After 5 cats, a horse, untold numbers of goldfish, and a hamster when our last cat passed away 11 years ago we decided as we approached retirement it was best to be pet less. We plan on traveling, and finding care for a pet is work. And to be honest the days of "stink face" after you come back are brutal. If there was a way I could make sure they UNDERSTOOD we were coming back, I would feel a whole lot better.