Looking for a Small Pet? Think About These Five Factors

Once you know that a small pet is right for your lifestyle, it's time to choose the perfect new companion. This guide to small pets provides five key factors to consider when making this important decision.

Health

Life Span

If you're worried about the shorter life span of small pets, consider a rabbit. These fluffy pals live for an average of seven to 10 years. Ferrets are another good choice, with a lifespan of up to a decade. Hamsters, on the other hand, only live for about three years and mice have a two-year life span. Guinea pigs tend to live five to eight years.

Diet

Many small pets have a vegetarian diet. Guinea pigs and other small rodents eat vegetables, fruit, hay and pellets.

Behavior

Temperament

Even small pets need daily attention. If you have children younger than 8, avoid delicate rodents like gerbils and hamsters. They may bite if provoked or accidentally handled roughly. You need to adopt guinea pigs in pairs since they're very social animals, so they aren't the best choice if you only want one small pet in the home.

Waking Hours

It's also important to consider the typical sleep-wake cycle of your possible pet. For example, a hamster cage in the kids' room could keep them away as the rodent runs on the wheel all night.

Grooming

A chinchilla is a good small pet if you have concerns about rodent odor since they're very clean animals. On the other hand, they require daily dust baths in volcanic ash. Gerbil cages require regular cleaning or they develop a strong smell. Ferrets are also known for their distinctive odor, which many people find unpleasant.