A few thousand years ago, an ancient man took the first steps to tame wild animals in order to use them for their own purposes. And today it is already difficult to imagine our life without pets, as if they have always been faithful companions of people. Initially, man sought to get something of value from animals, providing them with shelter and food. However, according to anthropology, in ancient times they also served as a source of aesthetic pleasure.

Pets are animals that a person has tamed, caring for them and providing them with food. All domesticated species and artificially bred breeds were used for material gain or pleasure. They became good companions for a person, brightening up his life. The process of animal reproduction easily takes place even outside natural conditions. By controlling it, people create breeds with the desired properties.

Interesting! Alternative medicine has long been marked by the ability of animals to heal people. Cats are the most successful in this. Scientists explain the effectiveness of cat therapy by the ability of this animal to create a unique electromagnetic field with low-frequency currents thanks to its thin and soft fur. This allows the cat to act on the source of inflammation and pain, destroy microbes.

Scientists have proven that petting an animal is not only pleasant, but also useful. In the course of the bioenergetic contact that occurs in this case, the central nervous system of people receives special impulses that cause positive emotions and improve mood. Therefore, communication with cats is especially important for psychological disorders and stress.

Types of pets

Domestic animals are conditionally divided into two groups.

1. The first includes agricultural species used in everyday life and allowing to obtain natural products and materials. For example, goats and cows provide a person with food: milk and meat, as well as wool and skin. But horses, despite the appearance of various mechanisms, are still used as a labor force for the transport of goods and a means of transportation.
2. The second group includes all the animals that people have in the first place for communication and leisure activities. Cats, fish, rodents and dogs are just some of the pets living at home. Like agricultural species, they too can be used for material gain. For example, many breeds of cats and dogs are highly valued on the market, so some owners are engaged in breeding and selling offspring. But most often, such pets, first of all, become full-fledged members of the family and a friend of a person. They help to cope with a bad mood, fight loneliness and stress.

The most devoted friend of a person living at home has become a dog. There is an opinion that, unlike cats, it is more attached to a person. Cases are widely known when, after the death of the owner, the dogs could not find a place for themselves, yearning, and even died, unable to bear the separation. Likewise, many people experience loss very hard. pet who managed to become a full member of the family. On average, dogs live for about 10 years, so you need to be prepared for the fact that the animal will not always be able to stay around.

When deciding to get a dog, you should also know that it needs constant care. Regular walks and feeding are only a small part of care. It is important to immediately decide on the breed, because each has its own characteristics. The nature of the animal and the kind of care required depend on them.

Dogs of decorative breeds are brought up exclusively as pets: for the sake of pleasure and communication. They don't do any work in a person's life. These include, for example, lapdogs, Yorkshire terriers, miniature pinschers, Pomeranians. Some of them were bred from large dogs as a result of breeding with a decrease in size. With proper upbringing, representatives of decorative breeds are non-aggressive, pleasant in communication, easily make contact with people and other animals. In addition, they lend themselves well to training.
Another large group of breeds is formed by dogs that were originally used as hunting and guard dogs: shepherd dogs, spaniels, pointers, poodles, greyhounds, dachshunds, bull terriers. Gradually, many of them began to play exclusively the role of pets, as well as decorative species.

Interesting! The smallest dog in the world is the Chihuahua, weighing only half a kilogram. At the withers, it reaches 10 cm. But the English mastiff was recognized as the largest representative among dogs. The weight of males of this breed exceeds 100 kg. With impressive size, English mastiffs have a fairly peaceful character and get along well with children.

Along with dogs, the “companion animal” includes the cat. It is valued both for its sociability and for its ability to catch rodents. The life expectancy of cats, like dogs, averages 10-15 years. But there are also unique cases.

Interesting! Among animals, too, there are centenarians. So, one cat in the UK is already about 40, which by human standards is more than 170 years old! Her predecessor, also listed in the Guinness Book of Records, lived to be 38 years old.

