Help me choose a pet...

[Thurbane]

Any advice on a pet for someone who lives in a small flat (apartment)?

I have recently gone from living in a house with a large backyard to living in a (relatively) small 2nd floor apartment. When I moved I had to give my dog (of ten+ years) away to someone with sufficient room for her.

I'm not trying to replace my dog (no pet could do that), but I am looking to get a new pet...

I've basically got it narrowed down to one of three choices:

1. Bird (parrot of some kind)

2. Ferret

3. Lizard (probably a Bearded Dragon or Eastern Water Dragon)

Anyone have experiences they think might be helpful in choosing?

Cheers - Thurbane

 

[Aeolius]

4) fish

 

[Wystan]

4. Go to the local animal Shelter and look for a cat like mine. I have a cat that will snuggle and sit on my shoulder. It will take some of the sadness of missing a dog that most people have when they are in your situation. I dislike cats normally, but none of my friends have ever been able to dislike my cat.

Look for a friendly cat, one that likes to be held and like people.

Unless you are allergic to cats that is.....

(Birds are loud and tend to foul the area around their cage something nasty, and all of my friends that have birds that they say ae 'Nice' have wounds and bites from said nice bird.)

 

[Huw]

A bird of any sort will bite and make a mess. I've kept budgies before and friend has parrots. Parrots need a lot of room - they pretty much need a whole room to themselves. Both are fun when you close all the doors and windows and give them the run (fly?) of the place - but do clean up afterwards.

Reptiles are relatively easy to take care of once you've got everything set up for them - but you have to have the right set up. Many reptiles never really stop growing. I've never kept one, so I can't give any more advice.

Ferrets are cute but smelly, plus you can take them for walks.

 

[xmanii]

What Wystan said.

Ferrets can smell, though I thikn you can get them descented.

 

[Pbartender]

We own several pets, including a dog, a cat, two gerbils, and several aquariums fill of assorted fish.

These:

1. Bird (parrot of some kind)

2. Ferret

3. Lizard (probably a Bearded Dragon or Eastern Water Dragon)

...are, in all honesty and for various reasons, the three pets that, as cools as they might be, would be at the top of the list of those we would be least likely to own.

 

[Aurora]

Even after you get ferrets demusked, they still smell a bit, but they are a lot of fun. I agree with Wystan on going to a shelter to find a cat. Especially if you can find one with a "cat room" where all the cats are able to roam around and play. You'l be able to go sit in the room and the cats with personality will come right up to you to play or snuggle. Good luck!

 

[Umbran]

My Wife is a veterinarian, who often deals with exotics (birds, lizards, ferrets included). So, I know some of her drill.

The #1 question - why do you want this animal?

Why, in particular, is a cat not on your list of possibilities? "I don't like them" is a valid response - but exactly what about them may be relevant to other choices.

Some notes:

Lizards are not big on interpersonal interaction. They are as much "living artwork" as pets. Reptiles, in general (and most lizards, specifically) tend to have some really specific living requirements (in terms of heating, humidity, UV light, and food), and if you don't meet them, you're going to have a sick pet.

Ferrets can be fun, and are not nearly as picky about living conditions, and can be highly interactive pets. However, they will tend to smell a bit, and they'll steal just about anythign that you don't nail down.

Parrots, meaning real parrots (and cockatoos), require a whole lot of human attention to stay sane. They are far more intelligent than most folks give them credit for, and that means they require a really rich environment and interation with you. Failure to give them what they need will lead to behavior problems that can become full fleged health problems. Some species of parrot will outlive you.

 

[kirinke]

Of the three choices, I'd go with Ferret. Like Umbran said, both Reptiles and Birds have alot of special needs that have to be filled and can cost oodles of money to meet those requirments. For parrots, you need to give them alot of attention and if you're working/going to school etc, it's probably best not to get one.

Ferrets from what I've seen tend to be very energetic and highly curious, even more so than a cat. Basically, think of them as a two year old hyped up on caffeine and sugar in terms of energy and the capabilities of getting into trouble (to the power of 10).

Your best bet for an apartment type pet is a cat, fish or a rodent of some kind (gerbil, hamster etc). If you go with a cat or rodent, it would be a good idea to get two (and get them fixed) because when you're not home, they can keep each other company. A lonely pet is a destructive and generally neurotic pet.

Remember, if you do get a cat, they will shed and scratch things up. Declawing is an option, but only if they are going to be a strictly indoor type cat.

 

[Umbran]

Ferrets from what I've seen tend to be very energetic and highly curious, even more so than a cat. Basically, think of them as a two year old hyped up on caffeine and sugar in terms of energy and the capabilities of getting into trouble (to the power of 10).

Also note - In the US, most ferrets come from one of (I think) two farms. They're inbred, and that's led them to be little cancer factories. Fun critters, but they usually don't end well.

Your best bet for an apartment type pet is a cat, fish or a rodent of some kind (gerbil, hamster etc).

If I might add - guinea pigs and rats both make excellent pets as well, and both are far more opening to handlign and interaction than smaller rodents.

Remember, if you do get a cat, they will shed and scratch things up. Declawing is an option, but only if they are going to be a strictly indoor type cat.

And note that there are a whole lot of things you can do to change the animal's behavior before you try declawing. I would prefer to see a cat declawed than euthanized, but I favor a whole lot of effort in behavior modification first. When many furniture clawing problems can be solved with spritz bottles, pepper, or double-sided tape, declawing is a long way off.