Most Popular US Pets

Undoubtedly, dogs and cats top the list of most popular pets in the US – the Americans own about 74.8 million dogs and 88.3 million cats. Pets serve as the best companions, and the Americans love pets with all their heart! Pets don’t just fill in the emptiness in the owner’s life but are also used for therapy against depression and sadness, especially in senior homes. Interestingly, there are lots of animals that make great pets. Have a look at them:

Mice

Mice

Domesticated mice have been kept as pets since ancient times. They are descendants of the house mouse (Mus musculus). Unlike their sewage counterparts, pet mice are docile and clean, plus they get along with humans quite well. They are also intelligent and can be taught a few tricks! A mouse can live up to 3 years, and they are the most widely distributed mammals in the world after humans.

Mice feed on small insects, seeds, and plants. Due to a high number of predators, they don’t survive for much longer on their own.

Iguanas

Iguanas

Iguanas make surprisingly popular pets to millennials. While you’re not required to walk them or have them potty-trained, there are some important things to consider when taking care of iguanas — from feeding down to their proper housing, and even setting the right temperature. Although this reptile might seem quite scary, it can become quite an impressive pet. People love Iguanas because of their exotic looks and sociable personality – they love being responsive to people every time.

Since Iguanas are desert animals by nature, they love the sun, so if you can’t set your iguana terrarium under direct sunlight, purchase an artificial UV light instead.

Hamsters

Hamsters

These adorable little fellows were descendants of the hamster found in the Syrian desert during the early 19th century. Today, there are several breeds of pet hamsters, including the Syrian or golden hamsters, dwarf hamsters, and the Roborovski hamsters. Aside from being pets, hamsters are also being used for scientific research because they are normally disease-free and can reproduce at a faster rate. However, they are hard to train and love to gnaw at whatever looks delicious to them; this is the reason why farmers consider them a nuisance and use different ways to kill them.

Guinea pigs

Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs were originally raised by the Incas, mostly for food. When the British immigrants brought the first guinea pigs to America, they became quite popular as pets. Even Queen Elizabeth I owned one!

Guinea pigs are adorable, docile, and do not bite at all! Plus, they are also easy to breed. Like hamsters, guinea pigs are used for scientific research as well. If you want a pet companion that has unique characteristics and innocent looks, you can’t go wrong with this sociable animal.

Fish

Fish

Whether they keep a lone goldfish in a small fishbowl or a giant aquarium full of colorful fancy tropical fish, owners will always have enthusiasm towards their pet fish. Just watching them swim in the water makes you relaxed and stress-free. Fish are the third most popular pet in America (after cats and dogs). Americans say that owning fish is not just fun but also make attractive home décor.

There are even a lot of American pet owners who consider collecting exotic fish a serious hobby.

Ferrets

Ferrets

Do you know that ferrets have been around as pets since the ancient Egyptian era? They are the domesticated relatives of the European polecat. Ferrets have long been trained to hunt for vermin such as rabbits and mice. But aside from being working animals, ferrets also make great pet companions. They are playful, highly sociable, and somewhat trainable, but also independent at the same time. So, you can say that a ferret’s personality is somewhat similar to a cat and dog.

Dogs

Dogs

Could we say anything more about a man’s best friend? To date, there are over 74 million pet pooches in the United States. A playmate, a protector, a loyal and faithful friend — these are the qualities that make dogs so popular in the country. It can be said undoubtedly that the loyalty of a dog to his master is just matchless – if dogs find out that their master is feeling a bit low or is depressed, they will do anything they can to please him.

They are sturdy and strong animals that know how to take care of themselves, but it doesn’t mean they don’t require food. Both dog and dog food aren’t expensive at all; if you are looking for a faithful pet companion, you can’t go wrong with a dog.

 

Cats

Cats

While dogs are a man’s best friend, cats otherwise have bested them in the list of the most popular US pets in terms of numbers. So far there are more than 88 million pet cats in the country. Cats have been domesticated since a long time ago, and even ancient Egyptians considered them as sacred. They are known to be fussy but can take care of themselves most of the time. Primarily, domesticated cats were imported to North America to control the problem of rodents; who knew they would eventually become the most favored pets in North America. However, cats are loving and caring but not as loyal as dogs.

Birds

Birds

So far there are 16 million pet birds in the United States. They are popular mainly because of their fascinating visual beauty. Some birds like parrots and macaws delight people with their strikingly colorful plumage as well as their talking and mimicking abilities. While other birds such as canaries are known for their singing. They were caged some 4,000 years ago just because of their enticing beauty.

Birds can make amazing companions, and unlike cats and dogs, the larger birds can even live up to dozens of years. However, there are certain things including care factors, nutrition, and attention needs that should be taken into account before choosing a bird as a pet.

Snakes

Snakes

Surprisingly, snakes make it to the list of the most popular animals here in the US. Even their frightening reputation won’t prevent a lot of pet owners from keeping them. But fear not, most of the pet snakes are quite docile. Pythons and corn snakes make the most popular pet snakes here in the US. If you’re interested in keeping a snake as a pet, better obtain one that is bred in captivity, rather than caught straight from the wild — captive snakes will make better pets.