Today there are a large number of breeds of cats. The main feature in their classification is usually the length of the coat. Many breeds have their own unique traits. So, Scottish fold cats are distinguished by their characteristic forward-curved ears, the Canadian and Don Sphynxes are completely devoid of hair, but in representatives of the Cornish Rex it curls. Crossbreeding of wild and domesticated species has made it possible to develop such interesting breeds like the savannah and the bengal cat.

farm animals

Farm animals bring the greatest benefit in everyday life to humans. Most of them are able to live not only in favorable conditions created by people, but also adapt to different changes, due to which they are bred almost everywhere. These types include sheep, horses, cows, pigs. Some farm animals such as camel or llama, on the contrary, can only live in certain geographical areas. For this reason, it is more difficult to keep them in other areas, since it is necessary to create conditions close to natural.

Farm animals provide man natural products: milk, eggs, meat. Leather and wool, down and feathers are highly valued. The most consumed meat is pork. It is also often considered the most delicious, as compared to beef, for example, it is fatter and softer. Pigs are quite unpretentious in terms of keeping and food, give a large offspring, so they are most often bred for slaughter. In addition to meat, bristles and skin are also obtained.

The cow is the breadwinner of the family, as Russian peasants used to say. Every day, she is able to give several liters of milk, from which fermented milk products, butter, and cheese are then obtained. Man has achieved success even in the domestication of insects - bees, thanks to which he was able to get honey, propolis, wax.

Interesting! All more people for various reasons, recently they refuse meat, becoming vegetarians. However, blindly follow this fashion trend extremely hazardous to health. Meat is the source essential amino acids. They are needed for the construction of antibodies that provide protection against pathogens. various diseases, including cancer. When you refuse meat, essential amino acids cease to enter the body, immunity decreases, which causes the development of infections.

In the economy, animals also participate in agricultural work, transport heavy loads and people. Horses are usually used for this purpose. At stud farms, they are kept and bred to participate in races, equestrian sports. For lovers of horses, the mere communication with them gives great pleasure.

domestication of animals

Little information about the domestication of wild animals has survived to this day, but it is known that the dog is considered the first tamed pet living in the house. In ancient times, she played the role of a companion for a person. Thanks to its excellent learning and training abilities, the dog eventually began to guard the house, participate in hunting and grazing. In some countries, attempts have been made to tame the weasel to fight rats and mice. However, she did not adapt well to life in captivity, and over time, cats came to replace her.

Interesting! Whether cats are fully domesticated remains an open question. They still retain the habits of their wild relatives, although for many thousands of years they have already lived next to humans. Unlike dogs, they are not so strongly attached to a person, remaining independent. According to one point of view, for cats, coexistence next to a person is just an opportunity to live in good conditions, continuing to hunt birds and rodents. But there is an opinion that this proud animal, like a dog, is able to establish emotional contact with the owner and feel a sense of affection.

It is believed that most domestic animals descended from representatives living in conditions wildlife. Tour was the ancestor of cattle. But from whom the dog originated is not known exactly. It could be a wolf, a jackal, or even a coyote. The wild sheep, the moufflon and the mountain sheep are considered as the ancestors of the sheep. The exact time of domestication of animals has not been established. Rock paintings testify that already in ancient times, people had tamed pets. However, when exactly this happened is still a mystery.

Pet breeding

Domesticated animals breed well in captivity. Their offspring do not need to be tamed again. From birth, pets adopt the habits of their mother and easily make contact with a person. In the case of farm animals, reproduction is an opportunity to obtain more valuable products. But the appearance of offspring in cats and dogs is often undesirable for the owners. Therefore, many owners castrate and sterilize their pets.

Breeders have long taken advantage of the ability of domestic animals to reproduce easily through crossbreeding. It allows you to breed new breeds with the desired properties. Work with farm animals is mainly carried out to increase their fertility, food potential, and weight. For example, in the middle of the last century, the goal was to get a dairy and meat breed of cows that would quickly gain weight. So the Kostroma breed appeared. The goal was achieved: cows produce a record amount of milk (about 10,000 kg per year) and meat.

