Small Mammals are Becoming Popular Pets
Small mammals are currently generating a lot of buzz in the pet industry. They are becoming very popular pets. Due to their size, small mammals are frequently referred to as "pocket pets." According to the 2007 American Pet Product Manufacturers Association's survey, 6 million US households own a total of 22.8 million small mammals. That's a 25% increase from 2004.
While small mammal ownership is on the rise, bird and fish ownership is on the decline. And there's a reason for that. Small mammals fit very well into modern lifestyles. Today, people are extremely busy. And they want pets that are relatively easy and inexpensive to care for. Small mammals fit that bill. Birds and fish, on the other hand, require an extensive amount of time and money.
The category of small mammals available to pet owners continues to grow. Rabbits and hamsters are still universal favorites. However, mice, rats and guinea pigs are also popular. Some pet stores even sell exotic mammals such as chinchillas, ferrets, opossums, flying squirrels and prehensile porcupines.
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