Around the world there are all kinds of pets. Dogs, cats, fish, parrots… the list of pets is as long as you want to make it. By proxy, we can consider a beetle as a pet, although it would certainly not be among the most popular pets. Most popular pets in the world
Although we can consider any minimally domestically animal as a pet, it is clear that there are species more chosen as animals for the home and in this article we are going to discover which are the 10 most popular species of companion animals .
The 10 most popular types of pets
Pets are part of society. There are those who prefer the dogs with which they can walk, others who like cats more because they are cuddly and less restless. There are even those who enjoy the company of a bird, a fish, or even a lizard. Whatever pet you have, one fact is clear: they are part of many people’s lives, even being treated as a member of their family .
There are countries where it is rare to find homes without a pet. A proof of this is the case of the United States, where almost 70% of households have at least one pet. This, which also happens in other parts of the world, goes to show that adopting, buying or raising pets are increasingly common practices, especially since the population is becoming more and more aware of the benefits of having a companion animal in home.
But despite the fact that more people want animals, the decision to have one at home must be considered . An animal is still a living being, not a toy or something we can get rid of when we get tired of it. Whatever the animal, if we acquire it to keep us company, we must be aware that it will require a lot of care and a lot of responsibility, which is why we must know how to choose the most appropriate animal taking into account our situation.
We all think of cats and dogs when we talk about pets, but the truth is that in the market we can find many different species of domesticated animals, each one more suitable for a type of home and requiring different care. For this reason, below we will see the 10 most popular pets.
1. Dogs
The number one position is occupied by the animal that we all know to be man’s best friend: the dog. Scientific name Canis lupus familiaris , dogs number about 470 million specimens worldwide .
It is a carnivorous mammal, belonging to the canine family, whose domestication dates back to about 15,000 years ago when humans began to domesticate wolves interested in the remains of food that people left in their wake.
Originally used for hunting and defense, with the passage of thousands of years and the use of artificial selection, dogs were divided into up to 343 currently recognized breeds , of all sizes, shapes and colors. Among the smallest breeds we have Chihuahuas, weighing about 25 cm and weighing about 25 cm, and among the largest we have the Boxer, 63 cm tall and 33 kilos.
Generally, dogs are friendly, sociable, affectionate and highly intelligent animals. They are the perfect pet not only because of their loyalty, but also because they are very active, which forces us to take them out for a walk and play with them. Thanks to this, dog owners do a little physical exercise, either just taking them for a walk, throwing a Frisbee or running. Most popular pets in the world
2. Cats
What to say about cats that we do not know? They are, along with dogs, the classic idea of a pet. The Felis silvestris catus , of which are believed to be about 400 million copies worldwide, is an animal with all races, sizes and colors. L you are of all kinds, including hypoallergenic as the sphinx cat, cat Russian Blue and Siberian forest .
The domestic cat is a carnivorous mammal, belonging to the feline family. On average they live about 12 years, although there have been cases of kittens that have reached 20 years. They spend between 12 and 16 hours a day sleeping and, although they are usually sociable and playful, they are not as faithful as dogs and, if we catch them wrong, they can scratch us for no reason. However, they are normally quite calm animals, ideal for those who want tranquility.
3. Domestic fish
Here we already enter the major leagues. Freshwater fish are among the three most common animals in the world, in some cases the fourth most common choice as a pet. These animals, in addition to providing company, are used in a similar way to how birds are kept, using them to decorate the house . Fish and aquariums are considered very relaxing elements and that is why many people incorporate them into their homes.
Among the most popular species of fish is the goldfish ( Carassius auratus ), which was first domesticated in China about 1,000 years ago. This animal can live a long time as long as the water is changed frequently, it is well fed and it is not made to be accompanied by other fish that can attack it. They can live 30 years and there is even the case of a fish that reached 43.
4. Hamsters
Hamsters fall in fourth place by the hair, since they are still considered one of the most common pets, competing with birds and fish alike. What we know as hamsters are actually a subfamily of rodents ( Cricetinae ), containing 19 species grouped into 7 genera .
They can measure between 8 and 18 cm in length, weigh between 30 and 180 grams and live between a year and a half and 3 years. They are originally from the Middle East, being found for the first time in Syria.
5. Birds
Birds are very common animals, especially canaries and parrots . It is believed that the first birds were domesticated about 4,000 ago for the purpose of using them for hunting. Over time, thousands of birds of all types and colors that we can imagine have been domesticated. Most popular pets in the world
The main reason why birds are acquired is for their beauty and their song, locking them in cages. It is important to understand that depending on the species, the cage may be too small, causing stress and even causing strange behaviors , as is the case of carolinas that when locked up can begin to pluck feathers, causing blood.