Breeding work is also carried out to obtain breeds that can live in specific conditions. In the desert steppes of Kazakhstan, sheep did not gain weight well due to poor food. Therefore, it became necessary to obtain a new breed that could adapt to such difficult conditions, it is good to feed fat in them. As a result, edilbaev sheep were bred.

Interesting! Dwarf animals are often not a mutation, but the result of the painstaking work of scientists. A miniature breed of cows, bred in India, requires much less space for keeping and feeding. At the same time, the animals retained their productivity. The quality of their milk and meat is no worse than the products obtained from ordinary cows. But mini-pigs are a decorative breed of pigs. Their mass does not exceed several tens of kilograms, while ordinary pigs can weigh several hundred! The little pygmy pig is shy and requires special care. But if you tame it, then it becomes affectionate and obedient. The mini pig can be petted like a cat or dog. Unlike these animals, it is unpretentious in food, does not shed, and its short coat does not cause allergies. This is an ideal pet for those who choose an active lifestyle, because daily walks are a must for a pygmy pig.

When taming pets, it is important to remember that you should be responsible for them, provide them with proper care and care. Then pets will become reliable friends and helpers of their owner.

In the article I will talk about the most popular types of pets, what options there are and give a list.

List of pets

The variety of pets allows you to choose a pet for every taste and color for the home, but even this does not stop exotic lovers, forcing them to look for more and more sophisticated options.

Consider the most popular animals that are kept at home.

Cat

The image of a cat is always associated with grace and love of freedom.

This is the only animal that has not submitted to human attempts to domesticate.

All cats can be divided into 3 large groups according to the type of coat:

Shorthair

Long-legged cats with short hair do not take much time to care for and are divided into 3 types:

1. European. This type includes plush and aristocratic, restless and representatives - widespread cats with a classic striped color. Europeans get along well with dogs, but dislike birds and rodents.
2. Oriental. Refined Asian women (,) are famous for their intelligence and ingenuity, require respectful treatment and quickly become attached to their owners. Always consider the touchiness and vindictiveness of Asian cats. Remember that Siamese and small children are not compatible.
3. American. American women are friendly, independent and playful. Rounded outlines and thick coat add visual dimension to the well-balanced proportions. Representatives of the American type get along well with children, but it is better not to leave them with babies. A shy pet will not offend a flirtatious baby, but it may suffer itself.

american shorthair

Longhair

Miniature, attached to a person and in need of reverent care.

They don't handle loneliness well.

Chihuahua

Pinscher and Schnauzer

Complimentary and smart. They need mandatory training and an experienced owner.

Terriers

Active and friendly dogs bred for burrow hunting. Suitable for apartment living.

Dachshunds

- German hunting dogs similar in character with a terrier. They have high devotion and intelligence.

cops

(pointer, setter). Another type of hunting dog with a calm and docile disposition.

Greyhounds

They are capricious and stubborn, hard to train and not suitable for beginners.

The largest representatives (,) of the dog family are included in the group of pinschers and schnauzers. Despite their impressive size, the breeds are distinguished by a good disposition and love for children.

The average life span of dogs varies from 10 to 13 years. Long-livers include representatives of small breeds.

Rabbits for the home

A great alternative to the usual four-legged ones.

Can be divided according to the length of the coat:

• long-haired (angora, fox, ram, squirrel);
• short-haired (butterflies, rex, dutch, hermelins).

If an eared pet is selected for a child, then wayward butterflies, aggressive female hermelins and phlegmatic rexes are best avoided.

Unlike wild counterparts, domesticated rabbits live up to 12 years.

Rodents as pets

The list of the most popular rodents for home keeping includes:

Mice and rats

They are smart, easy to train and quickly become attached to the owner. Life expectancy is about 2 years.

Nocturnal animals that require careful and reverent attitude. They prefer separate living and minimal contact with outsiders. Live no more than 3 years.

Guinea pigs

Unlike rats, which have a bad reputation, they have an attractive appearance, as well as a peaceful and trusting disposition. With a careful attitude, they are given into the hands of not only adults, but also the smallest owners.

