Adorable fur-balls, well pets are more than just that. They may be just a part of your life but for them, you are their entire life. You may not be perfect and people may always find faults with you, but your pet will always love you unconditionally. They would inadvertently teach you the lessons, which even the moral science period failed to- loyalty, love, dedication and the best of all, bingeing!!
A study shows that pet-owners exhibit decreased blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, all of which can ultimately minimize their risk for having a heart attack. So you must really consider owning a pet at least once in this short life, Fluffy might just help you last longer! Selecting a pet just right for your home is no easy task. You need a pet that would fit in with companionable ease. So, if you plan of bringing a tiger to your backyard, you surely need to scratch your brain a little more, that is unless you are Mike Tyson! And, we can be quite a helping hand here. We list here the top 10 pets that would just melt your heart.
10. Pygmy hedgehog
Looks are deceiving indeed, as this spiky savage makes quite a peaceful pet. They use their spikes for defense only when scared or nervous. But they can be prickly at times! Hedges are cute and can even be cuddlesome. They do best in families in which the adults are closely involved in daily hedgehog care. Its lifespan ranges from 5 to 10 years.
9. Sugar glider
Sugar glider is an exotic animal with a sweet tooth and a membrane that helps it to glide, extending from its wrist to ankle. These marsupials hail from Australia. They are omnivorous. They should be kept in groups or pairs as they can get depressed sans social interaction. They can live to be 12 to 14 years in captivity.
8. Fennec fox
This is an exotic pet and is actually found in the wilderness of the Sahara in North Africa. It has large ears as an adaptation to dissipate heat. These little devils keep you on your toes! They are friendly and enjoyed by the whole family and just to let you know, male fennecs cuddle more. They are fairly long-lived and can live for about 10 years in captivity. They can bolt away from your outdoors if not kept on a leash.
7. Ferret
Ferret is an exotic pet too while many not consider it one. They are related to the European polecat. For about 2,500 years ferrets were domesticated for hunting. They like to have fun and explore every nook and cranny. Their lifespan ranges from 5 to 8 years. These make amazing pets. Male ferrets are larger than female ones.
6. Chinchilla
These have unusually long life spans, about 20 years. . This rodent is a North-American native. These have a soft, lush fur. They are quick and perky animals. Chinchillas come in various colors; the most common is silver-grey. They eat and drink in small amounts. Chinchillas cannot tolerate high temperatures and humidity. Their saucer-like eyes and bowl like ears add to their charm.
5. Rabbit
Rabbits combine the attributes of many pets- independent as cats and affectionate like dogs. They are playful and need at least two to four hours to hop free every day. The potential life span of a rabbit is about 7 to 10 years. If trained well in the early days, rabbits can find friends even in dogs, cats, hamsters, etc. As with other prey animals, rabbits often sleep with their eyes open so sudden movements will wake the rabbit and alert it to dangers.
4. Hamster
These pocket pets are furry, and oh-so-friendly! The most common breed is the golden or Syrian hamster. These are easy to care for and were kept as pets not until in the 1930s. They are nocturnal and do not mind living alone. Their life span ranges from around 2 to 3 years. They tend to be aggressive when brought up with another same sex hamster.
3. Guinea pig
Neither a native of Guinea, nor a pig, the Guinea pig is actually a rodent- a very cute one! The life span is from 5 to 10 years. These do not exist in the wild and are the domesticated descendents of a species of cavy. They are good swimmers and get startled really easily. They are available in several colors and patterns, and can have short to long hair. You can put them in airy enclosures and go for the ones that are spacious and allow movement. Bring them up in a group or a pair as they get depressed when alone.
2. Cat
Feline fatale would definitely make a low-maintenance adornment to your lap! Its soft coat, swift moves and sweet playfulness will make you go awww. Wait no, paawww. But it is also one clever little predator. Before you decide to pet one, look around your house and ask yourself if you would really like all the furniture to be raked by this little friend of yours. Some peeps would not mind, just for the love of it!
1. Dog
Our love for these loyal and faithful creatures will never die. The dog was the first domesticated animal. It has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and pet animal in human history. So dogs top our list. They come in many shapes and sizes that it might confuse you initially as to what breed you really like- possibility is that you like them all! They are intelligent and are capable of learning through reinforcement and observation. Smaller dogs often live over 15–16 years, medium and large size dogs typically 10 to 13 years, and some giant dog breeds, only 7 to 8 years.
Ferrets are too low on this list. They should at least be above cats.