9 Small and Fluffy Pets That are Easy to Care For
Pets can be excellent sources of companionship and comfort. Moreover, they will prove to be one of the best choices for boosting your health. Research has linked pet ownership to reduced blood pressure and heart rates along with enhanced mental health.
While most people are looking for a fluffy pet, they might not be open to the responsibilities and challenges of large fluffy pets. If this is the case for you, it does not mean that you should give up on owning a fluffy pet altogether.
Below is a list of some of your best options for a small fluffy pet that will be easy to care for, even with a hectic lifestyle.
Hamsters
A hamster is a cuddly, curious, and friendly rodent pet. It is relatively independent and entertains itself meaning you need not give it as much attention as you would other animals.
Even so, its self-independence means that you should invest in toys like hamster wheels and tubes in the cage to keep it sufficiently occupied. Depending on the species of your hamster, you can keep one because most of them are solitary.
Your hamster will also need a constant supply of fresh food and water. Its diet includes store-bought pellet feeds and seeds. These are supplemented with fresh fruits, proteins, and vegetables, as well as occasional treats.
The size of your hamster cage will depend on the animal species you choose, but, in general, the cages are inexpensive and readily available. With an average lifespan of 2-3 years, you will not spend so much to give a hamster a fulfilled and healthy life.
Mice and Rats
Choosing mice and rats for pets might seem like a gamble. Nonetheless, these furry little creatures are very cuddly when handled from a young age, loyal, and easy to train. Moreover, they are highly intelligent and love social interaction.
With a pet rat or mouse, all you need to invest in is a cage, food, and some toys. You will dedicate some time to clean the cage and keep it well-ventilated. Since mice and rats love playing, you can also let them out of their cages once in a while to run around.
The animals will eat most of the foods that humans eat but ensure you give them fresh foods to prevent digestive issues. Rats and mice live for 2-3 years.
Chinchillas
Chinchillas are adorable rodents with large ears, bushy tails, and soft fur. They are odorless, clean, and very friendly to humans. Unlike most rodents, chinchillas are solitary, and you can thus keep only one of them.
Their diet includes specific chinchilla foods bought at pet stores supplemented with fresh vegetables and fruits. You should also ensure your chinchilla has an adequate supply of timothy hay and clean water throughout.
The animal loves playing and jumping, so get a multi-layered cage to accommodate these habits. It would help if you also had chew toys in the cage to maintain the right length of your chinchilla’s teeth since its teeth grow continuously.
Well-socialized chinchillas love being cuddled and handled. Set some time apart for these activities with your pet to remain healthy.
Gerbils
Gerbils are among the cleanest pet rodents you can own. They are also independent animals that will keep themselves adequately entertained when you are absent, provided to give them enough toys to do so.
Unlike the hamsters that most people confuse them for, gerbils are diurnal, meaning they will not keep your household up at night as they play. Though the animals are omnivores, they prefer plant matter.
Include lots of vegetables, seeds, and fruits in your gerbil’s diet to keep it healthy. Clean water is also essential in your gerbil’s cage at all times. The animals need a lot of space to move around, so get a large cage to accommodate their activities.
Gerbils live for 3-4 years with optimal care, so they will not cost so much to take care of in their lifetimes.
Sugar Gliders
Sugar gliders are exotic marsupials that are natives of Australia and a few parts of Indonesia. They are 5-6 inches long and weigh 4-.5 ounces. Sugar gliders are entertaining, endearing, and friendly.
As social animals, it is best to have at least two sugar gliders so that the pets remain happy. You, however, should keep them away from other household pets as they can hurt the latter. Regular human interaction is essential when keeping sugar gliders so that the animals remain gentle.
A bigger cage for your pet is the best to accommodate the love for climbing and gliding for which animals are renowned. The marsupials are omnivores. The exact amount and type of food for your pet sugar glider depends on its age, activity level, and size.
Since these animals have somehow strict dietary needs, consult a vet on the best options for your pet. Pet sugar gliders live for 10-15 years.
Ferrets
Ferrets are smart, playful pets that are quite entertaining to watch. They grow to 13-16 inches and weigh about 3.5 pounds. Since they are nocturnal animals, most ferrets will not mind spending most of their time in their cages.
Even so, you should get them out of the cages for about four hours daily. When keeping a pet ferret, be careful to proof your house so that it does not escape during the time it spends out of its cage.
Besides soft bedding, ensure there are enough toys for your ferret to play with in the cage. As obligate carnivores, the animals will only feed on animal fats and proteins. Meat, coldwater fish, and eggs are good options for your pet’s diet.
Owing to the ferret’s high metabolism, it should have food available to eat every 3-4 hours. Access to clean, non-chlorinated water is also essential. Pet ferrets live for 8-11 years.
Mini Lop Rabbit
Mini lop rabbits are famous for their sweet nature. When you first get one of them, you will be tempted to cuddle him/her throughout. However, you should remember that mini lop rabbits are independent creatures that love solitude, so give them time to be alone as well.
Like all rabbits, a mini lop rabbit thrives in a clean hutch. The ideal one for it should be 1.9 m wide, 0.6m deep, and 0.9m high. Wire sides for the hutch are suitable because the rabbit needs plenty of freely circulating air.
Rabbit pellets are the main foods for your mini lop rabbit. It would be best if you gave 1/8 cup pellets for every 5ounces of your pet’s weight. The pellets are supplemented with fresh vegetables and fruits.
Rabbit chews to keep the animal’s teeth filed, and clean water are also crucial for the rabbit. With proper care, a mini lop rabbit lives for 7-14 years.
Munchkin Cat
A munchkin cat is a regular domesticated cat that has short legs following a natural genetic mutation. It weighs 6-9 pounds with a body length of approximately 1.5 feet. The cat is affectionate, playful, intelligent, and friendly.
It also has high energy levels and will give its owner a fair amount of exercise when playing with its toys. The coat of a munchkin cat will need more grooming than the cat can handle in self-grooming.
If you have a long-haired cat, brush its coat several times weekly, while a once-a-week brush will suffice for short-haired animals. You should also trim the cat’s nails and brush its teeth several times a week in addition to periodic cleaning by the vet.
A munchkin cat will live for 12-15 years when you look after it well.
Pomeranian Dog
Pomeranian dogs were originally herd and guard dogs but have recently become popular pets. Their popularity is attributed to their inquisitive, playful, bold, and lively nature. They weigh 3-8 pounds and grow to heights of seven inches to one foot.
Keeping your Pomeranian dog’s fur groomed is essential. You can use a comb to groom the deep fur layer and a brush for smoothing the outer layer. A regular visit to a professional groomer is also essential since the dog’s fur gets easily matted.
You should also schedule a time to play with your dog and take daily walks. Opt for quality commercial feeds for your Pomeranian dog. These are generally those with specific meats and other protein sources listed among the first ingredients.
With optimal care, a Pomeranian dog lives for 12-16 years.
Wrapping Up
From the above list, you are sure to get one animal that meets your desire for a low-maintenance pet. However, low-maintenance does not mean that your pet should be neglected and left to fend for itself. This amounts to animal cruelty.
Take the right steps to ensure the animal you pick is as comfortable as possible and has everything it needs. If you are unsure of what your pet will need, you can consult a vet, professional breeder, or an animal behavior specialist to guide you.
Though some pet owners consider the fees spent on professionals unnecessary, their input will significantly ease the care of your pet.