Squirrels

Nimble, inquisitive and graceful. The content is not whimsical.

Chinchillas

Large representatives of rodents characterized by increased shyness. They are not suitable for children and require careful grooming.

Long-livers among disassembled rodents include, guinea pigs and squirrels that can live for about 10 years.

Reptiles for a child

Cold-blooded reptiles did not do without attempts at domestication. The group of the most popular reptiles includes:

snakes

For home maintenance, small snakes (no more than 1.5 m) are recommended, which are distinguished by the absence of aggression and tiny teeth that are unable to cause serious damage. Do not buy snakes from your hands. A small snake can grow into a dangerous and poisonous animal.

lizards

They require reverent content, are prone to colds and are easily injured. Peace and quiet are important for them, so communication with young children is not safe for them.

Turtles

The most unpretentious reptiles living in terrariums or aquaterrariums.

Of the presented reptiles, snakes that can live up to 40 years have the longest life span.

The lifespan of those kept at home is usually reduced compared to the period in wild environment. The figure for lizards depends on the size (larger representatives are among centenarians).

Birds

The most popular domesticated birds include:

. A long-lived parrot that can live >80 years. Smart, but in the absence of training becomes uncontrollable and aggressive. Do not get a bird in the absence of free time for training. Hitting it with a large beak is very traumatic.

. Fidget birds with a bright color, suggesting mandatory keeping in pairs.

Jaco. Unlike budgerigars, capable of imitating simple everyday sounds, Jaco easily imitates the speech of its owners. The bird loves to communicate with people and is happy to learn intricate tricks.

Wild animals

Among wild birds, the most popular are:

owls

The popularization of feathered pets occurred after the Harry Potter films. Despite the fabulous appearance and mysterious "ears", such a bird is not suitable for everyone.

Do not purchase an unringed bird without documents. The lack of necessary ammunition is the main sign of poaching.

Domestic tame owls Barnacle Raven

Other types

Options home exotic depend not only on imagination, but also on the finances of the breeder:

1. Foxes. The cost of foxes varies from 30 to 50 thousand rubles. When purchasing a furry animal, it is important to consider its danger to other pets. If the danger of a fox is similar to that of a wolf, then its waywardness resembles that of a cat. The fluffy beauty is against familiarity and is given into hands only in a good mood.
2. Crocodiles. Depending on the size of the reptile, the issue price can reach up to 60 thousand rubles. Don't believe in the existence of little crocodiles. Minimum size an adult animal is at least 1.5 m. For safety, a toothy pet is kept exclusively in a terrarium.
3. Monkey. Prices for monkeys start at 65 thousand rubles and, depending on the species, can reach up to 500 thousand rubles. Keeping such animals without an aviary will not work because of their dominant behavior. The owner of the monkey will have to constantly defend his rights as the leader of the pack.
4. Anteaters. A clean and calm animal with a funny proboscis and a friendly disposition is steadily gaining popularity in the United States. The cost of an outlandish beast reaches 350 thousand rubles. Strong paws with tenacious claws open the door of the refrigerator in the lung.
5. Tigers. Not all cat lovers have enough exotic bengals and savannahs, so they get real tigers as a pet. The price of a striped pet, reaching up to 2 million rubles (and in the case of buying a white tiger, up to 9 million rubles), is available to units. A wild cat is born at the age of a kitten. When feeding, it is important to avoid the use of raw meat, which can provoke suppressed predatory instincts.

In conclusion, I note that before buying a pet, it is important to consider all the advantages and disadvantages of the species:

• large pets will have to be kept in a spacious area;
• decorative breeds require frequent veterinary control;
• exotic animals require increased security measures;
• reptiles will have to purchase special UV lamps.

Remember that having a pet is a big responsibility.

Do not purchase an animal unless you are sure that it is properly maintained.

