If you're looking to get a new dog or cat, consider adopting an older pet. While kittens and puppies are incredibly adorable, they are a lot more work. Getting a mature pet has a tremendous upside. Here are just a few of the reasons to adopt an older pet.

Puppies and kittens need to be taught everything from where not to go to the bathroom to what not to chew on. You can spend endless hours trying to train them. If they're slow to learn, your patience can wear thin. Little to no training is required for older pets.

No potty training

Puppies are pee machines. They'll squat and pee right where they are until you train them not to. This can take weeks, or even months, to get past. Cleaning up mess after mess, throwing away ruined carpets and spending a fortune on wee pads isn't an issue