Choosing the Best Small Animal for You and Your Home

Are you considering adding a small animal to your family? Often referred to as ‘pocket pets’, there are many different options of smaller pets ranging in size, needs and personality. How do you choose the perfect pet for your family? Today, we’re going to break down some of the important factors that you should consider when choosing the best small animal for you and your home.

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So, you’ve decided it’s time to add another member to your family? Congratulations!

Adopting a new pet, regardless of its size, is always an exciting time.

However, it can also be incredibly overwhelming! From choosing the best small animal for you to buying all the necessary gear… There is a lot to consider.

Unfortunately, I can’t give you the ‘magic answer’.

There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ answer to which pet is the best, it’s going to be different for each family.

However, there are a few factors that will help you to decide which small animal will fit best with your family, your home and your lifestyle.

This includes the space that you are working with, the time that you have available, whether you are looking for a pet that you can handle and cuddle or not, and more.

Don’t forget that it’s about the FAMILY, not just YOU.

If you share your home with a child, for example, that should also be considered!

Let’s take a look at some of the most common ‘pocket pets’, including the benefits and potential challenges associated with each of them.

Reading through this will help you to narrow down which may fit best into your individual circumstances.

Choose the Best Small Animal for You and Your Home with This Guide

Hamsters

I want to start with Hamsters as they are arguably the most popular and common of the pocket pets.

While they are low-maintenance and require a fairly small area compared to some of the other options on the list, they may not be a fit for every home.

Hamsters are generally good at entertaining themselves as along as they are provided with a habitat that includes everything that they need including tubes, a variety of toys and an exercise wheel.

However, they can also be socialized with a little patience so that they can be held and pet.

This means that they are a good option for those who may work longer hours, but still want to enjoy a little company when they get home.

If there are small children in the home, a hamster may seem ideal at first. However, there are a few concerns that you need to be aware of.

Due to their small size, hamsters are relatively fragile, meaning that they could be hurt easily if handled too roughly.

Young children can be taught to be gentle with pets, however, they are still children and mistakes can easily happen in the blink of an eye.

Additionally, hamsters are nocturnal animals. They will likely be most active while your child is sleeping.

If you are looking for a pet that your child can play and connect with throughout the day, you may want to continue searching.

Finally, it should be noted that while hamsters are one of the cheapest pets to purchase on the list, they also have one of the shortest lifespans.

There are several different species, each with slightly different expected lifespan.

That being said, the average hamster will live approximately 2-3 years.

Related: ‘DIY Frozen Vegetable Treats for Guinea Pigs‘

Mice & Rats

Although they often vet a bad reputation, mice and rats can make great pets.

That being said, you need to be honest with yourself… If they make you or your family squeamish, you may want to keep looking at the other options on the list.

Mice and rats are both highly active and playful pets.

For this reason, they will need a cage with enough space for them to run and play including toys, tunnels, climbing ropes and other forms of entertainment.

Their cage should have multiple levels, providing them with more room to explore.

Mice are often skittish about being handled at first, but with time and patience, they can enjoy being held.

That being said, they are also small and quick, meaning that it could be difficult for young children.

Rats, on the other hand, love social interaction and will thrive best in a home where they are given regular attention.  

If you work long hours or are often away from the home, and therefore will be away from your pet, they may not be the best option.

Without regular attention, they can become depressed.

Their lifespan is dependent on the species, with many different options available.

The Common Rat lives an average of 2 to 4 years, while the Fancy Mouse has a shorter lifespan, at approximately 1 to 3 years.

Gerbils

Another active pet, gerbils are well-known for their high energy levels.

They are relatively easy to take care of compared to many of the other pets on the list, however they aren’t overly hands-on.

While they can be trained to be held, they are fast, and their energy keeps them from wanting to be held too long.

They are quite content in a smaller living space than some of the other pets as long as there is space to move and opportunities to burn their energy, like an exercise wheel.

Make sure to purchase a gerbil friendly wheel as the standard wire hamster wheels can cause injuries to their tails.

Gerbils do best in groups of 2-4. Therefore, if you are planning on bringing a gerbil into your home, you should consider committing to multiple.

If you are often away from home for long hours at a time, they are great pets to consider.

Kept in a group, they are quite content being left to their own devices in their cage for an extended period.

However, they are highly sensitive to humidity and should not be kept in a humid environment.

Guinea Pigs

If you’re looking for a sweet, gentle pet that won’t mind being handled, even by children (with supervision, of course) then the guinea pig should be on your list for consideration.

Guinea pigs are friendly animals, enjoying attention from their new family.

However, they also get lonely easily (which can lead to depression). For this reason, it is generally recommended to consider getting a second guinea pig as a companion.

If you do bring a guinea pig home, you will need to provide much more space for your new pet to roam than you would with the other options up to this point.

They also require more exercise due to the fact that they cannot safely use an exercise wheel like the smaller rodents listed (exercise wheels can cause injuries to your guinea pig’s back and/or legs).

Unlike many of the other small animals, guinea pigs show their emotions in a way that you and your family can pick up on.

By getting to know your pet, you can tell if they are feeling happy, sad, or angry.

They are also more talkative than many of the animals on the list, communicating with a variety of different sounds.

If you have a child interested in forming a connection with their pet, this is a great opportunity.

Your guinea pig would require a well-balanced diet including fresh hay and vegetables.