Without going into the debate of why having caged animals to sing is bad for us, it is important to understand that they are birds, they need to fly and that the decision to buy one must be thought through very well. If the bird is well cared for, allowed to fly in a large enough space and is fed well, it can live for dozens of years depending on its species.
6. Mice and rats
Mice and rats are the most widespread mammals in the world, after humans. Domesticated mice originate from China, a country where these rodents were kept in palaces during the Qing dynasty .
Mice are part of the genus Mus , while rats are of the genus Rattus . Both genera contain a multitude of species. In the case of the genus Mus , the most common species of mouse is the domestic mouse ( Mus musculus ), which usually measures between 15 and 19 cm with the tail included, weighing between 12 and 40 grams and generally feeds on seeds, small plants and insects. . Most popular pets in the world
In the case of rats, the most common domestic species is the domesticated brown rat ( Rattus norvegicus ), this variety being different from that of its wild relatives. Contrary to what many may believe, they are animals that do not pose any risk to the human species if they are well fed and dewormed. They measure between 26 and 32 cm and weigh about 300 grams. Their main utility throughout the last century has been to be used as subjects for animal experimentation.
7. Guinea pigs
The guinea pig ( Cavia porcellus ) is a very comfortable pet to keep. It is a herbivorous rodent, the result of the crossing of several species of the genus Cavia over thousands of years , which generally lives between 4 and 8 years and can measure between 20 and 40 cm, weighing 1 kg. Most popular pets in the world
There are believed to be about 5 million guinea pigs as companion animals around the world.
8. Snakes
Snakes, more exotic than iguanas, have become very popular animals, especially among those with a lot of money . There are all types and colors, poisonous, non-poisonous, large, small, brightly colored … But as a general rule those sold in specialized stores are not dangerous for human beings, although it should be noted that they are not fully domesticated animals, only those specimens that have been bred in captivity.
If we are going to acquire a snake we must be careful, since they are still reptiles and as such they do not respond to stimuli as we mammals do. Therefore, before buying a snake, we must document ourselves about the species, especially since they can live up to 40 years, require very specific care and, although they are harmless species for an adult, they can be dangerous for other pets and babies.
9. Iguanas
The common iguana ( Iguana iguana ) is one of the reptiles that has been gaining more popularity in recent decades . It is a lizard native to tropical areas of Central America, South America and the Caribbean, which, being so exotic, have attracted the attention of many people.
They are so popular as pets not only because they are quite original pets, but also because they do not give too many problems. Despite what their face of bad smoke may give us to understand, in reality iguanas are calm animals, quite lazy, and what they like the most is being in their terrarium at a suitable temperature and with a solar lamp . If they are well cared for, they can reach 20 years of age.
Although their nature is rather passive, enjoying the sun lying on a log, they are not animals to touch their noses. Normally we catch them quite calm, but we must bear in mind that adults can reach 1.8 meters, with tails that they use to hit painful lashes. In addition, adult specimens have a powerful bite that, although they will not tear our skin, it will undoubtedly hurt us. Most popular pets in the world
10. Ferrets
The ferret, whose scientific name is Mustela putorius furo , is a subspecies of polecat ( Mustela putorius ) that is believed to have been domesticated about 2,500 years ago to hunt rabbits . This animal usually weighs between 0.7 and 2.5 kg, measuring about 38 cm.
Ferrets began to become popular pets during the reign of Victoria of the United Kingdom (1840-1901) who gave them away to those who visited her. This curious real anecdote made, over time, ferrets became highly demanded animals, and today they are highly acquired in places like the United States, being the third most popular pet.
The reason they are so popular is that they are regarded as a kind of cat-dog. They sleep as much as cats, or even more, getting to spend 20 hours a day of sleep, but at the same time they are as playful and sociable as dogs . In addition, their small size makes them easy to control, although sometimes they are a bit fidgety.
Having pets improves our health
Now that we know the most popular pets, we can discuss some of the benefits associated with having pets, especially for our health. In addition to giving us company and enjoyment, pets help us avoid diseases, physical and psychological problems. Their presence can help us regulate ourselves emotionally, as well as helping us to stay active and relaxed.
In recent decades it has been addressed how pets, especially dogs, bring benefits to our body. Among them we have that they are probiotics, increasing the diversity of beneficial bacteria in our homes, in addition to stimulating the activity of white blood cells, reducing blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular diseases, in addition to that in homes with pets there is less risk of developing allergies. They also reduce anxiety and stress levels. Most popular pets in the world
