The age at which a child is responsible enough to care for a pet on their own varies from child to child. Some children mature faster than others. Some are brighter than others. Some have more sensitive natures. Parents, for their part, should be responsible for pets until their child is mature enough to take care of their pet.

But even before a child is old enough to be the sole caregiver for their pet, they are learning valuable lessons.

A pet can teach a young child the importance of unconditional love. Pets, both dogs and cats, exhibit this unconditional love, albeit in different ways.

Dogs see their owners (and sometimes that includes the whole family, sometimes it doesn’t) as the person(s) who rule the universe. They enjoy pleasing their masters. But when a member of the family is sick, especially if he is that person with whom the dog has bonded the most, the dog takes on a sadness that makes one think that the dog may be sick too.

Cats, it seems, have a pretty lofty view of their own worth to the world. But even they can display love in ways we never thought possible. When a family member is sick, for example, a cat will often snuggle up next to the sick person and offer condolence purrs.

Children learn from caring for animals that those animals depend on them for their very existence. While a child can somehow learn to fend for itself, a cat or dog is completely dependent on the human population of the home to fill its food and water bowls.

Children learn patience and tolerance when caring for pets. They learn that potty training a puppy outdoors is often a daunting task, and that some kitties don’t grasp the concept of using a litter box right away. They learn that there will be accidents and that anger is not the way to deal with them.

They learn that pets can get bored with the same environment, just like people. They note that play is an important part of the day for kittens and puppies, just as it is with children. And they find that their pet’s needs are often inconvenient, or done at a time the child would prefer.

Children learn compassion by caring for pets. If their own pet gets sick, they learn that schedules and pills are important in caring for the sick. If your pets must receive injections, they tend to “feel the pain” for them.

Ultimately, by learning how to care for pets, children also learn a bit about parenting. They discover the kinds of patient, tolerant, and compassionate acts that their own parents have encountered in the midst of having a child.

Some believe that children should not have full responsibility for the care and feeding of their pets until they are 10 or 12 years old or older. For some, that may be true. But having pets in the family before that is a good idea.

There’s nothing better than having a pet cuddle up in bed with you while you moan about your horrible day. They just seem to understand.