What animals are considered pets? Pets: types, origin, interesting facts. A Nizhny Novgorod woman got a fox and walks it on a leash, like a dog

Owning a pet is a gigantic responsibility that requires a huge amount of hard work and dedication, which, let's face it, isn't available to everyone. On the other hand, choosing a pet is a piece of cake, because it usually comes down to choosing between a dog and a cat (or a fish, if you are as prosaic as tattered wallpaper). But doesn't it seem wrong to you to some extent? The choice of pets should be more than the number of sides of a coin, and if you also think so, you are absolutely right, because there is one. In fact, there are dozens of wonderful and completely legal alternative pets that you can go out and buy right now:

10. Mini pigs

After all the creative ways to produce bacon-flavored ice cream, perfume, and candles, the time finally came when people wanted one as a pet. Thus, mini pigs appeared, hitting the eardrums of men or women all over the world.

Mini pigs are also known as miniature pigs, micro pigs and tickap pigs, but the name is not so important. What's important is that they're cuter than five puppies hugging a teddy bear at the same time, and they're also one of the strongest arguments for going vegetarian. However, they are not only adorably cute faces, they are just as smart, if not smarter than dogs and just as easily develop affection for humans.

The only downside is that less scrupulous breeders often pass off regular pigs as miniature ones, which, unfortunately, only becomes apparent when your pink micro miracle turns into a 200-pound piglet that takes up half of your living room. In addition, Paris Hilton apparently started the micro pig craze, which takes some of the fun out of owning them.

9. Starling


The common or European starling is a small bird with black and speckled feathers that some people sometimes keep as a pet. In addition, starlings can speak.

Well, not really, to be precise. Starlings really only have the ability to imitate frequently repeated phrases and natural sounds of their own environment, which is what parrots essentially do. But let's be honest: if you ever see and hear a bird talking that doesn't look like an immigrant from the Brazilian forest, your first thought probably won't be, "Oh my God, what a great example of avian mimicry," but rather, "That bird just talked." ? Bring the holy water quickly!”
But the potential to scare your friends and family isn't the only reason to get a starling, as they are very playful creatures and quickly bond with their owners, combining a dog's adoration with the ability to fly and repeat your favorite curse words. However, it is worth taking into account the fact that these birds poop a lot, for about 20 years.

8. Imperial Scorpion


The emperor scorpion (Pendinus imperator) is the closest thing to a real Pokémon: a 10-centimeter armored arachnid with giant pincers and a comically exaggerated stinger at the end of its tail. And you can buy one for yourself today... and there are reasons for this.

To be fair, emperor scorpions are actually very gentle creatures, which (given their intimidating appearance) practically makes them the Michael Clarke Duncan of the animal kingdom. They don't require an awful lot of care, and their stings aren't lethal to humans (unless you're allergic to the venom), so if you've ever wanted to own a miniature fear creature created by Mother Nature herself, an emperor scorpion - this is the best option.

Plus, if you put him in the same tank with the action figures and turn on the heavy metal, you can recreate the entire plot of the Clash of the Titans remake.

7. Long-eared hedgehog


Long-eared (or Egyptian) hedgehogs are not only one of the cutest alternative pets, but they are also a contender for the title of "Easiest Animal to Photoshop." But while they may look like the result of hastily slap a pair of bunny ears on everyone's favorite spiny mouse, these spiny bunnies are actually very real and completely legal to keep as pets in most countries.

Hedgehogs are generally considered to be timid and peaceful creatures, and the big-eared variety is no exception. However, they are considered quite difficult pets because they are not as easily tamed as regular pets and you will need to put in a lot of effort to properly housetrain them to an apartment and a person. However, once you do this, hedgehogs are, as many breeders say, very interactive and easy to handle, and their only drawback is that hedgehogs don't really like to curl up into balls and roll around collecting gold coins or fighting armies of robotic animals.

