Environment
Fact Checked

What Are the Most Popular Pets?

Jacob Queen
Jacob Queen

The most popular pets can vary from one country to the next, but on a worldwide basis, according to Pettable, house cats are generally thought to be more common than any other pets. Dogs are the second most popular pets, and these are generally followed by fish, rodents, birds and various reptiles. The method used to measure pets can cause this to vary because some studies look at households while others look at the actual number of animals. So, while a person may own only a single dog, some fish owners may have a dozen fish in one tank. An example of how this can skew statistics occurs in America, which has more households that own dogs, but has cat owners that collectively have so many individual animals that they still manage to outnumber the dogs on a country-wide basis.

Cats and dogs are both popular pets for similar reasons. They can offer personal affection for people, and they bond with their owners to varying extents. Dogs are naturally social animals that crave a pack environment, and this causes them to form an especially tight bond, while cats also form a bond that is slightly different, but still generally powerful. In addition, both animals have been useful to people from a practical perspective, with cats being used as rodent killers and dogs having many important uses, from hunting to security.

Dogs are the second most popular pets.
Dogs are the second most popular pets.

Fish are some of the most popular pets partly because people love to watch them. They're colorful and some people get a great sense of joy from seeing them swim inside their artificial environments. They're also generally low-maintenance pets that don't take up that much space.

People keep rodents as pets for slightly different reasons. Sometimes they're mostly kept in their cages, and people may purchase them for some of the same reasons they buy fish. Other people form very close bonds with their pet rodents and take them out of their cages often to pet them. Some types, like rabbits, are commonly allowed to roam a person's house without a cage much of the time, and people may treat them exactly like a cat or a dog.

Birds sing, and some types can even learn to speak. This, along with their colorfulness and easy maintenance, make them some of the most popular pets. Many bird species also have very long life spans, and this often appeals to people.

Colorful, singing birds, like canaries, are popular pets.
Colorful, singing birds, like canaries, are popular pets.

Exotic reptiles are some of the most popular pets for people with allergies because they have no fur. They also appeal to people who want to own an animal that's a little bit closer to being wild. Most of these animals aren't actually domesticated at all, and some of them can even be a little dangerous if they aren't handled exactly right. Maintenance for reptiles can sometimes be difficult because they may require very carefully controlled environments to avoid infections or problems with body temperature.

You might also Like

Discussion Comments

anon294028

"Maintenance for reptiles can sometimes be difficult..."

Hold your horses right there. Reptiles are one of the easiest pets to keep, next to bugs. They are the easiest to take care of out of all vertebrates. Although you may have to be peculiar about their environment, that's essential all you need to worry about. They're are a lot easier to take care of than a dog or cat, even birds, and (unless you're buying some high-end breed/morph) way cheaper. Got a spare $200? Buy a fancy cage, equipment and a ball python. And as long as you have $5 to spend a week- or for adult specimens, every other week- you'll have a fat, friendly, healthy snake.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Dogs are the second most popular pets.
      By: Viorel Sima
      Dogs are the second most popular pets.
    • Colorful, singing birds, like canaries, are popular pets.
      By: enens
      Colorful, singing birds, like canaries, are popular pets.
    • A house cat.
      By: Mark Ross
      A house cat.
    • Rodents, like hamsters, are popular pets.
      By: Subbotina Anna
      Rodents, like hamsters, are popular pets.
    • Some people keep rabbits as pets.
      By: hui_u
      Some people keep rabbits as pets.
    • Snakes, sometimes even poisonous ones, can be a popular choice among people with fur allergies.
      By: Aleksey Stemmer
      Snakes, sometimes even poisonous ones, can be a popular choice among people with fur allergies.
    • Guinea pigs are popular pets.
      By: mariesacha
      Guinea pigs are popular pets.
    • Some people who like lizards may keep an iguana as a pet.
      By: mauvries
      Some people who like lizards may keep an iguana as a pet.
    • Exotic birds, such as macaws, are highly sought after as pets.
      By: jamdesign
      Exotic birds, such as macaws, are highly sought after as pets.
    • Chinchillas are popular because of their soft fur.
      By: Virginie Soucaze
      Chinchillas are popular because of their soft fur.
    • Some people get mice as a starter pet.
      By: jagodka
      Some people get mice as a starter pet.