When we think about getting a new pet, sometimes it’s easy to default to traditional dogs and cats. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Both can make for incredibly lovable companions (I’m a cat person myself). But what if you don’t have the room for a dog to play or a cat to roam? What if they’re just not your thing? Or what if you want to get a smaller pet for your child’s first pet?
Fortunately there are many small animals that can make great pets — some that are even surprising. Today let’s look at ten examples. I’ve left out fish and reptiles (although they can make fine pets as well). I did that because there are so many varieties commonly available that they would be worthy of a separate list altogether. Let’s focus instead on some furry little friends and two varieties of small birds that you might want to welcome into your home.
Here are ten examples of small animals that can make great pets.
Hamsters are a common first pet for children due to their small size. You can keep their cages almost anywhere, making them ideal to keep in a kid’s room.
Gerbils are another very small option if you’re interested in a rodent as a pet.
I don’t particularly think of mice as pets (probably because my brother used to have to buy them as food for his pet snake — something I could never bring myself to watch). But some varieties you find in pet stores are absolutely adorable. Where I live, I’m more used to the field mouse variety.
I didn’t even realize people kept rats as pets until a few years ago. Since then I’ve known several people who do. And while rats aren’t the pet for me, I’ve heard nothing but good things about keeping them. Apparently they’re very social little creatures, and quite intelligent.
As far as pet rodents go, guinea pigs are more my speed. Sadly, our pet guinea pig (Gaby) passed away just last week, and we’re too upset at this point to rush out and get another. But I can tell you they make wonderful pets and can be incredibly sweet. They come in both long and short-haired varieties, so be prepared to groom them regularly if you get a long-haired guinea pig (also called a cavie).
Chinchillas are some of the cutest small animals I’ve ever had experience with. My brother’s teacher had one as a class pet when we were kids. And we were asked to keep it in our house over one summer break. They’re truly amusing little creatures to watch.
What’s not to love about cute little bunnies? What some people don’t realize is that rabbits aren’t just outdoor pets to be kept in hutches. They can also make for wonderful indoor companions. They can make a good bit of noise with their thumping though, so be prepared for that. Then again, most animals will make some kind of noise you’ll need to get used to.
Ferrets are another somewhat common small animal people keep as pets. I don’t have personal experience with these little cuties, largely because I’ve heard they can be bad biters. If you’re a ferret owner, I’d love to hear if you’ve found that to be the case or not (so leave us a comment). As you can see in the picture below, ferrets can even be taken outside for walks on a leash.
The first of two birds on our list is the parakeet. My grandmother kept parakeets when I was growing up, and my only memory of them is being bitten. They’re one of the most common birds I see when I visit pet stores in the area. And they’re always some of the most beautifully-colored birds around.
Cockatiels are another type of small bird that can make great pets. I was never a big fan of pet birds (due to being bit by my grandmother’s parakeet as a kid). But a friend’s cockatiel changed my mind. He’s sweet, funny to listen to and watch, and extremely social. They’re also simply gorgeous animals. If you’re looking for a bird you can teach to talk or sing, but you aren’t ready to commit to a larger parrot, a cockatiel can be a good choice.
Do you own any of these small animals as pets (or have you in the past)? Leave a comment and tell us about your experiences with them. Would you get the same kind of pet again or not? Let us know why. Or did we miss your favorite small pet? If so, leave a comment and share other great examples and your stories about your favorite little critters.
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I have had everything on the list except ferrets. My mice were some of the sweetest pets I've ever had. Right now my fiance and I have 2 chinchillas. One standard and one sapphire. They are by far, the best rodents I've ever had. They don't smell, their poop comes out dry and they are highly intelligent. They also know tricks. But they will live 15 years so they're a huge commitment. They also require exercise and dusty baths regularly. But the love they give is totally worth it!
Holland Lop rabbits make great pets. They are sweet and adorable but do require alot of care.
Great addition Livie. I haven't seen one of those in many many years -- so cute. :)
I want a feret but have two cats and a dog, i could keep it in my room and look after it but there may be a chance that my cats and sometimes my dog might come in sometimes ?
Unfortunately I don't know how cats and dogs do with ferrets. But I imagine it would depend on the individual animals.