Unlike some of their smaller counterparts, guinea pigs are a little messier, meaning that you will have to clean your pet’s cage more frequently.

Even if you keep their cage spotless, they do have an odor.

The average lifespan for a guinea pig is a little longer, with the average guinea pig living for 5 to 7 years.

Related: ‘How to Care for Rabbit Teeth‘

Rabbits

A popular pet, rabbits are often seen as a great starter pet for children.

However, they are not the ‘easy and low-maintenance’ pet that they are often marketed to be.

Rabbits are masters of hiding when they are sick, meaning that you have to educate yourself on the most common rabbit illnesses as well as the signs that they are not well.

Rabbits are like cats, in that some may enjoy being handled, some don’t like to be carried at all and many fall somewhere in between, depending on the moment.

This can be difficult for a child to understand, as they may be comfortable with it one moment and not the next.

They are highly active and social animals and enjoy exploring their environment.

Another way that they are like cats is that they can be litter trained. This means that you can allow your rabbit to roam your home without a huge mess.

Make sure to do some serious rabbit-proofing before giving your rabbit access to any space as they LOVE to chew!

With a wide variety of different breeds available, they range greatly in size and lifespan, living anywhere from 5 to 10 years on average.

Dwarf breeds may weigh as little as 2 lbs. full grown while larger breeds could weigh up to 15 lbs.

Your rabbit will need a large space to call home. This could be a sizable cage or condo, an exercise pen or even full access to a rabbit-proofed room.

Ensure that you provide them with an enclosed space where they can sleep and rest, as well as plenty of open space to run and play.

They are happiest and thrive most when they are kept with a companion.

Ferrets

WARNING: Ferrets have been declared illegal in some areas of the world including a couple states in the US. Take some time to research local laws in your area.

Highly curious and mischievous, living with a ferret is never boring.

They are incredibly intelligent and have a penchant to get into anything and everything if you haven’t fully ferret-proofed your house.

Ferrets are highly social animals that do best living in pairs or groups.

At the same time, they can be temperamental when it comes to their interactions with children, especially visitors that they are unfamiliar with.

For this reason, they are not necessarily the best choice if you have an active household with a lot of people coming and going.

Your ferret will need a ‘home base’ such as a wire cage, but they should not be left contained.

They are happiest when they are given the freedom to run the house.

Ferrets require training, similar to cats and dogs, to avoid destructive behaviour or other behavioural issues.

They are very hands on pets, meaning that they will not do well being left home alone for long periods of time every day.

If you are looking for a pet that you can play and engage with, they are a great choice!

That being said, ferrets have a distinct odor regardless of how clean you work to keep them.

The average ferret lives anywhere from 5 to 8 years.

Chinchillas

WARNING: Chinchillas are also considered ‘exotic’ pets and therefore are not legal in some areas of the world. Take some time to research local laws in your area.

The first thing that should be noted is that the average chinchilla has a much longer lifespan than any of the other animals on this list, living approximately 15 to 20 years.

Carefully consider where you want to be 15 years down the road to ensure that you are prepared to make a long-term commitment.

Chinchillas are gentle and intelligent pets that enjoy regular interaction (on their own time).  

They aren’t interested in being held down and cuddled. Instead, they enjoy having freedom to roam your house and return to you for attention when they feel like it.

For this reason, they aren’t recommended for homes with younger children.

If you’re looking for a low-maintenance pet, you might want to keep looking.

Chinchillas are complex pets and have very specific care needs.

They require a very specific diet nutritionally, as too many treats can have serious health consequences.

Male chinchillas are happiest when they are in pairs, but they are susceptible to depression if their cage mate dies, which can be severe.

Females chinchillas are more aggressive and are content being an only pet.

Their soft fur is beautiful to look at, but it does require specific care. They will need a dust bath approximately 2-3 times per week.

Finally, you will need to consider the space needed for an appropriate cage, as they do require a large habitat with multiple levels.

Chinchillas are chewers, which means that they may destroy anything plastic. To avoid unnecessary problems, they should be housed in a metal/wire cage instead.

They are nocturnal animals, so they should be provided a safe, quiet place to rest during the day.

Related: ‘Easy to Make DIY Ferret Toys and Accessories‘

Hedgehogs

WARNING: Like Ferrets and Chinchillas, there are some areas of the world where it is illegal to own a hedgehog. Take some time to research local laws in your area.

Hedgehogs are unique and adorable pets, but they do require more active care than many of the other pets on this list.

They are also more prone to health concerns.

They live an average of 5 to 7 years, but that may come with higher vet bills along the way.

If you are looking for a pet that can be handled, you will need to start young and stick with your socialization efforts.

They will need to be handled daily to avoid falling back into their bad habits (such as biting).

As with the other pets included at the end of this list, hedgehogs will need a large enough habitat to give them space to explore.

They will also need daily exercise outside of their cage to avoid struggles with obesity (a common problem, according to veterinarians).

They are known escape artists, so pay attention to spacing in the bars of their cage to ensure that they can’t slip out.   

Hedgehogs are sensitive to their environment, meaning that you need to consider all details of their habitat.

Ideal temperature and lighting will need to be maintained to avoid unnecessary health complications.

Have you ever owned one of the pets listed above? If so, I’d love to hear all about them in the comments!

How did you decide on the best small pet for you and your family?