The main problem I see with first-time pets is that the new owner decides that the pet is more of a hassle than they expected. I certainly understand that. Not all of us are interested in spending our whole lives taking care of an animal.
If you are still not interested in spending all your time at home, however, there are a few options for pets that can be left alone all weekend. One of my favorites, the dog, is not a pet I would recommend being left alone, so you should probably pick one of the pets on this list.
Here are a few of the best pets for a first-time owner:
1. Hamster
These are great little pets if you want something to take care of but still need to be able to get away from home from time to time. Hamsters are easy to house, easy to feed, and need little maintenance until late in life. The bad part about hamsters is that they have relatively short lifespans.
There are not many health issues to deal with. One of the most common problems we see is wet tail, a condition where diarrhea can lead to dehydration and death. Keeping your hamster confined to a clean cage will reduce the chance of that happening, and not giving table scraps will help prevent other forms of diarrhea.
2. Snake
Not everyone is into taking care of one of these reptiles, but if you are into snakes and want to take care of a pet, they are an excellent choice. They do not need to be fed every day, and if you keep the cage relatively clean, they rarely have health problems.
Corn snakes come in several different color variations too, so even if your pet does not like a lot of handling, the colors are interesting. If you are interested in these animals, try going to a reptile fair to get an idea about the large number of herps available.
3. Parakeet
I really enjoy working with birds, but if you are a first-time owner, only a finch or an Australian parakeet (budgie) is easy enough to handle. Budgies are fairly hardy birds, live a little longer than most pets, and are not as destructive as larger parrots. They will need their food and water changed and cleaned every day, so there is some maintenance involved.
There are not a lot of parakeet diseases. The most common ones I see are the various bacterial and fungal sources of infection. Keeping the cage clean might prevent you from ever treating your pet for a health issue.
4. Guinea Pig
This is a very affectionate pet, probably because they are a social animal. (In Switzerland, it is against the law to raise a single guinea pig.) Guinea pigs will gladly be carried around by any children in their household. They are social and dislike being alone, so if you have the space, be sure to allow them to spend their time together.
Guinea pigs can be kind of a mess when compared to fish or reptiles, but if you are willing to spend the extra time caring for the cavy (as the rodents are affectionately called) and the cage, it is worth the effort.
These are healthy animals, but you will need to watch for abnormalities from ringworm or lice. Diarrhea is also a big problem at all ages, and it is important to keep the area clean.
5. Rat
A rat can be a trial pet, just like the hamster, so if you want to get a pet first and see how you like the lifestyle, you might choose another larger pet later. I do have a lot of clients who stay with rats though, as they are both affectionate and a very social animal interested in their family.
Tumors often do not cause any problems until the pet is older; it is much more common to have respiratory infections at a young age. If you keep the cage clean and ventilated, most rats do well until they become seniors.
6. Hedgehog
Many people like the looks of these animals. They are insectivores and the type of animal that likes to be by itself. They are more likely to get sick if fed incorrectly and given filthy housing, but most of these pets do well if cared for correctly.
Hedgehogs are more expensive than most pets on this list, but if you want a new pet, and something unusual, they are worth considering.
7. Cat
Cats are more likely to be alone than many other types of animals, but the pet you adopt, and the behavior they show you, will vary greatly.
I have met cats that are interested in meeting new people and socializing during the day, but I have also met plenty of cats that are not interested in spending any more time with their humans than they have to.
One of the best suggestions is to adopt from an animal shelter. This way, you are more likely to get an idea of what the adult personality is like before you bring the cat home.
