Americans are known as great animal lovers, and most of them keep many different pets at home. Pets become their best companions and family members by providing both physical and mental benefits to their owners. It has been also determined that pets can help to handle with depression, anxiety, and even contribute to reducing the blood pressure.
Moreover, pets often help their owners to socialize with others since it is easier for people with pets to start a conversation with owners.
According to the statistics, Americans own more than 88 million of cats and almost 75 million of dogs, as well as approximately 24 million of small animals and more than 142 million freshwater fish.
Below we provide you with the list and description of the most popular pets in the United States that you will probably see in at least 73 million American homes.
Dogs
Dogs are among the most popular pets not only in the United States but also in the majority of other countries. According to historical records, dogs have been domesticated animals for more than 14,000 years.
The first and the main reason why dogs are so popular is that they are very friendly and loyal companions. They are able to feel when the mood of an owner is low and are always ready to cheer him up. In addition, dogs are also known as very intelligent creatures that are easy-to-train. For this reason, many people keep a dog at home as a guard, who protects their property and houses.
A dog is also a perfect choice for families with kids since these four-legged companions are very energetic and active and enjoy playing with children. Finally, in comparison to some other pets dogs are quite affordable and it is not expensive today to have a dog since the costs of dog food, vitamins and regular visits to a vet are not very high. However, if you are looking for some special breed, it could get costly as WonderTabloid.com’s most expensive dog breeds article shows!
According to the recent statistics of the American Pet Products Association (APPA), there are around 78 million dogs owned by Americans.
Cats
The world statistics say that there are more than 500 million cats in the world. Therefore it is not surprising that cats are among the most popular pets in the United States as well. There are more than 86 million cats kept in American homes.
There are several reasons, why Americans express a preference for these lovely four-legged creatures. The first and the main one is their independent character and an ability to take care of themselves. Though they establish very close relationships with their owners, they are able easily to stay home alone for the whole day and do not need as much attention as dogs for example. That is why a cat is a usual choice for single people, who live alone and spend most time at work.
Many people also get a cat in a family with kids because in general cats are very active and playful. It is said that the most popular cat breed in North America nowadays is Siamese cat thanks to its sociable character and magnificent appearance.
Fish
Despite the fact that fish is not as sociable and loyal as cats or dogs, there are more than 12 million American families that have these pets in their houses. The main reason of it is their decorative function: fish kept in aquariums are mainly used to beautify home. The interior with an aquarium always looks cozier and more stylish.
Moreover, it has been proven that watching fish gives a calming effect and contributes to relaxation. Therefore, fish are the perfect choice for people with a hyperactive mind and for families with highly energetic children.
Many people choose fish because they are not expensive, easy to take care of and do not require much space. Moreover, the variety of fish is great: there are more than 25,000 fish species nowadays.
Hamsters
Hamsters are the most popular pets among rodents that are chosen primarily for kids. The history of appearance and domestication of hamsters is quite interesting: they are originally from Syria, where they were discovered by a zoologist and then were sent to laboratories throughout the world. They arrived in the United States in 1938, and since that time is kept by many American families as pets.
Hamsters are appreciated and loved for their playful nature and cute appearance. Moreover, they are quite affordable and do not take much space: it is enough to provide them with a medium-sized cage. The only disadvantage is their short life expectancy – only 2 years in average.
Mice
It is another type of rodents that you can see today as pets in many American homes. Mice are originally from China, where they were domesticated many centuries ago and were kept in the Royal Palaces.
Mice are usually kept by animal lovers, who want to have a small pet that does not require much space. Mice are loved for their quite social character and playful nature, which makes them great companions. It is easy to take care of them and you will not have to spend much money on keeping them. In contrast to hamsters, they live a bit longer – approximately 3 years.
Birds
Americans like birds and many of them choose them as their favorite pets. The statistics say that are more than 16 million birds in the United States kept by approximately 5.7 million American families. Though birds cannot be really domesticated, they still can establish very close relationships with their owners.
The most popular birds kept as a pet are canaries thanks to their beautiful and fascinating signing. Other popular bird species include budgies, cockatiels, cockatoos, and parrotlets. Birds can become great companions for many years, and some bird species can even live up to a hundred years.
The Guinea Pig
Guinea pigs are short-tailed and rough-haired rodents that can be considered perfect pets, especially for those owners, who decide to get a pet for the first time. There are several reasons, why Americans choose the guinea pig as their pet and companion. The first and the main one is that this rodent is very easy to take care of: they just need a medium-sized cage, water, fresh vegetables, and hay.
Another reason why the guinea pig can become a perfect pet and the best companion is that it has unique and very individual character. Some guinea pigs are shy, while others are active and very dominant. In general, they all are quite sociable and like interact with other animals, as well as with people.
Snakes
The demand for pet snakes is constantly increasing, so the snake breeding industry is developing very fast in the United States. More and more people, who like exotic animals decide to keep snakes as their pets. The lifespan of snakes is quite long: then can live up to 40 years if provided proper care.
Even if you are not professional in keeping reptiles at home and have never had any before, getting a snake for the first time should not be problematic: there are many beginner-friendly snakes, such as corn snakes and Python balls. Depending on the type of the snake and its species, these reptiles might have different personalities and personal features, so everyone can find the best and the most appropriate snake for himself.
Iguanas
At first glance, iguanas seem to be quite scary, but in reality, they can become perfect pets. Nowadays they are one of the most popular and common reptiles that are kept by Americans as a pet. People love them for their exotic appearance and quite a sociable personality since they are very responsive to people.
However, it is important to know that it is not very easy to take care of them since iguanas are quite demanding in terms of conditions. Thus, since they are desert animals by nature, they need much sun. Moreover, though they seem to be lazy animals that do not move much, they still need a big terrarium to stay happy and healthy.
Ferrets
Ferrets have become popular pets already in the period of the reign of Queen Victoria when she started giving ferrets as personal gifts to visiting heads of states. According to the statistics, by the year of 1994, there had been already more than 7 million ferrets kept as pets in the US. People love them not only for their magnificent appearance but also for their unique personality: it is believed that ferrets combine features of both cats and dogs. The best fact about their character is that these creatures remain active and playful during the whole their life.
People love them not only for their magnificent appearance but also for their unique personality: it is believed that ferrets combine features of both cats and dogs. The best fact about their character is that these creatures remain active and playful during the whole their life.
People love them not only for their magnificent appearance but also for their unique personality: it is believed that ferrets combine features of both cats and dogs. The best fact about their character is that these creatures remain active and playful during the whole their life.
The TOP-10 Pets List
The most popular pets in the US are:
- Cats
- Dogs
- Aquarium Fishes
- Hamsters
- Mice
- Birds
- The Guinea Pig
- Snakes
- Iguana
- Ferrets
Do you have any of these pets or are you planning to get? Please leave comments below! Find out more amazing stories about funny animals and other wonderful facts about the world.
