Top 10 Most Popular Pets

These are the most popular pets worldwide today.

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 even a beetle as a pet, although it would certainly not be among the most popular pets.

While we can consider as a pet any minimally domesticable animal, it is clear that there are species more chosen as animals for the home and in this article we will discover which are the 10 most popular pet species.

The 10 most popular types of pets

Pets are part of society. There are those who prefer dogs with whom 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 pets. 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, shows that adopting, buying or breeding pets is becoming more and more common, especially because the population is becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of having a pet at home.

But despite the fact that more people want animals, the decision to have one at home must be made by a pet owner, the decision to have one at home must be considered.. An animal is still a living being, not a toy or something that we can get rid of when we are tired of it. Whatever the animal is, if we acquire it to keep us company, we must be aware that it will require a lot of care and responsibility, which is why we must know how to choose the most appropriate animal taking into account our situation.

We all think of dogs and cats when we talk about pets, but the truth is that in the market we can find many different species of domesticated animals, each more suitable for a type of home and requiring different care. For this reason, we will now take a look at the 10 most popular pets.

1. Dogs

The number one position is occupied by the animal we all know for being man's best friend: the dog. Scientific name Canis lupus familiaris, dogs number some 470 million specimens worldwide..

Dogs are carnivorous mammals, belonging to the canid family, whose domestication dates back some 15,000 years ago, when humans began to domesticate wolves interested in the remains of food left by people in their path.

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 34 different types, dogs were divided into as many as 343 currently recognized breeds, of all sizes, shapes, sizes, shapes, shapes, shapes, shapes, shapes, shapes, shapes and sizes.of all sizes, shapes and colors. Among the smallest breeds we have the Chihuahuas, about 25 cm, and among the largest we have the Boxer, 63 cm tall and 33 kg.

Generally, dogs are friendly, sociable, affectionate and very 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 for walks and play with them. Thanks to this, dog owners get some physical exercise, whether it's just taking them for a walk, throwing them a frisbee or running around.

2. Cats

What can we say about cats that we don't already know? They are, along with dogs, the classic idea of a pet. The Felis silvestris catusof which there are believed to be some 400 million specimens worldwide, is an animal with all kinds of breeds, of different sizes and colors. Lhere are all kinds, including hypoallergenic cats such as the sphinx cat, the Russian blue cat and the Siberian forest cat..

The domestic cat is a carnivorous mammal, belonging to the feline family. On average, they live for about 12 years, although there have been cases of kittens that have lived up to 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 in a bad mood, they can scratch us for no reason. However, they are normally quite calm animals, ideal for those who want peace and quiet.

3. Domestic fish

Here we are in the big leagues. Freshwater fish are among the three most common animals in the world, in some cases as the fourth most common pet choice. These animals, in addition to providing companionship, are used in a similar way to keeping birds, using them to decorate the home.. Fish and aquariums are considered to be very relaxing elements and that is why many people incorporate them in their homes.

Among the most popular fish species is the goldfish (Carassius auratus), which was first domesticated in China about 1,000 years ago. This animal can live a long life as long as the water is changed frequently, it is well fed and it is not kept with other fish that may attack it. They can live up to 30 years and there is even a case of a fish that lived up to 43 years.

4. Hamsters

Hamsters are in fourth place by a hair's breadth, 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), which contains 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 one and a half and 3 years. They are native to 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 years ago with the purpose of using them for hunting. With the passage of time, thousands of birds of all types and colors that we can imagine have been domesticated.

The main reason why birds are acquired is for their beauty and their singing, and they are kept in cages. It is important to understand that depending on the species the cage may be too small, causing them stress and even provoking strange behaviors, as in the case of carrion birds.This is the case of the carolinas that, when locked up, may start to pull out their feathers, causing them to bleed.

Without going into the debate of why having animals caged to sing for us is bad, it is important to understand that they are birds, they need to fly and that the decision to buy one must be well thought out. If the bird is well cared for, allowed to fly in a sufficiently large space and 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 originated in China, where during the Qing dynasty these rodents were kept in palaces..

Mice belong to the genus Muswhile rats are of the genus Rattus. Both genera contain a multitude of species. In the case of the genus Musthe most common species of mouse is the house mouse (Mus musculus), which usually measures between 15 and 19 cm including tail, weighs between 12 and 40 grams and generally feeds on seeds, small plants and insects.

In the case of rats, the most common domestic species is the domesticated brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), being this variety different from their 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 use over the last century has been 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, resulting from the crossing of several species of the genus Cavia over thousands of yearsAs a general rule, it lives between 4 and 8 years and can measure between 20 and 40 cm, weighing 1 kg.

It is believed that there are about 5 million guinea pigs as pets around the world.

8. Snakes

Snakes, more exotic than iguanas, have become increasingly popular, especially among those with a lot of money.. They come in all types and colors, venomous, non-venomous, large, small, brightly colored.... But as a general rule, those sold in specialized stores are not dangerous to humans, although it should be noted that they are not completely 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 reptiles and as such do not respond to stimuli as mammals do. Therefore, before buying a snake, we should document ourselves about the species, especially because 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 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 cause too many problems. In spite of what their foul-mouthed face may suggest, iguanas are actually quiet, rather lazy animals. are quiet, rather lazy animals, and what they like best is to be in their terrarium at the right temperature and with a sun lamp.. If they are well cared for, they can live up to 20 years.

Although their nature is rather passive, enjoying the sun lying on a log, they are not animals to touch their noses. They are usually quite calm, but we must keep in mind that adults can grow up to 1.8 meters long, with tails that they use for painful whipping. In addition, adult specimens have a powerful bite that, although it will not tear our skin, it will certainly hurt.

10. Ferrets

The ferret, whose scientific name is Mustela putorius furois a subspecies of polecat (Mustela putorius) that thought 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 as gifts to those who visited her. This curious royal anecdote meant that, over time, ferrets became highly demanded animals, and today they are widely purchased in places like the United States, being the third most popular pet.

The reason they are so popular is that they are considered to be a kind of cat-dog. They sleep as much as cats, or even more, spending up to 20 hours a day sleeping, 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 little bit restless.

Having pets improves our health

Now that we know the most popular pets, we can discuss some of the benefits associated with pet ownership, especially for our health. In addition to giving us company and enjoyment, pets help us avoid illnesses, physical and psychological problems. Their presence can help us regulate ourselves emotionally, in addition to helping us stay active and relaxed.

In the last decades it has been discussed 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 disease, in addition to the fact that in homes with pets there is less risk of developing allergies. They also reduce anxiety and stress levels.