That's a really tough choice. I've never had a snake before but I've always wanted one, and they really are gorgeous animals. But at the same time I've had two cats so I've got some experience with them. They're somewhat high-maintenance, I mean you gotta clean their litter all the time and make sure they have food and water. But they're very sweet and good friends.

I think if I made the choice, I'd tell you to go with the snake, because it seems like it would make your life a little less complicated for a pet, but it's really up to you to choose. Let us know what you decide

I had a cat when I was younger and I currently own a ball python and have had garter and green snakes in the past, so I've had experience with both. Unfortunately, I remember very little of what it was like to own a cat, as I was very little myself.

Having raised Monty, my python, since he was a hatchling, though, I can say that snakes do make for nice pets. They won't love you like a cat might, but they most certainly do have personalities! Besides, I'd like to at least think that Monty enjoys my company at times, even if it's just a matter of being warm in my pocket. A proper setup (tank, heat source, humidity, etc.) may take some time and money, but once that's set up, it's just a matter of feeding them every week and cleaning their tank when necessary.

Size might prove to be an issue, though, as corn snakes can grow to be almost six feet in length. That doesn't mean that they will, but they can. I would recommend handling them often, too, as your snake would grow used to being picked up and perhaps come to expect and tolerate it quickly. There's nothing worse than a big bitey corn. XD

Also, while I'm rambling, something that I have found to be useful is to feed the snake outside of its tank, so that it does not come to associate a hand coming into its tank with food. (I have never once been bitten by any snake). I would also go with frozen-thawed mice as food and try to purchase a captive bred individual. Reptile shows are a great place to purchase herps and you will be amazed at all of the different color morphs that are available.

I'm not trying to sway you to the snake side, just trying to offer some thoughts on the matter. Best of luck with your decision whatever it may be!

I'm currently the owner of two corn snakes(a blizzard and a snow), and I've owned a ball python, as well. The thing about snakes is, in a lot of ways, they're more upkeep. Snakes have very special needs, and you need to ask yourself some questions before you get one.

1. Am I going to have the room for this?
As Scythe said, corn snakes can get up to six feet long. It's rare, but it's possible. While they don't get as BULKY as pythons do, corn snakes can definitely take up space, if you let them. Their length is often due to the size of the enclosure they're in. Put them in something super big? They'll have the space to grow.

2. Am I willing to have this animal for the next 10+ years?
Some breeds of snakes can live to be 30 years old. I don't think cornsnakes live THAT long - but 15-20 years is possible.

3. Am I willing to feed this animal other animals?
While some snakes will eat pre-frozen/killed food, some WILL. NOT. Some snakes won't touch a pre-killed animal. So you're going to have to toss cute, adorable small mice into an enclosure and watch as a snake suffocates it and then swallows it whole. When it gets older? You'll have to give it more than one cute, adorable, fuzzy mouse, no less. Are you sure you're capable of watching that? Because you can't toss a live mouse into a snake's enclosure and walk away and come back in a few minutes. You *have* to keep an eye on the mouse. They can, and will, bite and/or hurt your snake.

If your snakes ARE willing to eat/frozen thawed, that's great. Which means you're going to have to keep mice in your freezer or, if your pet-store sells them(Mine does, but I don't know that all will), you can buy them individually there, and then take them home and put them in warm water until they're NOT frozen. It's...messy, at times, and it can be a bit gross, if you're not willing to deal with that sort of thing.

4. Do I have the money to take care of a snake?
Snakes, as I said, have certain needs. They need a suitable enclosure(which, admittedly, can be bought for relatively cheap), they need the proper heating, plus a thermostat to CONTROL that heating. They needs hides to feel safe in, and either newspaper and/or some type of proper bedding. I use newspaper and aspen shavings for my cornsnakes. Heating elements(I use under tank heaters, and I find these work better than lamps, as they provide more even heat; not to mention with turning on/off of lamps due to thermostats to be distracting if it's in my room) aren't always cheap, especially as they get bigger to accomodate bigger snakes. I'm not saying they're SUPER expensive, but it's something you need to keep in mind.

You'll also have to buy mice once a week. Said mice will get bigger as your snake gets bigger, and the bigger they are, the more expensive they get.