6. Skunk

Unlike hedgehogs, it turns out that pop culture hasn't been lying to us about skunk behavior, because pet skunks, like Pepe le Pew, are curious, stubborn, and require tons of affection. Despite this, they are less harmful, making them a great alternative to dogs and cats. Additionally, it is important to note that their scent glands are surgically removed at an early age.

There are many places in North America where you can purchase a pet skunk, you just need to make sure that they are legal in your country. In fact, there is no reason not to want to own such a miracle. Not only are skunks incredibly smart, but they also love affection so much that they can even turn into “couch skunks” (according to professional breeders), constantly asking to be snuggled into your lap. You probably never suspected this about skunks, live and learn.

5. Madagascar hissing cockroach


On the list of what makes a good pet, cockroaches rank somewhere between rusty razor blades and Siberian wolves. When you add in the ability to make a distinct hissing sound, the Madagascar hissing cockroach begins to look more like devastating proof that there is no God... which you should have already guessed.

First of all, there's something incredibly cool about having as a pet a creature that can survive a nuclear attack or having its head removed. In addition, the Madagascar hissing cockroach is also an amazing climber, able to climb up smooth glass without any problems, making it the love product between Wolverine and Spider-Man. Given their rather peaceful nature, it is not surprising that the Madagascar hissing cockroach is often considered an excellent first pet, although in some states in America you need to obtain a special license to own them. Plus, if you wake up in the middle of the night with your cockroaches hissing at you from a dark corner of the room, you'll likely never stop screaming.

4. Pygmy goat


Do you have a private yard? Are you tired of dogs but want something like them to ward off the inevitable realization that no one loves you? Then give the opportunity to a dwarf goat or female goat to fill the sadness center of your brain with pure and sugary tenderness.

As their name suggests, pygmy goats are tiny versions of nature's favorite evil-eyed trash packers, and today they are bred exclusively as pets. Pygmy goats are very curious creatures that constantly require tons of love and attention, so if you can't provide it to them, you need to check if you haven't had your heart removed, you're an insensitive monster. Their advantage is not only that they are very sociable and playful, but also that they can adapt to almost any environment/food, so if you can't love them for their cuteness, you can at least respect them for their Rambo-like survival ability.

However, it is worth taking into account that in most countries they are considered livestock, so it is worth checking out local laws before you decide to get yourself one of these charms.

3. Prairie Dog

Prairie dogs exist because someone once bet God that he couldn't cross a puppy with a rat and get something that looked absolutely adorable. That man obviously lost, and prairie dogs continue to inhabit the Earth and the living rooms of the happiest pet owners on the planet.

Prairie dogs are technically rodents, but their main characteristic is the attachment they quickly develop towards people. If you adopt a prairie dog at a young enough age, she will immediately mistake you for her mother and become attached to you forever (which is why Batman hires Robins at such an early age). After that, according to their breeders, you will live with a hyperactive puppy who never grows up, which is exactly what everyone has been asking scientists for the last few hundred years.

2. Sugar glider


Just look at this incredibly charming creature in the photo. This is not a real animal, but actually Mort, a character from the Madagascar cartoons, voiced by Andy Richter. But the main thing is that the sugar glider actually exists in real life, and you can buy it right now, because it is clear that you would like to have one. However, if you've already fallen in love with this Australian possum and named him Sir Furry Tail, get ready to shell out a pretty penny, because sugar gliders are still considered exotic animals that usually cost a lot more than regular animals (this also applies to showgirls). .
But while they are quite expensive and will cost even more to keep, their overall level of fluffiness, cuteness and playful nature may convince you to skip a few visits to the dentist in order to truly enjoy owning your very own sugar marsupial flying squirrel. . And before you ask, yes, they can actually fly short distances through the air.

1. Fox


Would you like to get yourself a fox? Yes? Then good news for you: you can do it, and it's all thanks to the Soviet Union.

