Small Pets, Big Commitment

Many families choose small pets to help teach children how to care for and nurture for companion animals. Small pets can be an exciting and memorable part of a child’s life, but, before you adopt, consider whether or not your child is old enough to care for a small pet. Will your child feed the pet and clean its cage? Are you willing to do it for your child? Some small pets may also nip at hands that smell like food, or they might just do it out of curiosity. If you choose to adopt a small pet, also commit to taking the time to teach your family members how to handle these little critters.

Two Times the Fun

Some small animals are happier living in pairs while others must be housed alone in their habitats. Consider which option best suits your lifestyle when thinking about adopting a small pet. Syrian hamsters, for instance, must be housed alone while rabbits and guinea pigs do better in pairs (even with each other!).

They Can't Stand the Heat

Don’t adopt a rabbit, ferret, or chinchilla if you live in an especially warm climate without any air-conditioning. These animals are extremely susceptible to excessive heat; it can kill them.

Provide Protective Custody

If you bring small, fuzzy pets into your grown cat's territory, make sure you have room to separate and supervise them until the new pet is grown. Your cat will probably love a rabbit or ferret to play with, but a baby ferret or bunny is likely to awaken his killer instinct. Keep gerbils, hamsters, and other small rodents separated from cats permanently.