Overview
- Small pets can bring a lot of joy to a home, but are a big commitment, so it’s important to do your research before bringing any home.
- Carefully consider what your pet(s) will need, and what you want from them. If you can provide for their needs, and they provide for yours then it’s a perfect match!
- Our vets have put together this guide to help you find the perfect pet.
Important considerations before getting a new pet
Who will be their main carer?
In the UK you need to be over 16 to legally own a pet. So it’s important that an adult is ultimately responsible for your pet’s care. Children can learn a huge amount from pets but should always be supervised around them.
Whether you’ll need more than one
Most small pets (with some exceptions) need companionship from their own species, so need to live in pairs or groups.
How much space do you have?
Most small pets need a much larger living space than you think and most enclosures sold in pet shops aren’t nearly big enough.
Your pets will need to be able to behave as they would in the wild, for example, run at full speed, jump as high as they wish, stretch out fully, play, climb, burrow, tunnel, explore, and forage - the bigger the space, the better. These days, many people choose to build their own enclosures to provide their pets with enough space.
How much do you want to handle your pet?
Some species love being handled, such as rats and ferrets, and some prefer to be stroked on the ground such as guinea pigs and rabbits. Others just prefer to be left to their own mischievous devices and take the occasional treat from your hand, such as mice, hamsters, chinchillas, and gerbils.
It’s also important to remember that every pet is an individual, so whether they like to be handled or not also depends on their personality and past experiences, especially if they’re a little older and you’ve rehomed them.
Lifespan
Some small pets live for one to two years, but others can live for up to 15. It’s important to think about how long you can commit to looking after a pet.
Where to get a small pet
A pet that’s had a good start in life is much more likely to be healthy and happy in the future. Ideally, we recommend rehoming from a well-known reputable rehoming centre such as Blue Cross, RSPCA, or Woodgreen because we know all the animals in the care of these charities will have been properly health checked and the staff are specially trained to help match you with your perfect pet.
However, we also recognise that many other rescue establishments and breeders also meet high standards, so our vets have put together a checklist for rehoming/buying small pets from elsewhere:
- All animals should be living in a clean environment.
- All animals should have a suitable living space, appropriate bedding, sleeping areas, and (depending on species) items such as dust baths.
- All animals should look bright and alert when awake.
- All pets should look healthy – they should not have any discharge around their eyes, nose, ears or bottom.
- All pets should have been gently handled from a young age (or as young as possible) to get them used to people. Although, some pets may never be comfortable being handled and the rehoming organisation should inform you of this if this is the case.
