Cat Most Popular Pet
It's not surprising that out of the many pets in the world, the most popular are cats and dogs - our feline friends holding first place.
What is surprising is that (in the USA at least) the third most popular pets are ferrets, those cute and cuddly little furries who like biting things.
Other common pets include birds, horses, fish, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, mice, turtles and tortoises.
The many unusual pets include reptiles, goats, monkeys, kangaroos, frogs, pigs, scorpions, spiders and stick insects.
Dogs
Dogs come in various types and sizes. There are over 150 breeds ranging from the tallest, the Irish Wolfhound, to the smallest, the pocket size Chihuahua (pictured here).
Dogs need training and daily exercise. Large dogs need a yard or garden. The various breeds have different personalities, something which should be studied carefully. Some dogs, like German Shepherds for example, can be over protective and have a reputation as biters. They have to be carefully trained and socialised. As well as exercise and food, a happy dog needs plenty of companionship and play. You also need to bathe and groom them.
Cats
Cats are easy pets to have. You don't have to bathe them or take them for walks. They can look after themselves. There are numerous types to choose from and cats portray a unique air of sophistication that is distinctly feline. As kittens they are an unbeatable delight. Most cats like companionship and can become close friends.
Ferrets
Ferrets are adorable furry balls of fun. It's no accident they are the third most popular pet. Research is important because training and special care is essential for their health. It's vital that you know how to care for and feed ferrets. Owning one is like having a permanent kitten because they are so playful.
Rats
Rats (like mice) are among the easiest pets to keep and they are great fun. They are very clean, playful, sociable, intelligent and affectionate. Rats can learn tricks and get to know their names. They can also be litter box trained. Young rats are a delight to watch because they play a lot, just like kittens. The average lifespan of rats is 2 - 3 years.
Birds.
There are many types of birds available as pets but one of the easiest, cheapest and fun to keep is the budgerigar. This hardy little soul can talk better than a parrot, is very friendly and playful and is easily trained.
Turtles
Turtles date back 215 million years. Despite this they are delicate creatures and proper care in relation to food and environment is vital. Experts recommend the smaller types of turtles because they are easy to handle. Turtles are not ideal pets for children because they do not like being handled. A study of the subject before buying is advised.
Horses
Horses are heavenly creatures but you need to know a lot about them before you buy. (See my Blog). When you have a horse you need to train it so it knows you are its leader and its friend.
Mice
Definetly the easiest and cheapest pets and so cute. Mice are fun. They're also intelligent and playful and like human contact. Unfortunately the average lifespan of these adorable little creatures is only is 1 - 2 years.
Training and Care
Most pets need some training plus special care and understanding. Here are some reliable online training and care services for -
Cats ... cat behavior with Liz Barton
Puppies and Dogs ... dog training on video with Hollywood's Dove Cresswell
German Shepherds ... training Alsatians with David Dee
Horses ... Eric Bravo teaches horse training & riding
Ferrets ... Seth Evans tells all about ferrets
Turtles ... Paul Bryan talks about turtles
Pet Rats ... Colin Patterson reveals all about rats
I have personally researched the above and they offer lots of useful free advice, much of it on video. In any event their services are pretty low priced.
My own pets include dogs, cats, rats, mice and a very talkative old budgie called Bluey.
The picture above is of my old dog Bubbles. She's the biggest pocket-size Chihuahua in the world because she eats likes an Irish Wolfhound.
Three Ways to Save Millions of Pet Lives
Every year millions of cats and dogs are put to sleep - about 5 million a year in the USA alone or 10 every minute.
There's nothing wrong with the animals. They are perfectly healthy and fit and the animal societies, shelters and pounds have given them their health shots. They are killed because nobody wants them .There's no homes for them.
And that's not counting other creatures that people no longer want like horses, ferrets, rats and birds.
But there are three ways you can stop this useless killing.
1.Don't buy a pet on impulse. They're not toys. They're living creatures like you and me. Buying pets as surprise presents can be a big mistake in the long term.
Think carefully before you obtain a pet and do some research. Consider the commitment you are making and what things it will involve you in time wise and money wise.
2.Have your pet desexed, male or female. This will save many innocent lives by reducing the population.
3.Adopt a pet from an animal shelter or pound. This will save you money and save a life.
Desexing is particularly important. For example in Australia the Animal Welfare League is successfully progressing towards achieving zero euthanasia for cats and dogs through desexing.
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Dogs Are Celebrity Favourites
Cats may be the most popular pets in the world but the most famous people in the world own dogs.
Queen Elizabeth 11 owns a pack of corgi dogs. President Obama owns a dog (Bo Obama). The King of Thailand - a country famous for its cats - owns a dog. Bill Clinton owns a dog; even Paris Hilton parades with her chihuahua. There's a long list of the famous and celebrated who are dog owners.
While dogs are the second most popular pet in the world I wonder why the very famous don't choose cats. I think it's because dogs are docile and controllable. Cats are far more independent creatures. Dogs can be trained and do what they are told but the independent feline does not take orders easily.
Belonging to famous owners also makes the dogs famous. Corgis were basically unheard of outside of Wales until the British royal family started keeping them in 1934. Queen Elizabeth's public outings with her corgis made them world famous. Because of this royal association the short legged corgi became a popular household pet.
American presidents' dogs are guaranteed to be famous. But whereas I always notice them on photo shoots I never seem to remember their names, only the breeds. George W Bush had two Scottish terriers and a mongrel. His dad had two spaniels. Bill Clinton had a Labrador and a cat. President Obama's Bo is a Portuguese water dog.
So why do royals, presidents and celebrities choose dogs to be part of their public profile? Is there something socially important about having a dog? Maybe the dog represents an essential part of family and famous people like to connect with the family image. Maybe it's because people who have pets are recognised as nice people and everyone wants to be thought of as nice.
Whatever the reason, it's good for dogs, especially if the owners love them.
RATS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN
Rats are among the easiest pets to have and they are great fun.
They are very clean, sociable, playful intelligent and affectionate. Rats can be taught tricks and get to know their names .They can also be litter box trained.
Young rats are a delight to watch because they play a lot, just like kittens and they love company.
I have three rats – Ratwah and Cheeky, both white albinos,and Stewart, a handsome brown and white guy who always reminds me of a horse I knew.
White albinos are usually more gentle and docile than other rats but their eyesight is poor.
My three 'ratateers' are very friendly and even play with our dogs and cats. They love being cuddled and resting on your neck or inside our jumper or jacket. They are very affectionate and often come and give you a kiss. It's so sweet.
As with most other pets, it's best to do some research before you buy rats. There's tips you can get so you don't end up with a sick or pregnant rat. I use to think that rats were very strong creatures but in fact they are susceptible to various things, like lung infections. So you need to know something about the scene before you buy. Not all pet shops can be trusted.
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