life more fulfilling, happy, and adventurous.

Recently, more and more people are taking on the ‘adopt, don’t shop’ approach when owning a pet. This is tremendous news for all the poor animals stuck in shelters, patiently waiting for their second chance in life. Every single animal deserves one.

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked an unprecedented surge in pet adoption, showing how in times of crisis, many humans seek soul-soothing connection with animals. According to a report released last year by the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA), over three million UK households bought a pet during the pandemic.

The question remains whether these new cat parents have passed their challenge and are still just as eager to raise their furballs. So we reached out to Sophie Miller, and the representative of FOUR PAWS UK shared some very interesting and relevant insights into the current state of adopted pets in the UK.

Miller explained that while the study showed that 74% of the respondents claim their new pet helped their mental health, it also raised worrying welfare concerns for our fluffy friends. It turns out that 17% of families with children say that training their new pet was harder than expected, and 38% said it was like having a new baby.

Sadly, 5% of new owners had already given up their new pet. “A figure which sadly increased to 11% among families,” Miller added.

When asked whether it is common for rehoming and rescue centers to have the pet owners bring their pets back to the shelter from which they adopted them, Miller confirmed that’s indeed the case.

“Whilst FOUR PAWS doesn’t have any rehoming centers, there have been seemingly endless reports in the news around the high numbers of pets being handed over after lockdowns ended and the cost of living continues to rise,” she said and added that “at FOUR PAWS, we offer a range of information on how to prepare and know you are ready to adopt a pet.”

Moreover, following the rise in demand for dogs and puppies throughout the pandemic, FOUR PAWS has seen an increase in victims of the illegal puppy trade reporting their stories to them.

“Rising demand for furry friends has sadly led to a rise in people turning to the internet to buy a puppy. Here unscrupulous breeders make large profits through overbreeding in poor conditions, then selling on often sick puppies,” Miller told us.

She also said that her team works tirelessly to tackle the illegal puppy trade and advocates for families to adopt when they know they are fully prepared for a lifelong commitment.

Miller encourages everyone who’s thinking of adopting a pet to do their research before committing to adding a new friend to the family. FOUR PAWS' top tips for those seeking to buy a puppy are: “Always buy from a proven licensed breeder; Watch out for multiple ads from the same seller; Before you visit the puppy, call the seller and ask lots of questions; Never pay a deposit without seeing the puppy in person with mum; Be wary of breeders trying to sell puppies quickly.”

More tips from FOUR PAWS for potential new pet owners include finding out if the puppy is microchipped and ensuring you get all the necessary paperwork and vaccination papers.

Miller argues that if something doesn’t feel right, walk away. “It was very tempting for people to adopt a fluffy friend while spending more time at home during lockdown, but it’s important to keep in mind that our pets get used to a certain routine, and any sudden change can cause anxiety and behavioral changes.” She added that pets can often find it very difficult to adjust to having to spend significant amounts of time alone.

Since pet ownership is such a huge commitment with many ups and downs, there is a 30-Day Challenge for people to test if they would be able to handle the commitments of a new pet.