Here’s the ultimate guide to help you choose and then look after your ideal small furry pet correctly! The situation has become even more complicated over recent years because of the increasing number of pets of this type that are now being kept worldwide. The aim of this guide is to help you make the right decision from the outset, whether for you or a younger family member. Featuring all the popular small furry pets together here in one unique publication means that you can compare their care requirements easily from the start. This guide will subsequently help you to look after your chosen pet correctly, and will be an invaluable reference if you want to expand your interest further. It also includes the latest information about important topics in small animal care, such as lighting, making it invaluable for everyone with an interest in these wonderful companion animals.
SMALL PETS • Choosing and caring for small furry pets
Small Pets: choosing and caring for small furry pets
INTRODUCING SMALL FURRY PETS
Practical Reptile Keeping SUBSCRIBE!
Rabbits
Can you offer a forever home? • Although the plight of dogs and cats in need of homes is widely publicised, there are many rabbits and other small furry pets that end up in need of new homes. Holly Kernot speaks with one of the leading welfare charities in the UK, which help to overcome misplaced perceptions about small animal care and rehome pets that come into their care.
The world of guinea pigs • The popularity of guinea pigs continues to grow particularly as they, like rabbits, have made the transition from garden hutch to household pet - but strangely, this is a journey in reverse, as far as they are concerned.
Cuddly chinchillas • These up-market South American rodents nearly became extinct in the wild during the early 20th century, as the result of being heavily hunted for their fur. Then they started to be farmed in North America. Chinchillas first began to be kept as pets some 50 years ago, and now they enjoy a dedicated following.
Degus
Sugar gliders
Hamsters
Gerbils
The world of fancy rats • Ranking amongst the most misunderstood of all pets, fancy rats make lively, highly intelligent and responsive companions. They are also ideal for owners of all ages, once you can free yourself from widespread negative preconceptions about rats in general!
Fancy Mice
Getting all spiky! Discover the world of spiny mice • The distinctive fur of these mice makes them immediately recognisable. They are easy to look after, although they are one of the less commonly-seen pet rodents, as Chris Henwood explains.
Prickly characters - but with a definite charm! • Back in the early 1980s, a number of African hedgehogs were imported from northern parts of that continent to zoos in the USA. At this stage, very little was known about them, but since then, their needs have become much better understood.
Minute but mesmerising! • Some rodents are pets to observe, rather than to handle, as in the case of the African pygmy mouse. Chris Henwood describes his experiences with them.
Making up for that missing sunlight • We usually feel better after a spell of sunny weather – and this is not just coincidence. It acts as a tonic that helps to keep us healthy. But what about small furry pets living indoors permanently, without access to sunlight as they would have in the wild? Lighting expert and small animal keeper John Courtney-Smith sets out his thoughts in what has been an overlooked area.
