Pet Care Club

For those who love their pets...

Small Pets

So you’re considering purchasing a small pet for your family? While these pets seem to be a better choice for a family with small children, you need to know what’s out there, and what these pets need before purchasing one that’s too much to handle.

There are many different types of pets placed into the “small pets” category, including hamsters, rabbits, mice, rats, gerbils, ferrets, guinea pigs and chinchillas. All of these small pets have different needs in terms of food, shelter, and attention levels.

Hamsters

Hamsters are the most commonly sold pets. Hamsters only live for a few years, therefore they are seen as low cost/low effort small pets. However, hamsters are extremely energetic nocturnal small pets, meaning they are most active at night. These small pets need ample room to run. Many hamster owners meet this need by attaching trails of plastic tubing for the small pet to crawl through, as well as a wheel for them to run. They also like to have a place to create a nest, and a storage area for their food. This means that they require a fair amount of bedding in their cage. Torn up paper or wood shavings work best, however any fluffy cotton-like materials should be avoided. If eaten this could get stuck in their stomach which can cause serious heath problems, and in some cases, even death. A good rule of thumb is to only use things that can dissolve or break apart in water.
If the material can’t be broken down by water, then it will most likely not be broken down in the small pet’s stomach. A hamster’s diet should consist of mainly seeds. The mixed hamster food available in stores is perfect, as it contains many seeds, dried corn, and other nutritious items. As a treat, hamsters prefer freshly cut apple or carrots. These vegetables should be removed if not eaten 24 hours after they are served, as they will then start to go bad. Hamsters also need a water bottle, as well as something to gnaw on that will help them to prevent their teeth from growing too long.

Gerbils

Gerbils, cousins of the hamster, are easily tamed and rarely bite. They are comfortable in busy or noisy environments, and are not scared by the hustle. Gerbils are also very inquisitive, and therefore are often watching to see what is going on around them. They are very sociable small pets, they should be kept in groups of the same gender, unless breeding is the intent. They should also be purchased at the same time to grow up together. Gerbils will eat any food pellets that are processed for small pets. These desert climatized small pets do not drink much water daily, however require a small amount available at all times. The best treats for them include apple and carrot, other vegetables should be avoided. The amount of moisture in the vegetables can be harmful to these small pets. These small pets, similar to hamsters, require bedding they can burrow in. Wood chips and paper are best for them, as they are very dry. These small pets should not have activity wheels, as they can get their long tails stuck and hurt themselves. Toys are recommended to keep them entertained.

Ferrets

Ferrets are a fairly uncommon pet, and are illegal in some areas of the world. The original function of a ferret was to control pest populations such as rats and mice. They eat special ferret food, which can be found in some pet stores. They also require fresh water, which should be available to them at all times.  Their favourite treat is bananas. A ferret’s home should be a ferret cage, with towels or pieces of fabric for them to lie on. These small pets are extremely active and therefore require several daily exercise opportunities. Keeping the ferret cooped up in the cage can cause health problems. Linatone is very important vitamin supplement for ferrets.

Rabbits

rabbit with flowerRabbits are a slightly larger commitment than hamsters, as they live for 7-10 years. They require much more attention than hamsters, as these small pets are very sociable creatures. If you plan to keep your small pet indoors, you have two options. Rabbits can be kept in cages, and taken out daily, or they can be litter trained and running loose. If you are considering letting your rabbit run loose, you must first be sure that they are ready.Starting out with a cage with a litter box in it will help them to learn where you would like them to dispose of their waste. Once they are using the litter box in the cage consistently, they can be free to run loose. As you make the decision to let your rabbit run loose, you must be willing to accept that some wear and tear on your house will occur. Rabbits like to chew on fabrics, including clothes, furniture and draperies. This problem can be solved by provided the small pet with its own toys, something to keep them distracted from chewing on your furniture.

Another common chewed item is electrical wire. This can be prevented by making the wires unreachable for the small pet, and covering the wires that cannot be moved with plastic or vinyl tubing. Rabbits are fairly low maintenance when it comes to meals. They require fresh water daily, which can be put in a bottle if they are caged and a bowl if they are running loose. They eat rabbit pellets, generally made of alfalfa and other greens. These pellets should compose a major portion of the rabbit’s diet. They should also be served fresh vegetables, preferably romaine lettuce or carrots. Do not serve your rabbit iceberg lettuce as it can be harmful to the rabbit’s digestion. Treats can be purchased at pet stores, however should be consumed in moderation.

Guinea Pigs

Guinea Pigs are the shyest of all small small pets and are scared easily. Often these small pets will run and squeak when they are frightened. A guinea pig needs a cage at least 2 square feet. The cage should be hard plastic and metal, making sure that the bottom of the cage is plastic. If the bottom of the cage is metal or wire the guinea pig’s toes and nails can be harmed. They also require a hut or house of some sort. Something they can hide in to feel safe when frightened. Guinea Pigs will eat the pre-made pellets that are designed for small small pets. They also require vitamin C added to their food as they are the only rodent that cannot produce it themselves. Guinea Pigs also like vegetables and fruits, however they should be consumed in moderation. Items like cabbage, sprouts, carrots, and apples are best. Water should be available in a bottle at all times, and should be changed daily. Guinea Pigs also like the treats sold in pet stores, however should again be served in moderation. Guinea Pigs also need something to chew on, as their teeth can grow to a length that causes discomfort.

Chinchillas

Chinchillas are curious, friendly and rambunctious small pets. They need a lot of attention and social interaction, therefore it is best to have more than one chinchilla together. They require large cages, and generally prefer having more than one level, so that they can jump from one to the next. They have very specific diet restrictions, and therefore can only eat certain things. They cannot digest sugars, therefore treats should be avoided. The best diet for them is a combination of chinchilla and guinea pig pellets, as this contains the addition vitamin C that the guinea pig food has added. If you wish to give your pets treats, raisins are recommended. These are low in sugars and are easy for them to digest. Because these small pets are so curious and excited, they need a lot of exercise. It is best to have them run around in a room with little furniture and no wires accessible to them. Anything that can harm them should be out of their reach. Be prepared for your chinchillas to bounce off walls (literally). They enjoy running directly at walls, and then turning to kick off of them. This is normal, so if this occurs, please note that this is completely normal for this breed of small pets. Chinchillas also need something to chew on to control the length of their teeth.

Mice & Rats

Mice & Rats are one of the easiest and most inexpensive to keep. They vary in size, with males being generally larger than all others. The cage best suited for a mouse or rats is wire with plastic flooring. Rats and mice need good ventilation, and have difficulty walking on wires as their feet are so small. They need bedding that they can burrow through, which should be changed at least once a week. A mouse’s diet should consist of mouse food, however this can be supplemented with vegetables, fruits and grains (examples: dates, raisins, strawberries, Brussels sprouts, kale, carrots and dark lettuce).

So how do you know what small pet is right for you? You have to consider how much time you can offer the small pet, how long you want to have the pet, and whether you have the right amount of space and money available. When considering purchasing a pet, you must remember that they have specific needs that have to be met to maintain a happy and healthy life.

< Back to Pet Choices

< Back Home