5. Is everyone in the house going to be cool with this?
If you've got parents and/or siblings and/or significant others that don't like snakes? This can put a damper on things. I couldn't buy a snake at all until after I'd moved out of my mom's house.


If you answer no to ANY of these questions? Do not get a snake. I know they're pretty and fascinating to watch, but just because they have scales and aren't furry doesn't mean they don't deserve the same care as any other animal. I can't count how many times I've read about people thinking that snakes are awesome pets to have, and then realize that they can't care for them, or didn't expect them to get that big, or didn't expect them to live that long, and the next thing you know they've let them go in their back yard and now there are snakes everywhere.

If you're still thinking about it, please, do as much research as you can about them before you buy a snake. I researched for nearly a year before finally going ahead and buying my first ball python. I would recommend going here and reading all of that. All of it. And then move to the next FAQ. I also would honestly recommend you not buy from a pet store. More often than not, snakes at pet stores are not well cared for, are housed together, and very often, have mites. They often tend to be very, VERY overpriced. If you do want to get a snake, try to find a reputable breeder in your area. They'll have well-cared for snakes, and they may have color morphs to choose from, like mine.

On feeding: corns do constrict. Mind you, mine don't do it well - they were started on frozen/thawed, so their kill response isn't as great as I'd like it to be - at least, not in Finn. Sumias strikes and kills just like Siliast(my ball python) did. So this might be different per snake. Whoever you buy from, you're going to want to ask about their feeding habits. If they were started off on live, for example, they may not want to make the transition to F/T(frozen/thawed), and vice versa. It's always best to ask the people you get the snake from about these things. It's also important that you ask about things like hatch dates/shed dates, so you can keep up with growth. If the person can't tell you hatch dates, and you get from a pet store, that's expected, but they SHOULD know and keep up with shed dates. If not? Probably not a good idea to buy from them, as these are important things people should keep up with.

Scythe is right, though - snakes can be picky eaters. BPs are notorious for going months without eating - but you still have to always buy them food, in case they decide to change their minds. Which means you may have to dispose of frozen and/or live mice. Now, with the live ones, you could, in theory, just put them in a seperate enclosure and then feed them until the next week - but the second you do that, you might get attached to it, and then you can't bring yourself to feed it to the snake.

Yes. This DOES happen.

As for the heat issue, Scythe's right. Cornsnakes don't bask, per se, but there does need to be a gradient heat for them, 77-83is on the 'warm' side, and about 73-75 on the 'cool' side. This is easily do-able with one under tank heater(UTH) pad.

On one hand, you can play with cats. You can get all kinds of cat toys.

I'm not so familiar with snakes, but this is what I've heard.

You can only hold them for so long, you have to watch them and make sure everything is safe if you let them explore. They're prone to get some kind of mites that I've heard is hard to treat. You have to invest in heat rocks, and lamps, the bulbs go out a lot and aren't very cheap.

In regards to what Calinka said....

If you're looking for a companion? Get a cat. Get something that you can snuggle up with, something that will show you affection. While snakes do have personalities, honestly, they're not like cats - and certainly not like dogs. They won't come and jump in your lap. They won't look at you imploringly when they want attention.

Snakes are more of a hobby. A living hobby, mind you, but still a hobby. One that can become quite expensive, no less - if only because when you get one snake? You tend to want to get more. It's strange, but true - because they are easy to care for and beautiful to look at, most people who've ever REALLY owned a snake have all said they'd love to have more. I would. I'd love to have a room full of snakes, and trust me, it's hard to resist the siren's song of buying more.

But still, if you're looking for a real companion? Go with the cat.

Scythe: I knew she'd be white before I got her, so I figured I'd settle on her name before hand, right? Worst decision of my life. She's mean her namesake, and has bitten me 3 times.

you can feed a snake less often, carry them in your shirt, and snuggle them. they may not look so cute, but they're soft and cool to the touch, and you can let them help you with a mouse problem. but it is best to give them live food, so you have to deal with that aspect.

I'm gonna slip in here and add a little something to the cat side:

Cat's vary in personality. Not all cats are snugglebuddies, and not all will hide throughout the day. How your cat acts largely depends on their experiances. Now, I've had both my cats since birth, so they're very much accustomed to people and will happily spend time near them. However, I've known cats who were afraid of sunlight, who would charge people and bite them simply for being in the same room. And, unfortunately, it's very difficult to tell what kind of cat is in front of you if you're only with them a short time. (For example, at a pet store.)

