Are you looking for a pet that’s off the beaten track? Or maybe you’re allergic to pet dander and are still looking for some animal companionship. Don’t lose hope! There are some super cute options for pets for you!
Birds
Our feathered friends are fun to watch. Most of the time they’re hands-off pets due to how fragile they can be. Make sure that everyone in the household understands that. Some of them may like to have pets or cuddle up on your shoulder but this varies from species to species. They make a lot of fun noises and some not fun noises! Often, they are pretty colors. Birds are also intelligent and can pick up a lot of different tricks; they may even learn some songs or even words! Small birds will be more comfortable with at least one other bird (it is best to get the same gender unless you want some baby birds flitting around!)
Bunnies
Who doesn’t love these long-eared fluffy cuddle bugs? A rabbit can be a fantastic choice for your family. You can keep them indoors or outdoors. They can be litter trained as well as harness trained. Yes, you can walk your bunny! You can even teach them to come when called! Bunnies require frequent exercise to be happy. Make sure whatever enclosure you have them in gives them space to run around and that you take them out and give them attention regularly. Be sure no one in your household is allergic to hay – bunnies eat a lot of it. They live around ten years when taken care of properly.
Ferrets
These guys are very social animals; so, you will need more than one. Ferrets also eat meat daily, so be aware of that. You can keep them indoor or outdoor, but they thrive better in a multi-level enclosure so they can get lots of exercise. They live for 8-10 years, so make sure you are ready for the commitment.
Guinea Pigs
These precious little fur-balls are what you would expect a rabbit/hamster cross breed to look like; they are very social animals and need a buddy or just lots of time with you! They are adorable pets and make cute noises. Fresh fruit and vegetables are the majority of their diet, but they also need pellets(with vitamin C) and hay. Guinea pigs tend to be sensitive to the environment they live in, probably because they are prey animals; they love having lots of hiding holes! You can keep them inside or outside.
Hedgehogs
These prickly little fellows are quite affectionate. You’ll want to be careful handling them. Hedgehogs are not picky eaters and will eat anything from unsuspecting fish and small snakes to fresh fruits and veggies. Most people usually feed them cat food for their daily food. They can eat themselves to death, though, so you’ll need to make sure you watch how much they’re eating. These count as exotic pets. They aren’t exactly a simple pet, so make sure you’re ready for it! These wouldn’t be an appropriate pet for a small child, but maybe for a teenager.
Sugar Gliders
Talk about adorable! Sugar Gliders are marsupials and love to get out and adventure. They do qualify as exotic pets, so be prepared to do some research and make sure they’re legal in your area. Sugar Gliders mostly eat fruit and occasionally small amounts of meat or live insects. They do have some special needs, such as a large enough enclosure for them to be active. They can live up to 15 years in captivity, so be prepared to be in it for the long haul!
Fish
Fish are low-key as far as animals go, especially if you choose the right kind for your lifestyle. Their environments do require extensive care, so be prepared to dedicate time to cleaning the tank and testing the water every week. There is also the possibility of your fish deciding to eat each other. They might surprise you with more fish now and then if someone in your tank got misgendered. It’s a fun game to try to figure out who the parents are by looking at the baby’s appearance, but it can require you to find new homes for your unplanned fish babies.
Reptiles and Amphibians
There are a lot of different kinds of pet reptiles out there, so we lumped them together for this article. Here is another pet that comes with some unique environmental requirements. Before you adopt a reptile or amphibian into your family, make sure that you can take all of their needs. Some require water, while others need heat lamps, or a few require both. Most are carnivorous, and some require live feeding. (Frogs won’t eat anything that isn’t moving.) Usually, insects like crickets and roaches are what they need. There are some breeds of vegetarian lizards, though, so be sure to check them out if the idea of feeding other critters, dead or alive, directly to your pet doesn’t sound fun.
Before bringing any animal into your life, make sure you do all the research. You will need to know if they are allowed where you live and that you can meet their physical, emotional, social, and dietary needs. No matter how cute an animal is, it might not mesh well with your current lifestyle. That’s okay; you can always try again later. It’s better to wait for the right time than to rush in. Good luck picking out your new friend!