You might think that keeping small animals such as ferrets, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rabbits, and rats as pets may not require much work, but they have detailed care considerations that vary by species.
What type of housing should I provide for my small pet?
Provide the largest cage you can afford--it's where the animal spends most of the time. Check with rescue and breed-specific groups for minimum cage sizes. Ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits, and rats shouldn't live in aquariums, which are much too small and don't provide proper ventilation. However, gerbils and mice should live in aquariums, as gerbils may chew through plastic cages and mice can squeeze through the bars of wire cages. Colorful plastic hamster cages with tubes may seem like fun habitats but can be dangerous, difficult to clean, and full of potential escape routes. Cover wire platforms with solid materials and remove wire floors, so animals' legs don't fall through the wire.
Never keep small animals outdoors, where they're susceptible to extreme temperatures, not to mention birds and other predators. They belong inside with you, where they can receive your love and attention.
What type of bedding should I provide?
The best bedding is made from recycled wood products. Avoid softwoods like cedar and pine, which contain oils that may cause allergies and infections, and don't use chlorophyll or corncob bedding, newspaper, or sawdust. Steer clear of cottonlike commercial nesting materials, tissue paper, and paper towels, which may block animals' stomachs if swallowed.
What is the best diet?
Check with rescue and breed-specific groups for recommendations. Most small animals need fruits and vegetables at least occasionally, and some species need daily servings. Seed mixes pose a choking hazard to some species like rabbits, so offer pellets instead. Your small animal may need regular quantities of either timothy or alfalfa hay. For example, adult guinea pigs need timothy hay in both loose bundles and in their pellets, which should also contain vitamin C. Dwarf hamsters are prone to diabetes and should eat a variety of green vegetables and a mix without molasses, while avoiding carrots, corn, and fruits, which are all high in natural sugars. Always thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables before giving them to your pet.
What's the best way to handle my small pet?
Small animals need daily contact with their people to remain happy and socialized. As prey animals, they may be wary of people picking them up too aggressively or quickly. Speak softly; move slowly; and, if necessary, coax the animal to walk into an open container that you can then lift out of the cage. Some small animals have poor eyesight and rely on their whiskers and keen smell and hearing. The scent of food or another animal may prompt the animal to try to "taste" you, so wash your hands before handling.
Don’t forget to practice good hygiene with your small animal, just as you would with any pet. In rare cases, pet hamsters and mice have been linked to cases of salmonellosis, a bacterial infection that can be serious for young children and adults with weakened immune systems. Use plastic gloves when cleaning your pet’s cage, and make sure all family members wash their hands after handling your pet, especially before eating. Similarly, don’t keep your pet in a room where food is prepared, and wash any surfaces your pet crawls across.
What type of exercise should my small pet receive?
Small animals need at least an hour out of their cage every day. Make playpens from materials like plastic tubs or collapsible wire walls. Avoid exercise balls, which can be dangerous and allow limited interaction and airflow. Guinea pigs and rabbits shouldn't have exercise wheels, while other species should have wheels that are the correct diameter for their size. For example, Syrian hamsters need a minimum 8-inch wheel.
Where can I adopt a small pet?
Most shelters and many rescue groups have small animals for adoption. If you can't find any, ask to be put on a waiting list so you can be notified when a small animal arrives—don't go to a pet store. Your chances of getting a sick and possibly infectious animal are much higher when you go to pet stores, which may purchase their small animals from high-volume, often filthy breeding operations.
Does my small pet need a friend?
Most small pets are usually happiest with a buddy or two of their own kind; Syrian hamsters and male mice are the only types who generally should live alone for their safety. Unlike rabbits, guinea pigs, and ferrets, small rodents aren’t typically sterilized, so if you’re adopting these animals in pairs, make sure you get two of the same gender.
Angela Moxley is cofounder of Small Angels Rescue and managing editor of Publications for The HSUS.