The point is that we have been beating around the fact that, in fact, any animal can become a pet if it is tamed. Even the puny Chihuahuas were once powerful wolves, bred through selective breeding to the size of a pocket rat that knows its place and can therefore be kept as a pet. So the question is why can't we domesticate foxes? Because it will take “hundreds, perhaps thousands of years”? Come on, you clearly underestimate the Soviet people and their ability to give a damn about all sorts of “facts” or “logic”. Just look at Soviet geneticist Dmitry Belyaev, who has been trying hard to breed domestic foxes in Siberia since 1959... and apparently succeeded.

Here's something to understand about foxes: even if you buy a bag of "tamed" foxes in any other part of the world, they will still be wild animals that will attack your face and dignity if you try to dress them up in a Robin Hood costume. So what about Belyaev's domesticated foxes? These foxes are just real pets, the front paws of which you can freely take and make them dance with you... although, of course, you shouldn’t do this, and not because it will scare the poor animals, but because it’s the wrong way to treat with an animal costing about $8,000, it's probably not worth it.




Buffalo

Since time immemorial, our ancestors lived with the gifts of nature: they collected fruits and roots, fished, and hunted. Sometimes hunters brought home baby animals and they grew up next to humans.

Knowing well the habits of wild animals, primitive people managed to tame them. This is how the first domestic animals appeared. They helped hunt, guarded, transported loads and saved supplies from rodents.

And, of course, they supplied people with milk, meat, wool, leather and much more. It is not surprising that in the old days people deified and worshiped some animals.

Wild animals did not immediately turn into domestic ones; sometimes it took more than one century. This is why pets don't always look like their ancestors.

It is believed that the very first domestic animal was the dog. This happened about 10 - 15 thousand years ago. But some researchers are confident that sheep, goats, etc. can all claim this place of honor. They have been with humans for about 10 thousand years. Then came the turn of the bulls, buffalos,...

But man has domesticated not only animals - mammals. Birds appeared on his farm: ducks, geese, pheasants, turkeys.

There are even domestic insects. For example, the busy bee and the silkworm.

Pets often become family pets. A dog, for example, is not only a hunting assistant or a watchman, but also a companion for games and mischief.

Horse

A horse is a mammal of the order of odd-toed ungulates of the equine family. The ancestor of the domestic horse is considered to be the wild Tarpan horse. Tarpans were found in the steppe zone of Eastern Europe and Asia back in the 19th century. The horse was domesticated more than 6 thousand years ago.

Today, about 200 different breeds have been bred. There are riding breeds, draft breeds, heavy draft breeds and others. A thoroughbred horse can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h, and a powerful heavy truck is capable of transporting cargo weighing more than 20 tons.

The usual dimensions of a horse are: body length up to 2.8 meters, height at the withers 1.4 - 1.6 meters. A special group is represented by short horses - ponies. Their height is 40-120 cm.

A horse can live up to 40-50 years.

Once upon a time, a horse could be seen on the street as often as a car is today. And no one was surprised. After all, the horse has lived next to humans since ancient times.

Horses transported goods and passengers; they plowed and traveled on horses, fought and hunted. Even today, equestrian sports competitions are held.

The horse is one of the most beautiful animals. The high neck is decorated with a mane. Slender, thin legs are adapted for fast running. The horse swims well and has a keen ear: it recognizes its owner’s steps from afar. And her sense of smell is no worse than that of a dog.

The horse is smart and quick-witted, quickly remembers the way to home and can return on its own from the most distant pasture. This ability was used in snowstorms - they threw the reins, and the horse itself led to the shelter.

Horses graze in herds. They feed on grass and oats. When a foal is born, it does not stand well on its long legs. The horse's mother will gently lick him with her tongue and feed him milk.

A little time will pass, and the foal will happily run around the green meadow. If he wants to eat, he will run up to his mother and drink delicious, rich milk. People also drink horse milk and make a healthy drink from it - kumiss.

In the old days, a horse replaced a plane, a bus, and a train. The Russian troika is famous all over the world. Three horses are harnessed to a cart or sleigh at once. And the dashing troika rushes along, ringing bells and bells!