Keeping a pet is a gigantic responsibility that requires a huge amount of hard work and dedication, which, frankly, is not available to everyone. On the other hand, choosing a pet is a breeze, because it usually comes down to choosing between a dog and a cat (or a fish, if you're as mundane as tattered wallpaper). But don't you think it's wrong in some way? After all, the choice of pets should be more than the number of sides of the coin, and if you think so too, you are absolutely right, because it is. In fact, there are dozens of wonderful and completely legal alternative pets that you can go out and buy right now:

10. Mini pigs

After all the ways to make bacon flavored ice cream, perfumes and candles, it's finally time for people to want to have it as a pet. Thus, mini-pigs appeared, hitting the eardrums of men or women everywhere in the world.

Mini gilts are also known as mini gilts, micro gilts and tick-up gilts, but the name is not as important. The important thing is that they are cuter than five puppies hugging a teddy bear at the same time, and are also one of the strongest arguments in favor of switching to a vegetarian diet. However, not only are they charmingly cute faces, they are just as smart, if not smarter than dogs, and develop affection for humans just as easily.

The only negative is that less scrupulous breeders often pass ordinary pigs off as miniatures, which, unfortunately, only becomes apparent when your pink micro miracle turns into a 200-kilogram pig that takes up half your living room. Also, the micro pig mania seems to have been started by Paris Hilton, which lessens the enjoyment of micro pigs a bit.

9. Starling


The common or European starling is a small bird with black and speckled feathers that some people sometimes keep as pet. In addition, starlings can talk.

Well, not really, to be precise. Starlings actually only have the ability to imitate the frequently repeated phrases and natural sounds of their own environment, which is essentially what parrots do. But to be honest, if you ever see and hear a talking bird that doesn't look like an immigrant from the Brazilian forest, your first thought probably won't be "Oh my God, what a beautiful example of bird mimicry", but rather "This bird just spoke ? Bring the holy water!”
But the ability to scare your friends and family is not the only reason to keep a starling, as they are very playful creatures and quickly bond with their owners, combining dog-like adoration with the ability to fly and repeat your favorite mats. However, it is worth taking into account the fact that these birds poop a lot, for about 20 years.

8 Imperial Scorpion


The emperor scorpion (Pendinus imperator) is the closest creature to a real Pokemon: a 10 cm armored arachnid with giant claws and a comically exaggerated sting at the end of its tail. And you can buy one for yourself today ... and for good reason.

In fairness, emperor scorpions are actually very gentle creatures that (given their intimidating appearance) practically makes them the Michael Clarke Duncans of the animal kingdom. They don't require extreme care and their stings aren't lethal to humans (unless you're allergic to venom), so if you've ever had the urge to own Mother Nature's own miniature fear embodiment, the emperor scorpion - this is the best variant.

Also, if you put it in the same aquarium as the action figures and turn on the heavy metal, you can recreate the entire plot of the Clash of the Titans remake.

7. Eared hedgehog


Long-eared (or Egyptian) hedgehogs are not only one of the cutest alternative pets, but they are also candidates for the Easiest Animal to Photoshop. But while they may look like the result of a pair of bunny ears hastily placed on everyone's favorite prickly mouse, these prickly bunnies are actually very real and perfectly legal to keep as pets in most countries.

Hedgehogs are generally considered timid and peaceful creatures, and their big-eared variant is no exception. However, they are considered quite difficult pets because they are not as easy to tame as regular pets, and you will need to put in a lot of effort to properly acclimate them to an apartment and a person. However, once you can do that, hedgehogs are said by many of their breeders to be very interactive and easy to handle, and their only downside is that hedgehogs don't really like to curl up into balls and roll around collecting gold coins. or fighting armies of animal robots.

6. Skunk

Unlike hedgehogs, it turns out that pop culture didn't lie to us about skunk behavior, because pet skunks, like Pepe le Pew, are curious, stubborn, and require a ton of affection. Despite this, they are less harmful, making them a great alternative to dogs and cats. In addition, it is important to note that their odorous glands are surgically removed at an early age.

IN North America There are many places where you can buy a pet skunk, you just need to make sure that their keeping is legal in your country. In fact, there is no reason not to want to have such a miracle. Not only are skunks incredibly smart, they also love petting so much that they can even turn into "couch skunks" (according to professional breeders), constantly begging for your lap. You probably didn’t suspect this about skunks, live forever, learn forever.

