Pet Parent Basics from a Seasoned Pet Professional

Understanding your new puppy's or kitten's mental, physical, and veterinarian needs
Your pets grooming requirements based on genetics
Options for care, entertainment, and exercise based on energy level, temperament, and age
Understanding the mental and physical care changes for your aging senior pet

Cat or Dog Considerations?

Try not to feed into bias stereotypes. Having a bunch of cats does not make you crazy. In fact, most dog owners have at least 2 dogs because they are always afraid their first dog is going to get lonely. Not every cat home smells like a litter box and not every dog is allowed on the furniture. So, choose based on your lifestyle.
If you are not a morning person, you are not going to enjoy waking up in the middle of the night with a new puppy or senior dog that needs to go outside to pee. That doesn't mean a cat won't come tell you when it's breakfast time, but they aren't going to pee on your carpet waiting for you to get out of bed.
If you work from home, a dog may be the perfect option to keep you active before starting your work day, a quick walk during lunch, and another walk after your done working. So, if you're looking for something to give you a reason to be more active, a dog might be perfect for you.
It is very unlikely a dog will not have a potty accident in the house if you are going to be gone for an 8-hour workday, especially a puppy or a senior dog. People have told me their dogs are fine, and I have had dogs that could handle it sometimes, but it is really difficult for a dog to hold their bladder or bowels that long. Even I can't do that. You will have to take into consideration that you may need to pay for a mid-day dog walker or look into doggy daycare.
Not all cats lay around the house all day. My cat (the 5month old neighborhood stray) was a wild child when I was finally able to keep her in my apartment. As soon as I got into bed, she started playing with all her toys in the living room, or my feet on top of the covers. I had made her a cat wall, too. It sounded like it was going to fall off the wall the way she ran and jumped up and down it at night. She's calmed down now, but I almost thought I wasn't going to be able to keep her due to how rambunctious she used to be. I'm a light sleeper.

Picking Young vs. Older?

Choosing and picking up a new puppy or kitty: Most breeders that breed for profit only will sell them as early as 6 weeks old. Breeders that care about genetics, health, and proper bone structure will wait a minimum of 8 weeks before allowing people to take them home. It is common for reputable breeders to hold a deposit, even before the animals have been born. All puppies and kittens should have been dewormed (most are born with worms) and had at least one round of vaccinations before you pick them up.
It is totally fine if you pick a new baby from a shelter. They will have had a vet visit before being allowed to be adopted. Just because it comes from a shelter does not mean it will have a bunch of health or behavioral issues. Most pets in shelters have been found or brought in due to owners not realizing the cost and time a dog or cat needs, or other personal reasons.
Benefits of adopting a slightly older pet. When going through a shelter or foster system, the pet should have already been vaccinated and spayed (female) or neutered (male), and the staff should be able to tell you whether they do well with children and other pets, including any other personality traits and quirks.
Choosing a senior is genuinely a selfless act. This pet may have only a few years left, may have some health issues that will require special care and extra money, but you're giving them the gift of a loving home before they pass instead of passing inside a kennel.

Veterinarian Health

Many pets, other than cats and dogs, need veterinarian care, but cats and dogs need them more routinely.
If you have chosen a new puppy or kitten, understand that they will need a series of vaccinations done during its first few months with you. They get their first round at 6 or 8 weeks of age (depends when breeder decides, if they have done the first round for you). The puppy vaccinations are referred to DHPP or DAPP, which are a combination of vaccinations against fatal and infectious viruses. The kitten vaccinations are called FVRCP and FeLV (feline leukemia virus). These vaccinations for both puppies and kittens are done within a 6-week time frame, usually the 6-week age mark, the 8-week mark, and the 12th week mark. At the last visit, they will also receive the Rabies vaccination. A virus that is both highly contagious to human and animal, and fatal. It is recommended to also get the Bordetella vaccination at this time. It prevents the risk of catching respiratory infections and kennel couch from being around other pets at the clinic or park, the grooming salon, daycare, and boarding facilities. Once your pet has finished all these booster shots, they will only require one round of them all once a year. These days, vets have been offering some that last 2 to 3 years. Personally, I want to visit the vet every year to make sure mine is healthy.
Fleas and ticks are very easy for pets to get, even if they don't go outside. Fleas can squeeze in through window screens and even hitch a ride on your shoes or clothing. Believe me, I've seen them pop off my shoes when taking them off after walking around the dog park. You can get flea and tick preventative products from your vet, pet store, or even local Walmart. The oil is the most common form that works the best. I don't recommend the pill. It has been known to cause heart failure, and I truly believe that is what caused my dog to develop heart conditions shortly after trying the product for a couple years that had been recommended by my vet.

Grooming Health

Yes, Both Cats and Dogs need grooming.