And when people found a horse’s shoe on the road - this is a kind of “shoe” for a horse - they rejoiced. It was believed that finding a horseshoe was good luck. Iron horseshoes were placed on horses' hooves to protect the horse's legs from injury.

Horses are well trained and obey their master. And it is not surprising that horses often perform in circuses and sporting competitions. Today horses also help people. Especially where you can’t get through by car!

Cow

A cow is a mammal of the order of ruminant artiodactyls of the bovid family. A cow refers to domestic cattle. The ancestor of the domestic cow is the wild bull aurochs.

The aurochs was a strong animal, weighing up to 800 kg, with high withers and powerful long horns pointing forward. It was destroyed by man. The last tour was killed in Poland in 1627.

The wild bull was tamed and domesticated a long time ago, when agriculture arose, almost 10 thousand years ago.

Today there are about 1,000 breeds of cattle in the world. But about 250 breeds are the most common.

There are three main directions in breeding: dairy, meat and combined. There are hornless breeds, and a miniature breed of cows has been bred. Their height is about 80 cm, weight 100 - 130 kg. Milk yield is 3-4 kg per day.

The average milk yield of a cow is 5 - 6 thousand kg per year, record holders give up to 20 - 24 thousand. kg

Cheese, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese... All these tasty and healthy products and many others are made from milk. And cows give us milk.

Cows and bulls are domestic animals. They live mainly on farms. Rural residents have cows in their personal households.

People have always loved and appreciated cows. In ancient times, in many countries they were revered as sacred animals. They were worshiped, temples and palaces were decorated with their images. And when the bull died, it was buried with honors.

In one ancient book it was written: “Our strength is in cows, our clothing is in cows, our victory is in cows.”

Nowadays, this attitude towards cows has been preserved in India. They even erect monuments to cows and bulls.

Cows graze on a green meadow, eat grass. And a real miracle happens in their body - milk is formed. Milk is not only a tasty product, it is also used as a medicinal product.

Cows, like their wild ancestors, are herd animals. And in the herd there is always the most important cow - the “leader”. She is the first to eat grass, the first to lie down to rest, and the first to lead the herd.

And little calves, cheerful and curious, love to be in company. One calf can stick to a flock, herd or. The calves frolic, play, butt heads - this is how they grow and gain strength. Sometimes adult cows also take part in their games.

Cows are smart and quick-witted animals. They know the way to their home. There were cases when she was taken to a new owner, and she returned, after walking many kilometers, to her original place.

Cows have a well-developed sense of time. They feel when their mistress will come.

Cows have lines on the skin of their noses, just like we have on our fingers. Their pattern never repeats. And now they take nose prints from cows. Such a print is like a “cow document”.

Pig

The pig belongs to the artiodactyl mammals of the pig family. Domestic pigs trace their ancestry to wild pigs - wild boars. It is believed that the pig became the second domestic animal after dogs.

Today, pig farming is developed in many countries, on all continents. More than 30 breeds have been bred.

Domestic pigs are prolific animals. Usually from 6 to 12 piglets are born. The weight of an adult pig is 250-500 kg.

In many physiological parameters, the pig is closer to humans than other animals, with the exception of monkeys. Therefore, pigs are still used for various medical research.

Once upon a time, a long time ago, wild boars came to feast on the crops in the fields and the harvest in the gardens. People caught them and fed the little wild boars.

So gradually the wild and dangerous beast turned into a good-natured domestic pig. She no longer has the thick stubble of a boar, and her pinkish skin shows through.

In ancient times, the pig was considered a sacred animal. At the courts of pharaohs and kings there was even a special position of “pig breeder”. They made figurines of pigs from precious stones.

Pigs also don’t tolerate heat well: after all, only the snout sweats. So the pigs cool themselves in puddles.

The pig eats almost everything it can get its teeth into. It’s not for nothing that the pig is called an “omnivore”. Often a pig tears up the ground with its snout - this is its face - in search of roots, worms and beetles.

But the pig’s talents don’t end there. The pig has a very good sense of smell. Pigs, if trained, help to find mushrooms - truffles - underground.

