Best Pets for People Who Live Alone (Canada, 2026)

Quick Answer

The best pets for people who live alone are the independent, lower-maintenance ones — a cat first and foremost, or a calm adult dog if you can cover the workday. Living solo is one of the best reasons to get a pet, and it absolutely works; the trick is matching the animal to your schedule and budget on one income, then setting up a small backup network so travel and sick days are covered. Here's what suits solo owners, what to skip, and how to set it up.

You can absolutely have a pet living solo

Living alone is one of the most common — and best — reasons to get a pet. The companionship is real, and a routine built around another living thing is good for you. The only difference from a multi-person household is that everything falls to you, so the smart move is to pick a pet whose needs fit a one-person life, and to build in a backup for the days you can't be there.

Best pick for solo owners: a cat

For most people living alone, a cat is the top choice:

Independent — content on its own during a work day.
Litter-trained — no midday walks, no weather.
Lower cost on one income than a large dog.
Affectionate on its terms — company in the evenings without constant demand.

Start with best cats for first-time owners and best cats for apartments. Easygoing, healthier breeds (and plain domestic shorthairs) are ideal — browse the cat breed guides. An indoor cat needs a clean litter box, fresh water, food, enrichment, and two short play sessions a day.

Dogs that suit a solo owner

A dog works living alone too — with the right dog and a workday plan:

Calm, lower-energy adults adapt best. Adopting an adult means a known temperament and no puppy-stage intensity.
Match to your space and life: best dogs for apartments, families & seniors and best dogs for first-time owners.
Plan the day: a real morning walk, a midday walker or daycare a few days a week, and evening exercise. Our working full-time with a pet guide covers the whole routine.

Think twice about these when you're solo

Not a hard no, but harder on one person with a job:

Puppies — they can't hold it through a work day and need near-constant early supervision.
High-energy / working breeds — they need more exercise than a solo, full-time schedule usually allows.
Giant breeds — bigger costs and, on one income, a bigger hit if a health issue lands.

The solo-owner safety net

This is what turns "risky" into "totally fine":

A backup network. One or two people (or a trusted sitter/walker) who can step in for travel, late nights, or a sick day. This is the single most important thing for a solo owner.
An emergency plan. Vet and 24h clinic numbers where you'll find them, and someone who could get your pet to care if you couldn't. The free Family Pet Care Planner has a fill-in emergency card.
Insure early. With only one income to absorb a surprise vet bill, converting a possible five-figure emergency into a predictable premium matters more, not less — and the cheapest, most complete coverage is bought while a pet is young and healthy, before anything becomes a pre-existing condition. See is pet insurance worth it.

Budget it on one income

A solo budget has no second earner to smooth a rough month, so plan the predictable costs and protect against the unpredictable one. See cost of owning a cat in Canada or cost of owning a dog in Canada, then decide between insurance and a dedicated emergency fund — or a smaller version of both — with our insurance vs savings guide.

Keep going

Ready to plan it out? Browse the getting a pet in Canada hub, read what you need before getting a cat or a dog, and see working full-time with a pet for the daily routine.

Getting a pet: start here → Compare Canadian insurers

Frequently asked questions

What's the best pet for someone who lives alone?

For most solo owners, a cat is the best fit — independent, litter-trained, content indoors, and happy with food, water, enrichment, and daily play when you're home. Among dogs, a calm, lower-energy adult adapts far better than a puppy or a high-energy working breed. The right choice is whatever matches your schedule, space, and budget on one income.

Can you have a dog if you live alone and work?

Yes — plenty of solo people do. It works best with a calmer adult dog plus a plan for the workday: a good morning walk, a midday dog walker or daycare a few days a week, enrichment, and a proper evening. Puppies and high-energy breeds are the hardest on a solo, full-time schedule. See our guide to working full-time with a pet.

Is it OK to get a pet if I live by myself?

Absolutely — living alone is one of the most common reasons people get a pet, and the companionship is real. The keys are choosing a lower-maintenance animal, building a small backup network for travel and sick days, keeping an emergency plan, and insuring early since there's only one income to absorb a surprise vet bill.

What pets are low-maintenance for a single person?

A cat leads the list — especially an easygoing adult or a healthier, independent breed. Lower-energy adult dogs can also suit a solo owner who can arrange midday care. Whatever you choose, an adult (rather than a baby animal) means a known temperament and far less intensity in the early months.

Best pets for people who live alone