10 Most Popular Pets in America

The 10 Most Popular pets in America

·      Dogs-Dogs make wonderful companions.   They seem to know when you’re sad and need some attention.  They like to lie at your feet and go anywhere with you, always ready to play.  They are loyal and dedicated and so happy to see you when you arrive home.  This is why they are known as man’s best friend.  They are very protective of you.  They will risk their own safety to try and save you.  And they bark to indicate a possible intruder.  Statistics show that homes with dogs have fewer occurrences of theft.  Give them some love, a bath, walks, and some treats, and you’ll have a special loyal friend for his/her entire lifetime.

·      Cats-Cats have been around for 40 million years.  The first species was a sabre toothed tiger.  The ancient Egyptians stored grain, which attracted mice and rodents, and the cats were then attracted by all the prey.  The advantage of domesticating cats had immediate value.  They were considered god-like and it was even a crime punishable by death to kill a cat.  Later, they were no longer worshiped and kept as pets for companionship instead of just rodent control.

·      Hamsters-Hamsters arrived in the UK in 1931, and to the US in 1938.  They are extremely disease free.  They are friendly, and easy to handle.  They are inexpensive to keep, and very child friendly.

·      Fish-Fish make great pets.  They were kept as pets as early as the 1600’s.  They are quiet and beautiful.  They are very easy for which to care.  Watching an aquarium brings relaxation and enjoyment to every age and taste.  There are over 25,000 species of fish.  It is the 2^nd largest hobby in the world.  They vary their behavior based on the species, and they are as interesting to watch what they do, as to enjoy their amazing colors and beauty. 

·      Mice-The first domesticated mice were in the royal palaces in Japan and China.  They live for 1 ½-3 years.  They are nocturnal and eat seeds, plants, and insects.  They can deliver a new litter of 4-7 babies every 30 days.

·      Ginea Pigs-Ginea Pigs came to the US in the 1900’s.  They have a friendly personality and are very child friendly as they rarely bite.  They don’t climb or jump, so minimal caging only is needed.  They are easy to care feed and have very few health problems.

·      Birds-Birds were kept as pets as early as 4000 years ago.  It is thought that the first ones were doves and parrots.   Apparently, in this early time, watching a parrot talk, was the equivalent to us watching tv.  Birds can make wonderful pets, easy to care for, and so beautiful.  And some parrots will live as long as you do.

·      Snakes-Snakes bred in captivity are considered to be better, more docile pets than those caught in the wild.  They require minimal space, most are under 5 feet in length.  Snakes eat every 5-14 days.  They can live as long as 40 years if cared for properly.  Watching them eat is not for everyone, look into it before buying yourself or a friend a snake.

·      Iguanas-Iguanas can be amazing pets, but they require a few adjustments and preparations to ensure their good health and happiness.  They can live for 20 years.  Firstly Iguanas love the sunlight.  One of their favorite things to do is lie in the sun, and climb on logs.  So place the tank where the sunlight shines into it.  Most Iguanas live in a terrarium.  Make sure it is large enough for your iguana.  It should be big enough for him/her to move around comfortably after you’ve added all the supplies and logs, etc.  Remember it is going to grow.  Also, you will need to cover the bottom glass of the terrarium.  Anything you place on the bottom glass, will have to be washed or replaced on a regular basis.  Iguana feces will need to be removed every day.  Lastly, make sure whatever you put on the floor of the terrarium, that the iguana can’t eat it.

·      Ferrets-Ferrets were domesticated in 3000 BC.   They are not legal in all states.  Here is California they are illegal, perhaps because they can get vicious.  So buy one with caution.  They were used to chase mice and rats until well into the 19^th century.  During the Victorian age, 1875, Queen Victoria gave them out as gifts and they came into great popularity.  Today, there are over 7 million ferret pets in the United States alone.  They are more playful than kittens, and more independent than dogs.   They are quiet animals, and they sleep 15-20 hours per day.  They can be quite sociable.  Ferrets also have an odor, kind of like skunks.  They can be purchased de-scented, so that they cannot spray when scared, but some people still find the remaining odor offensive.  Many owners do not find the smell offensive.  If you want to bathe your ferret, limit it to once a week, so as to not deplete the natural oils within the skin.  They are very small animals and can solve problems.  They are playful, but don’t really know when to stop playing, a pet that will give his all until he’s exhausted, and ready to sleep.  2 Ferrets will naturally wrestle with each other, they are just playing.  Fun toys for your ferret could include and empty box with a hole in it, a section of PVC pipe, or even a section of a dryer hose.  They love to explore new things.  Ferrets love to take things, especially socks for some reason.  Ferrets need a high protein diet.  They cannot digest vegetable products.  Be careful, too much dairy can be fatal.  Better treats include raisons, banana, peanut butter, and peeled grapes.  The nails of the ferret will need trimming, the front ones 3 times more often than the back nails.  Best is to do so while feeding them a treat like peanut butter.  If a ferret isn’t having fun for a couple of days when out of his/her cage, take them to the vet, something is wrong.  Ferrets can also get the common cold, and cannot tolerate temperatures above 85 degrees.