The 11 most common pets

We have domesticated animals practically since our species became sedentary. Although exotics are becoming more common in homes, we can say that There are animals that are more frequent as life companions.

This frequency depends, above all, on how much the animal is domesticated, since the greater the amount of time spent with man, the greater the ease there is for interspecies understanding. For example, we tend to understand each other better with dogs and cats than with fish.

Therefore, in this article we bring you the most common pets in homes. Although the list of pets could be extended to infinity, here we will talk about the most common ones.

Currently, more than half of homes live at least one pet.. The decision to adopt and care for them, fortunately, is becoming more and more common, in part because people who opt for the adoption of a pet increasingly have more and better information.

1. Dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

The pet par excellence. It is an omnivorous canid whose training dates back 15,000 years, when its ancestors approached human populations in search of food remains.

Over the years, the artificial selection of specimens has given rise to more than 300 dog breeds with some differences as significant in some dimensions as those between a mastiff and a chihuahua. Probably, We are talking about the species with which we humans best understand each other.

2. Cat (Felis silvestris catus)

The last sentence of the previous section is not true for a good part of the population. This is how we get to the second most common pets: cats. These felines have also shared space with humans for thousands of years, as they hunted in the vicinity of homes.

Although, being solitary animals, they have a different temperament than dogs, they are ideal for people who want a calmer relationship with their animal.

3. Canary (Serinus canaria domestica)

The canaries, originally kept with the intention of warning that there was a gas leak in the mines, They became ornamental birds over the years.

The sounds they make are their most striking feature. From its original color, brown and slightly yellowish, varieties with a very wide chromatic range have emerged.

4. Guinea pig (Cavia porcellus)

Small mammals are very popular in homes with children. Guinea pigs, with their adorable noises and docile temperament, are among the most beloved. Is about a herbivorous rodent, the result of crossing several species of the genus Cavia over thousands of years.

5. Fish

Domestic fish are kept with the same intention as canaries: to decorate the house. Many people find caring for the aquarium relaxing. and they become true specialists in it.

These animals may seem merely decorative, but it is possible to interact with them. Among the most popular species of fish is the goldfish (Carassius auratus), which was first domesticated in China about 1000 years ago.

6. Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

This lagomorph is another of the small mammals that are kept in homes. They are very clean, sociable animals and make very pleasant company..

Rabbits are probably the best species to learn to deal with prey animals: not everyone can make the base of the food chain lose fear.

7. Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

Ferrets are considered an intermediate point between dogs and cats., since they are sociable like the first and independent like the second. This species began to be domesticated for hunting animals that live in burrows, such as rabbits.

At home, ferrets can be a whirlwind: they love piles of dirty laundry, hiding and attacking, and playing with everything within reach. Of course, they can sleep 20 hours a day, so take advantage of their moments of activity.

8. Hamsters

What we know as hamsters are actually a subfamily of rodents (Cricetinae), which contains 19 species grouped into 7 genera. They are very popular in homes because they are relatively easy to care for and have an adorable appearance.

These are solitary animals that can be surly, but With good treatment and patience you can establish a good relationship with them. Of course, they are nocturnal, so you will have to adapt to their waking hours.

9. Small rodents

In addition to hamsters, many other rodents have become popular in homes: rats, mice, gerbils, degus and much more. Many of them, especially the rats, had a plague stigma on their heads that is slowly disappearing.

10. Psittacidae

Exotic birds, with their bright colors and complex personalities, are some of the most common pets among bird lovers. From the parakeet to the enormous macaw, these birds are ideal for those with a lot of free time and great knowledge about exotic species.

The warning given to anyone thinking about adopting one of these birds is the following: make sure it is legal to own it in your country. Additionally, some of them can live a whopping 80 years, so be aware that they could be a companion for life.

11. Reptiles

Finally, people who specialize in complex care and exotic animals often choose reptiles for their homes. The most popular species are snakes, such as the royal python (python regius), the bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) or the green iguana (Iguana iguana).

Being animals whose domestication, if it exists, is too recent, It is necessary to recreate the conditions of its natural environment as closely as possible. Furthermore, the care of each species differs greatly from one another, so some training is required for their care.

Be it one or the other, the responsible care It should be the flag that accompanies every domestic animal. Whether out of activism or a need for company, we increasingly welcome pets into our homes. Little by little, the relationships between our species and others are expanding as a form, also, of adaptation to the environment.

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