17 Incredible Animals That Make the Best Pets

Pete Law

Are you in search of the perfect pet to bring into your family home? Explore these great choices and find the pet that best fits your family’s lifestyle and needs, and maybe even discover a new pet option you never even considered before. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of 17 fantastic options that could make the ideal addition to your household. 

Dogs

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Dogs are one of the best animals that you can keep as a pet. Dogs are the most popular pets: 65.1 million households in the U.S. alone own a dog, according to Forbes. Dogs are loyal animals and love the company of their human owners.

Hamsters

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Hamsters are awesome pets for adults and families with young children, as they’re very easy to look after. Wedgewood Pharmacy explains why: they don’t require a lot of attention, get enough exercise running on their wheel, and are cute, cuddly, and pleasant to hold.

Cats

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Cats are the second most popular pets in the U.S. According to The Zebra, “25.4% of households in the United States own cats.” Cats can have completely different personalities from dogs. They’re great for people who need a more independent pet.

Fish

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There’s a reason why fish are the third most common pet in America: fish are awesome. They’re easy for kids to look after and are low-maintenance pets that come in an endless array of beautiful colors. Around 11 million households in the U.S. have freshwater fish, according to Forbes.

Rabbits

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Rabbits are low-maintenance pets that are very rewarding to look after. They can become quite attached to their owners if you handle them regularly. Rabbits have wonderfully soft fur that is great for stroking. They’re easy to clean up after and have lots of energy.

Guinea Pigs

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Guinea pigs make wonderful family companions. Since they’re so friendly, guinea pigs can make great companions for children, says Supreme Petfoods. They’re small animals, and their enclosures don’t take up much room in the house. They’re energetic animals that love to eat and waddle around.

Gerbils

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Gerbils are tiny and very sweet animals. They’re ideal for busy adults and families, as they entertain themselves and get all of the exercise they need in their cages. Gerbils are fascinating to watch and love stuffing their faces with food and running around.

Chinchillas

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Chinchillas have extremely soft fur that is so nice to touch. Medvet.com says that chinchilla fur has the highest density of any land animal, with more than 20,000 hairs per square centimeter. These pets are also active and very clean.

Mice

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Mice are social animals that like to live in pairs or small groups. They make good pets because they don’t need a lot of space; they entertain and groom themselves, and they don’t need a lot of human contact. Mice are inexpensive to buy, feed, and look after.

Corn Snakes

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Corn snakes are the perfect pets for reptile lovers. They come in a great variety of morphs and eye-catching colors. Some are brightly colored when they’re born and then change colors when they get older. They don’t need feeding often and entertain themselves.

Green Anoles

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Green anoles are great pets for adults and are very educational for children. They can change colors from green to brown, which is very interesting to watch. They have colorful dewlaps, which can also change color depending on their mood. These animals are good for busy people because they keep themselves occupied in their enclosures.

Painted Turtles

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If you’re in the mood for watching some underwater marvels, then make sure you get a painted turtle as your next pet. Painted turtles are beautiful reptiles with bright and bold stripes on their heads, legs, arms, and necks. They’re relaxed animals that spend most of their day in the water.

Milk Snakes

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Adult milk snakes eat just one mouse a week; this makes them easy pets to feed and inexpensive ones too. Milk snakes are intriguing reptiles that you’ll love to watch. If you handle them often, they can warm up to you and become quite tame.

Bearded Dragons

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Bearded dragons are some of the most popular reptile pets in the U.S. They’re so sought-after because they’re captivating to look at and are incredibly intelligent. The diet of the bearded dragon is not common at all, making this a quirky pet for families with children.

Gopher Snakes

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Gopher snakes are nice snakes to keep as pets as they’re diurnal, which means they sleep during the night and are active during the day. This makes them interesting to watch, as they’re active when we are. They don’t need feeding often and entertain themselves.

Spiny-Tailed Lizards

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If you fancy an exotic pet as the next addition to your family home, make sure you consider a spiny-tailed lizard. These lizards are herbivores and easy to feed. They need a special enclosure to live in, but once that’s set up, they’re simple to look after.

Box Turtles

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Box turtles are great pets that live for decades. If you want a pet that will be in it for the long run, you’ve found it. Box turtles are omnivores and need access to fresh water each day. They can warm up to their human carers as long as you regularly spend time with them.