5. Madagascar hissing cockroach


On the list of what makes a good pet, cockroaches sit somewhere between rusty razor blades and Siberian wolves. Add to this the ability to make distinct hissing sounds, the Madagascar hissing cockroach becomes more like a devastating proof that there is no god, ... which you should have already guessed for yourself.

Firstly, there is something incredibly cool about having as a pet a creature that can survive a nuclear strike or having its head removed. In addition, the Madagascar hissing cockroach is also an amazing rock climber, able to climb up smooth glass with no problem, making it the insect love product between Wolverine and Spider-Man. Given its rather peaceful nature, it is not surprising that the Madagascar hissing cockroach is often considered an excellent first pet, although in some states of America they require a special license to keep. Also, if you wake up in the middle of the night to your cockroaches hissing at you from dark corner rooms, you will most likely never stop screaming.

4. Dwarf goat


You have private courtyard? Are you tired of dogs but want something like them to ward off the inevitable realization that no one loves you? Then let the dwarf goat or goat fill the sadness center of your brain with pure and sugary tenderness.

As the name suggests, pygmy goats are tiny versions of nature's favorite bean-eyed garbage packers, and today they are bred exclusively as pets. Dwarf goats are very curious creatures, constantly demanding tons of love and attention, so if you can't provide them, you need to check if your heart has not been removed, you are an insensitive monster. Their advantage is not only that they are very sociable and playful, but also that they can adapt to almost any environment / food, so if you cannot love them for their cuteness, you can at least respect them for their survivability like Rambo.

However, it should be taken into account that in most countries they are considered cattle, so it is worth familiarizing yourself with local laws before deciding to get yourself such a charm.

3 Prairie Dog

Prairie dogs exist because someone once bet god that he couldn't cross a puppy with a rat and get something that looked absolutely adorable. That man obviously lost, and prairie dogs continue to populate the Earth and the living rooms of the happiest pet owners on the planet.

Prairie dogs are technically rodents, but their main characteristic is the affection they quickly develop for humans. If a prairie dog is taken early enough, it will immediately mistake you for a mother and become attached to you forever (which is why the Batmans hire Robins at such an early age). After that, according to their breeders, you will live with a hyper active puppy that never grows up, which is exactly what everyone has been asking scientists for the past few hundred years.

2. Sugar glider


Just look at this incredibly charming creature in the photo. This is not a real animal, but actually Mort (Mort), a character from the Madagascar cartoons, voiced by Andy Richter (Andy Richter). But the main thing is that the sugar glider actually exists in real life, and you can get it right now, because it's clear that you would like to have one for yourself. However, if you have already fallen in love with this Australian opossum and named him Sir Fluffy Tail, get ready to shell out a tidy sum, because sugar gliders are still considered exotic animals, which usually cost much more than ordinary animals (this rule also applies to dancers) .
But while they are quite pricey and will cost even more to maintain, their overall level of fluffiness, cuteness, and playful disposition may convince you to skip a few dental visits in order to truly enjoy owning your very own sugar glider. . And before you ask, yes, they can actually fly short distances through the air.

1. Fox


Would you like to have a fox? Yes? Good news for you then: you can do it, and it's all thanks to the Soviet Union.

The thing is, we've beaten around the bush about the fact that, in fact, any animal can become a pet if tamed. Even the puny Chihuahuas were once powerful wolves, bred to the size of a pocket rat dog that knows its place and, for that reason, can be kept as a pet. So the question is, why can't we domesticate foxes? Because it will take “hundreds, maybe thousands of years”? Come on, you clearly underestimate Soviet people and their ability to spit on all sorts of "facts" or "logic". Just look at the Soviet geneticist Dmitri Belyaev, who has been hard at work trying to breed domestic foxes in Siberia since 1959... and he apparently succeeded.