They can also find a person covered with a thick layer of snow. Sometimes specially trained pigs are used instead of dogs to find hidden things.

Some people consider the fat, small-eyed, big-eared, rather grunting pig to be stupid. But that's not true! They are easy to train. And they even perform in the circus like real artists. They love to listen to music, they can be taught to dance to some tune.

Pigs are very curious.

Little piglets, like all kids, love to run and play. Toys for them can be old tires, rubber balls. One day the piglets were given a tumbler doll. And the piglets played with her all day.

And although the pig “kids” often get into fights, they all sleep together, huddled closely together.

Surprisingly, pigs suffer from the same diseases as humans. And it can be treated with ordinary “human” medicines. If someone is called a pig, he can be consoled by the fact that a pig is an intelligent, quick-witted animal with many virtues.

Man is a sociable creature. Living in big cities, people increasingly began to have pets. This allows you to relieve stress, have fun and gain joy from communicating with the animal world. No matter who the pets are, humans express love, care, and expect a loyal response.

The childhood dream of many is to have a kitten or puppy. However, sometimes the pet turns out to be not so cute animals. Some people lovingly care for the tarantula spider, or cockroach. The variety of animals that have begun to live at home is great.

The difference between wild animals and domesticated ones is that animals do not need care and care. For domestic animals, people provide shelter, food and even take care of their health, periodically using the services of a veterinarian.

Pets are divided into two large groups:

  • those who live in a house with a person;
  • those kept in the yard.

Let's look at the most common pet animals and consider their descriptions.

Animals living in the house

Consider the following animals:

  • cat;
  • dog;
  • parrot;
  • fish;
  • rabbits.

The cat is a common pet that lives close to humans. The family quickly gets used to the new pet, especially if it appeared in the house at a very early age. Most cats do not require much attention and are unpretentious in food and care.

A dog is man's friend. This animal instinctively knows how to show outstanding devotion. She needs care, affection and attention from her owner. Most breeds are trainable. This animal can become not only a true friend, but also a reliable guard.

Parrots are different. The bird can be quite tiny, but some breeds are large in size. Sometimes, a parrot can be taught to speak - it will be able to repeat familiar words and even answer certain questions. Feeding a parrot is not difficult.

Fish are another type of pet that is kept near humans. An aquarium is being prepared for them. The size of the container depends on the number of individuals and the species. For some fish, an aquarium with a volume of 3-5 liters will be enough, but for others you will have to prepare an aquarium of 100 liters or more.

Rabbits are furry animals that quickly become family favorites. These animals are profitable to keep, caring for them is simple and they do not require special attention. By observing the life of rabbits, you can learn a lot of new things and get unforgettable emotions.

Animals living in the yard

A barnyard is more common in private homes. Some animals are kept in the garden. Most often you can see:

  • horse;
  • pig;
  • cow;
  • sheep.

Horses can be kept for riding and participating in competitions. In agricultural areas, this is a powerful labor force that can help with land work and for transporting goods. They are rarely kept for horse meat.

Pigs are kept for meat. It is distinguished by its fat content and nutritional value. After slaughter, it is preserved and from one animal you can get so much product that it will last a small family for the whole winter.

Sheep give milk and their wool is sheared. After slaughter you can get tasty meat. It's not easy to keep them. It is important to know the intricacies of care.

Care and maintenance

Regardless of which animal becomes a pet, the owner has the responsibility to provide it with everything it needs. A person is responsible for the one he has tamed. In order for the presence of an animal near a person to create a pleasant picture, it is worth considering several features when caring for it.

Nutrition

The diet of pets should be balanced. There should be enough food. Before buying a pet, it is worth clarifying how much food it needs daily and what kind of food it should be.

If your pet is small, you need to take into account that it will require vitamins. Being in the wild, animals know how to get everything they need themselves, but in captivity this responsibility falls on humans. More often this can be done by buying special supplements, or introducing fruits and vegetables into the diet.

