Small Pets

They have one of the longer life spans of small pets living between 7 to 10 years.

Small pets. A few female mice can share a cage that s around 2 feet in length and width and 1 foot tall. Rats are the ideal small pets if you want your child to develop a strong bond with his her first pet as rats are extremely sociable and intelligent. Their floppy ears soft fur. As small pets go guinea pigs also known as cavies are virtual giants.

Which small pet is right for me. Here s a quick review of each species child friendly pet potential. Pocket pets are what people call small domestic animals such as gerbils hamsters ferrets and rabbits. They come in several colors and patterns and can have short or long hair.

In fact each of the 13 guinea pig breeds recognized by the american cavy breeders association can weigh up to 3 pounds or 1 360 grams that s a lot compared to a parakeet. At petco we offer a variety of small animals including chinchillas ferrets guinea pigs rats and mice and multiple species of hamsters. Jennifer graham assistant professor at tufts university s cummings school of. Rabbits are social and friendly animals and adapt very well to human companionship.

Small pets are good options for children older than 5 because they can be a great way to teach responsibility says dr. The right small animal for you depends on the level of care you can provide and the type of companionship you desire. Small pets can be wigglers and may be injured if they re dropped. Many people opt to adopt a pocket pet as opposed to a dog or cat because they are easier to take care of and they don t require as much attention as their canine and feline counterparts.

Get a pair or small group of female mice as they typically are social and happiest with company. According to the american pet products association 2011 2012 survey the top eight small pets are rabbits hamsters guinea pigs mice rats gerbils chinchillas and ferrets. They have a great memory for a creature which is so small and will survive on food pellets that you can find at the pet store. Small pets come in all different shapes and sizes and sometimes it s hard to know which one is right for you and your family.