So while I'm not saying you should necessarily go with a young cat, I am saying you shouldn't expect to come home with a loving ball of fluff-- right away. They might warm up to you. Who knows.

I don't have much experience with snakes, but I've got two cats of my own. I can tell you it's a challenge, many days, but they are wonderful, loving companions, and I consider my boys worth every penny and every frustration.
Every cat has its own quirks and challenges, and it varies not only from breed to breed but from cat to cat. If you're looking through shelters, there are a number of things you need to look out for.
--Upper respiratory diseases come with most shelter animals. It's like putting your child in school; that many people carrying tiny variations of every pathogen imaginable is a breeding ground for all kinds of nasties. If your local shelter has a doctor on staff and good enough funding they may be able to keep such problems under control pretty well, but it's still something to be ready for. If you are lucky enough to fall in love with a cat who has only been at the shelter for a day or two, it's less likely to happen. Some of the animals who have been there longer need a lot more help, and it's hard to turn away knowing that they may never get it - but if you aren't financially and emotionally stable enough to handle all of their needs, you have to. We have new clients come in all the time and it's absolutely heartbreaking when they realize they just can't do it.
--You will probably know nothing about the animal's past if it's adopted from a shelter. You probably won't find out that he/she is a cord chewer until you get home. I've lost hundreds of dollars in computer cables and phone chargers alone to that sweet orange fellow in the picture. I've lost sandwiches and soup and stuffed animals and a number of other crazy things, too. ...But they are also very prolific bug hunters and keep me safe from the cockroaches, silverfish, and spiders <3
I just have to be willing to accept that I may be licked after they've eaten the little beasties.
--Cats can be difficult to socialize. Many cats are one-person cats and take a long time to adjust to other people (or never do). If there's a significant other in your future, a cat may get jealous. Mine generally misbehave and keep me awake when/after my fiancee visits, even though they are friendly with him. One is terrified to be in public and is barely manageable at the vet, and the other is very nervous, even though I have socialized them both since they were 3 weeks old and 6 weeks old, respectively.
Cats which have been in foster homes may have less trouble with the above situations, but it's not a guaruntee.
--Will it be indoor only, outdoor only, or indoor-outdoor?
Outdoor only cats do not usually live beyond 6 or 7 years, and many are very tragic losses. They simply disappear, or you find them flat on the road, or they get into a bad fight and don't return home until they are very ill. They may get Feline Leukemia Virus and a host of other things (intestinal worms, ear mites, etc).
Indoor-outdoor cats face the same risks, and may also bring pests (such as fleas) into your home.
Indoor-only cats tend to live much longer (12 is not uncommon, 16-18 happens a bit less frequently -- depending on how well-maintained they are and genetics). They tend to be less prone to parasites, and if they have no contact with uninfected cats, they won't get FeLV. You can decline to vaccinate against FeLV and save a little bit on annual costs for indoor cats and the vet won't fuss at you much or at all.
How many years are you willing to commit to the cat? Its entire lifetime? What plans do you have if you are, for any reason, no longer able to accomodate the cat? What if the cat becomes ill in old age? Will you be able - financially and emotionally - to treat the cat until he/she is no longer comfortable?
--Will you declaw? Do you know the process? Are you absolutely certain the cat won't bolt out the door one day? Are you comfortable knowing that if your cat escapes and gets lost, it will be unable to hunt and defend itself?
--I don't know what law requires in your country, but there will definitely be some annual costs. Here, rabies vaccines are annual or once every three years (however, the vaccine which is licensed for three years has a higher risk of causing a cancerous tumor at the injection site as opposed to the one year vaccine). FVRCPP can become a three year vaccine. FeLV is an annual vaccine. If your country allows three year vaccines, you will save some money that way, but a full annual exam can still be costly.
Will you use a monthly flea and heartworm prevention? It may not be as necessary for an indoor cat (my boys get it once every couple of months instead of every month), but an outdoor or indoor-outdoor cat will be very uncomfortable without prevention. Heartworms are not as common in cats, but are increasing in occurance. Unlike dogs, cats cannot tolerate a larger worm burden. Even one heartworm can cause a murmur or put a cat into heart failure. Here, we have fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes year-round and prevention is necessary all year. In areas where it gets very cold in the winter and such parasites aren't as common, some preventions may not be needed in the winter.
Feeding isn't too expensive unless your cat requires a prescription diet (which can be a little pricey). I use a middle-quality food (Purina) and it costs me $26 USD for about a month and a half (8lbs, feeding two cats). Weight is sometimes an issue in cats, especially if they are indoor-only. Many cats do not self-regulate well and must be meal-fed instead of free-fed.
--Hairballs. Even a shorthaired cat can get hairballs. Fortunately, if they become a problem, they're usually easily treated and prevented with mild laxatives given on a regular basis, or a hairball formula food.
--Sometimes behavioral problems, such as urinating outside the litter box, are habitual and cannot be medically explained or treated. You may have to deal with such things from time to time, and you may have to learn to co-exist with some issues.