I had birds as a child. My cockatile was a very sweet bird that would chill with me and whistle many tunes. While my green cheeked conure was a active, cuddly, full of life bird. The conure loved to lay on its back in my hands or nestle in my hair on my shoulder. It may suprise some people that birds can be friendly pets that can bond close to you. If you do decide to get a bird either adopt, buy one from a breeder or someone that has a adjusted adult bird. They are a commitment. There downside is they are messy eaters and can be noisy. Me and my sister had rabbits as a child too. They were nice. When I worked at a groomers there was a coworker that had a couple of ferrets. I liked them and part of me wanted a ferret in my young years but I will most likely refraim from ever owning ferrets. My only bad pet exprience was with the hamsters that were given to my dad when I was a real small child. They were mean little fur balls that never wanted to be held and excellent escape artist. They ended up being given to a teacher.
Arwen -- Thanks for the additional background on owning birds. :) And I'm sorry you had a bad experience with hamsters. Why did you decide against ferrets, btw?
My coworkers ferrets were pretty nice and enjoyed petting them. But looking at myself and knowing I set things down on the coffee table, etc I know my socks and car keys will go missing (from what I understand they have a habit of taking off with stuff). I have read about their ability to get into tight coners. I heard bathing them alot drys their skin out and makes their odor worse. However, the maine reason I decided against trying feret ownership is because I read they can suffer alot of health issues and rack up vet bills. I am a easy going person so I could ferret proof my home, get in the habit of putting things out of reach, accept the smell. But the vet bills are a reality check. Dogs and birds can rack up vet bills but from my understanding a ferret can rack up even more of a bill. In the end I do not feel experienced enough to take any ferret as pets. I am sure there are nice hamsters but I am sure I am not the only person with bad chilgood exxperiences with hamsters.
I have that same issue with my puppy. I'm still trying to puppy-proof our house, and she still manages to find things I never would have thought to move. :) Having something smaller that could get into even more would be tricky. I'm just thankful my cats leave things alone. They just want to sleep and bask in the sun. :) As for vet bills, those sure can get expensive even with traditional pets. I'd hate to think how high they might go with more exotic pets.
Chinchillas are so soft & cuddly! I highly recommend them as a small pet but they do require a cage with a large amount of space. =]
I've have a rat currently, his name's Gus and he's amazing. Rats are really smart. Gus knows his name and will come to it. He's friendly with others but he loves his mama most (me). Rats tend to bond with one person more then the others. I've had a set of ferrets too. Their fun to watch and play with. Mine never would bite to be mean, it was a play nibble. Ferrets don't use their full bite unless they feel their in danger. My ferrets loved to go outside on their lesh to play in the grass. I have no complanits about ferrets or rats :)
It's interesting to hear how much people love their pet rats. They're not for me, but I'm glad so many are in loving homes. :)
I just want to give a bit of advice to u all. Birds are the most delightful creatures and i had my own gorgeous experiences with my parrot. But i just advice u, only keep a bird when u have space for it to fly. Even if u give it the whole house to roam in, it will not be enough. All birds NEED to have space to FLY. My own parrot who lived with me for 3 years flew away just for his love of flight (which is natural) and his now probably dead in the harsh world in the city where i live. Birds make loving and delightful pets but my advice to you, keep a bird only when you can train it to fly and always return back to you safely. They love their freedom too much and don't know the dangers awaiting them in the world. I hope my these comments help to avoid any heartbreaks that can happen.
I'm sorry to hear about your bird. :( I don't know much about training birds, but if it's possible to train them to always return to you, that certainly sounds like sensible advice to me.
I have a wonderful pet named Harley Davidson..he is a sweet, loveable, talkable cockatiel that has had me for a human for 23 years.. When I uncover him in the morning he greets me with" good morning". "what are you doing?" , "it's a pretty bird morning" and" Harley is a pretty baby bird". My ex-husband had a terrible foul word vocabulary, but my sweet Harley didn't pick up that language...so I know he has a sweet soul.. He's promised a home, should he live longer than me..so I am happy. He has made many travels with me when I worked for Bechtel..he has been a constant friend in my life.
It was an wonderfull list...I have cockateils nd love birds .they r d most adorable pets that I have :)
my siste rhad a friend who had ferrets. THEY STANK. they smelled real musty and stole everything.