Here's something to understand about foxes: even if you buy a bag of "tamed" foxes in any other part of the world, they will still be wild animals that will pounce on your face and dignity if you try to dress them up in a Robin Hood costume. So what about Belyaev's domesticated foxes? These foxes are just real pets, whose front paws you can freely take and make them dance with you ... although, of course, you shouldn’t do this, and not because it will scare the poor animals, but because it’s how you treat them with an animal worth about 8 thousand dollars, probably not worth it.

City apartments, in which the majority of the population lives, are not always conducive to having a pet. And how to get out of this situation, when there is not enough space, but you want a pet?

We offer a list of the 7 most suitable animals for a city apartment. Consider all the pros and cons of each of them.

1. Geckos
This funny little tropical lizard can adapt perfectly to apartment life - the only condition is a properly prepared terrarium. The gecko does not need much space. Geckos can live alone, they can be picked up. It is only necessary to be careful in handling them, and it is advisable to show your lizard to the veterinarian once every six months.

[+] Geckos in captivity can live up to 19 years.
[─] Keeping a gecko is quite expensive, it needs special live food and a special terrarium.

2. River fish
Fish are quite familiar pets for city apartments. The pet store will offer you a huge selection of fish. They are very well adapted for keeping at home. Depending on the experience of the aquarist, you can choose less or more whimsical fish in keeping. The main thing you need to provide is a suitable size aquarium, pure water and the right food.

[+] They do not require constant attention, do not make noise, do not require trips to the vet. But be aware that fish may need vitamins and other medications to stay healthy.
[─] Life expectancy depends on the type of fish and care for them.

3. River turtles
This type of reptile is very popular for keeping in city apartments. Turtles need special aquariums that have a water part and a “land” part where they can rest. They are easily tamed and respond with love to the care of their owners.

[+] These are calm pets, unpretentious in food.
[─] Over time, they can reach large sizes, you will need to adapt the habitat to the growth of the turtle.

4. Hamsters
Small cute rodents that are usually very sociable. They easily adapt to apartment life, are easy to care for and do not take up much space.
[+] They are very active and a little shy. You have to earn the hamster's trust in order to avoid light bites. In a calm environment, these are very gentle animals that love your love and care.
[─] A pair of hamsters can bring 6-7 babies about 8 times a year. The life time of hamsters is not very long, so it is better to buy a young animal.

5. Parrots
Beautiful, brightly colored birds are usually good choice if you need a pet that will bring you joy just by its appearance. Well, if a parrot can speak, then this is also a source of pride. It is necessary to choose the appropriate cage so that the bird feels free there and can spread its wings. This is necessary for the parrot to feel good. You also need to remember that birds are poorly tamed and most often, at the first opportunity, they try to fly away “to their homeland”. They need a clean cage, food, water and a few toys.

[+] Do not cause allergies. But we must remember that birds can only be bought in specialized stores and those born in captivity.
[─] Require good faith and proper care. They need a clean cage, food, water and a few toys. You need to devote enough time to take care of them.

6. Dogs of small breeds
Dogs have always been considered man's best friends and companions. These are beloved pets, they perfectly adapt to life in apartments. Small breeds - more smart choice for keeping in an apartment than large dogs. This is mainly due to the limited space in our apartments: large dogs need much more space.

[+] Dogs are excellent companions and live long enough. Chihuahuas, miniature schnauzers, Yorkshire terriers, shih tzus are especially recommended for keeping in apartments. Small mongrels can also be an excellent choice, they are usually smart, quick-witted and unpretentious. Of course, a dog is the best pet for children.
[─] Dogs require a lot of attention and time, which should be devoted to raising a dog, grooming, daily walks, regular visits to the veterinarian.

7. Cats
Cats are perhaps the most graceful and most comfortable pets. They do not require too much care, they are quite independent and clean. Cats are perfectly mastered and live comfortably in apartments. It is necessary to pay a lot of attention to a kitten so that it grows up healthy and well-mannered, while adult cats need much less attention.

[+] Cats are quite self-sufficient animals, they do not need to be dealt with from morning to evening. But they need love and attention when they want it.
[─] If a cat develops bad behavioral habits, it can be very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to wean him from them.