It's a lot, and a lot can go wrong, but I wouldn't trade my boys for anything in the world. Rowan knows when I've had a long day at work and will jump in my lap and "groom" me when I'm upset. Lieutenant Dan is a little less perceptive, and has some special needs (he "ain't got no leg"), but his antics never fail to make me smile. They both love to snuggle with me at night, and they are very warm and comfortable in a cold, lonely room at night. When they're out of the house (on the rare occasion that I have to leave them at work for something), I am utterly disappointed when I walk in the door and there aren't two fuzzy faces and excitedly shaking tails to greet me. They love to be with me no matter what, and they give me someone to go home to every night. If I have to go somewhere for more than a day, they can stay at the vet's or another boarding facility, or I just have a neighbor I trust come in and give them their food. Sometimes I even take them with me.
It takes the right cat and the right person to really click. Not any cat will do. When your little friend finds you, though, you'll have someone who will love you unconditionally for the rest of his/her life.


...Oops, that wasn't supposed to be an essay. xD

@Aivilo: Wow, thank you so much for all of that! You really help me put things into perspective >w< And as for the medical, feeding and indoor-outdoor-issues, the shelter which I plan to check out makes it a point to treat every cat for whatever they may have and they have vets as part of their personnel. They also keep records of each and every cat's past and individual behaviour and personality, they even give the first shots, ear-mark, spay and neuter the cats they get in and if you buy a kitten, the neutering is free when it comes of age. I live in an apartment on the top floor, so the cat escaping is very, VERY unlikely, as it'd have to go through 3 locked doors just to get outside and unless it's a feline Houdini, I don't see that happening XD
I plan to have it an indoor cat, but sometimes, if I can train it to it, I'll go for a walk with it on a leash in the next-door graveyard. I had a cat when I was a kid, and he got run over so I'm really quite paranoid in that respect...
Feeding won't be a problem, as the pet store I went to sell cheap catfood in high quality and in considerably large amounts, since it's a relatively unknown brand, which specializes in quality food which isn't spiked with soy or other things, like Royal Canine and other big brands tend to do.
I'm well aware of the responsibilities that come with keeping a cat or any pet for that matter and I'm determined to stay with it for the rest of its life and love it as unconditionally as I have any of my previous pets... My God, I still miss my beloved rabbit... And he died half a year ago TwT;;
As for the medical part, the shelter offers a yearly checkup and other such things for any cat adopted from it, but I'm gonna have to ask about vaccines against rabies and heartworm, I'm not completely sure about any of that, as a matter of fact... I had dogs at my parents' place, and they hardly went to the vet at all, if not for out black lab's chronic ear-thing... And since this cat is primarily going to be an indoor-cat, I don't think the medical-bill will be too long.
But this definitely gave me some good questions to ask, thank you very much! >w< I'll be checking up with Inges Kattehjem when I pay them a visit about all of this >w<

@Eyestrain: I know the feeling, me and my rabbit used to share the same bond and if he'd been here today, I would have definitely brought him with me as I moved... All of this is just getting me even more determined to get a being to share my life with again TwT

updated~

Thank you! >w< And he SO is TwT He's so attention-seeking, sweet and purring all the time, not to mention soft like you won't believe and so random at times XD
In other words, he's just the most well-behaved cat I've ever met while still being cat enough to boss me around XD

He's so handsome even if that colouration is one of the most common ones XD And I couldn't help but name him that, it was too obvious XD