Purity

It is important that your pet is clean. This will help avoid the appearance of an unpleasant odor. The health of both family members and animals will depend on the degree of cleanliness.

If annoying insects appear in your pet's bedding, it will be extremely difficult to get rid of them. It's easier to prevent infection. Regardless of the type of pet, cleaning is carried out every day.

Monitor your health

A pet will not tell a person if something hurts. Reasonable love will encourage the owner to observe the condition and behavior of the pet. If he becomes lethargic or begins to refuse usual foods, this is a reason to contact a veterinarian.

To prevent the development of diseases, it is better to prevent them. There are various vaccines for this. Vaccinations are given according to schedule.

How do they benefit people?

It all depends on what kind of animal has settled in the house. Some are kept for food, dairy products and wool, that is, for economic reasons.

Other pets bring moral satisfaction. Communication with an animal helps relieve emotional stress, reduce stress and even prevent depression. An animal in the house is a source of joy for every family member.

Having chosen a beloved pet, a person will experience the joy of his own generosity and care, and expect gratitude and devotion from the pet.

Useful tips

Pets not only bring a special atmosphere to the family, but also help the children who care for them, learn responsibility. If you don't want to get a cat or dog, and if you don't have much space in your apartment, then you should think about smaller pets.

There are many cute little animals in the world that can become your pets. But before you bring such an animal home, you should carefully study their character and habits. Not all of these creatures can be hugged and held close.

You should also choose a pet for your child based on how old your offspring is. Of course children can learn responsibility through care and communication with the animal, however, experiments can end disastrously for both the pet and your child.

That's why we offer you a list of ten furry and not so potential candidates for the role of a pet for your child. All you have to do is read the information provided and choose the pet that suits you most.

Pets

Hedgehogs


© Comstock/Photo Images

Hedgehogs are the cutest little animals that actually require minimal attention from you. However, it is worth keeping in mind that if you rarely have contact with such a pet, then The hedgehog can become quite aggressive, bringing a lot of problems.

Hedgehogs are for you if you like independent animals. They are loners by nature and usually lead a corresponding lifestyle. It is better to keep a hedgehog in a cage (like for rabbits), but do not forget - they are great at climbing, so why not close it with a lid so that the hedgehog does not escape.

Hedgehogs mainly eat cat or dog food, but it is necessary to periodically add eggs, insects, vegetables and fruits, and cooked meat to the diet. Besides, Hedgehogs need to be bathed regularly, keeping them clean.

You should also know that hedgehogs are very susceptible to various diseases (at least compared to many other animals), so you should exercise caution. Hedgehogs make great pets for older children. If hedgehogs are given more attention, they become quite obedient and sociable.

Guinea pigs


© Life On White

Guinea pigs are hardly unusual pets. These cute creatures, who are often turned on for their very friendly and sociable character, are one of the largest rodents.

Adult guinea pigs can reach a length of up to thirty centimeters. They are very sweet and love to interact with their owners and other guinea pigs. They live on average from five to ten years. These are the best animals to start teaching children of any age about care and responsibility.

Guinea pigs are much less temperamental than hamsters, for example, and are much less likely to bite you. However, they require constant care. The pigs' diet should consist of special granulated food, hay, as well as vegetables and fruits.

Pet stores sell portable guinea pig cages that can be equipped with various accessories (houses) to give your pig a place to hide. However, the installation of a wheel is not recommended for guinea pigs, as your pet can easily injure its legs and back.

Hamsters


© DeirdreRusk/Getty Images

Hamsters are extremely popular as pets due to their cute appearance, fluffy fur and relatively low maintenance costs. They usually easily allow themselves to be picked up, although some of the smaller species can be quite restless, especially the females.

Larger species, such as the Syrian hamster, are more peaceful and better suited for your children, who will likely want to babysit them. In addition, large types of hamsters are not so gentle, quite obedient and, so to speak, more well-mannered.

On the other hand, hamsters are also completely self-sufficient loners, so they need such devices in the cage as tunnels, passages and wheel to maintain health. Plus, they don't necessarily need partners.

