by Judith Willson

Created on: January 27, 2010   Last Updated: October 31, 2010

What makes the best small pet depends of course on what you are looking for in your pet.  If the key words are ‘low maintenance’ then I would suggest you forget it and get a cactus instead.  There is no such thing as a low maintenance animal.  They all get sick, need cleaning, need feeding and need an environment chosen with some care. 

However if you are looking for companionship, an interesting animal or beautiful pet and perhaps have too little space for a cat, dog or rabbit then there are many little animals that can make great pets.

Rodents

Small rodents are usually what people think of first of all.  It is generally agreed that rats are the most companionable of these.  Hamsters might be cuter but are generally less sociable, gerbils are tricky and mice usually mostly interested in other mice.  You can establish a relationship with rats that is similar to that you could develop with a dog. The other popular rodents can, with patience, become very affectionate pets too but are not always friendly straight away.  .

As mentioned above rats are very social and intelligent.  You need a large cage (either once designed for rats or for ferrets or chinchillas) and will need to be prepared to allow them to have a run outside once a day.  It is not fair to keep one rat all by himself so get a pair but make sure they are the same sex unless you want lots and lots of little ratties.  

Hamsters are often a child’s first pet but can be tricky since they often bite when they feel threatened and often take any opportunity to escape.  Hamsters should be kept singly.  They too should be allowed out but be very careful they don’t disappear under the sofa – it is best to let them out in an enclosed area.

Gerbils and mice can be kept in pairs or in small (single sex) groups.  Although not as immediately sociable as rats, with patience and gentle handling they sometimes become very friendly.- bribes of sunflower seeds often speed this up.

Birds

Then there are birds.  Now as space is often a factor in people’s decision to keep a small pet, birds might not be suitable.  They should be kept in aviaries rather than cages, although it is possible to house budgies in a cage provided they are allowed out most of the day.   Birds, especially members of the parrot family, can become

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