However, the disadvantage is the short life span of hamsters - from two and a half to three years. This means that you have to be mentally prepared to your child’s feelings about the death of a pet. By the way, hamsters are predominantly nocturnal, hibernating most of the day.

Our smaller brothers

Rats


© Pakhnyushchyy/Getty Images

Perhaps a rat is not the first thing that comes to your mind when your child suddenly expresses a desire to receive a pet as a gift. In vain. The Rat is supremely sociable and intelligent animal which requires minimal care.

In addition, they are very playful and love to tinker with all sorts of toys, balls, strings, and can even play with a roll of toilet paper to their delight. So rats are the perfect little pets?

It turns out that it is so. In addition to friendliness, intelligence and sociability, they demonstrate great affection for their owners. In other words, be prepared for the fact that your children will also be inflamed with reciprocal love.

Rats have amazing memories for such small creatures. They are very unpretentious in food, although you can also purchase the most suitable food for them in the appropriate stores. However, like hamsters, rats have a very short life cycle of two to three years.

Gerbils


© Svetlanistaya / Getty Images

Gerbils are collective animals that form colonies in their natural environment. That is why it is recommended to keep them in small groups - from two to four individuals. But don't be afraid - they are very inexpensive to maintain.

They prefer a mixed diet, very often making quite large reserves of food (if the opportunity arises). You can pick them up and stroke them, but you should do this very carefully, since gerbils are extremely gentle creatures and can easily be harmed.

There are a very large number of species of gerbils, but at home they often contain the so-called Mongolian gerbil. These animals are very clean animals and practically do not smell. Unlike hamsters, gerbils are not nocturnal animals.

They are quite independent creatures, so they can easily entertain themselves for long periods of time. The life expectancy of gerbils is quite short - from three to four years, for which it is worth preparing mentally in advance.

Ferrets


© bilbot/Getty Images

Ferrets are extremely active, terribly inquisitive and extremely agile animals. At the same time, they are very cute to look at and have a fluffy coat that is very pleasant to the touch. They live longer than many of their smaller cousins- from eight to ten years.

As soon as you let your ferret out of the cage, he will immediately start running around the house, exploring every nook and cranny, so they should not be left outside the cage unattended. If the ferret is outside, someone must look after him, otherwise you will be tired of looking for him later.

They definitely need more attention than rats or hamsters, as they don't feel very comfortable if they are in a cage all day. It turns out to be a rather paradoxical situation - ferrets should not be left unattended outside the cage, but It is not advisable to keep them in a cage all day, even if you are not at home.

Ferrets are willing to be handled. They will not bite you, unless, of course, you accidentally harm them. These animals can play with you or your children all day long. They acquire their cute special attractiveness somewhere closer to three years.

Chinchillas


© GlobalP/Getty Images

Of all the furry pets offered on this list, chinchillas are the fluffiest. Their fur is thick and silky. Thanks to this, chinchillas probably It’s nicer to take everyone in your arms and stroke them.

On the other hand, chinchillas don't really like being cuddled. It's better to give her the opportunity to run around your home. An adult chinchilla reaches a length of up to 30 centimeters or even more, and females are larger than males.

Chinchillas practically do not emit an unpleasant odor. And even their secretions do not smell for several days. These cutest animals live from 10 to 15 years. The color of the fur of these creatures varies from the lightest tones to soot black.

Chinchillas do not require much attention. They eat special food, which can be freely purchased at pet stores. It is better to keep male chinchillas in pairs. But the females of these animals are solitary, so they can be kept alone.

A pet for your child

hermit crab


© David Clarke/Getty Images

The hermit crab is not the most common pet on this list of recommended pets. However, they are very well-mannered and very inexpensive to maintain, so they are perfect for this role.

This is a very peaceful, calm animal, not at all like those pets that you want to pick up and stroke. It is better to observe the hermit crab from afar, as he moves slowly in his aquarium, burying itself in the sand to hide its sophisticated muzzle there.