Quarantine Pets: Trend V.S. Responsibility
Quarantine seems like the perfect time to add a new member to your family for many reasons: you’re at home, you have loads of time, and pets can help us cope with feelings of loneliness during isolation. According to Vox, pet inquiries on Petfinder.com went up 116% in March of 2020 (Jennings). With all these new adoptions, it is important to understand the immense responsibility that comes with caring for new family additions. In this article, I’ll be discussing the responsibilities of adopting popular pets!
Dogs
Dogs, especially puppies, require time, money, and care. Dogs require regular walks and meals, in addition to house training, behavioural training, and consistent routines. It’s important to remember also that dogs can live upwards of twelve years, depending on the size, which means that you have to have a plan for after quarantine. As many will be returning back to work or school, it is vital that a plan is in place for your new fur baby when that time comes so that they don’t feel abandoned and act out.
Cats
Cats are slightly more low-maintenance than dogs since they don’t require regular walks, a backyard to play in, or constant attention (depending on the cat). They do, however, require a litter box, training, regular meals, and care. They may be better off than dogs when you go back to leaving the house regularly but they also require love that you have to be prepared to give.
Fish
Admittedly, fish probably aren’t a very popular choice of pet during the lockdown. Fish don’t offer a great deal of companionship or interaction and they are probably more work than you think. Fish require regular water changes and tank cleaning, as well as food. They also require sufficient room to swim around and other fish to interact with (yes, that includes betas). Although fish bowls are very popular, these tiny tanks that dirty quickly and reduce a fish’s life span due to depression. Be willing to spend extra money on a large tank with accessories or try to avoid owning a fish. They should get to lead happy lives too!
Axolotl
With their growing popularity due to their aesthetic appearance, I had to give these guys their own category. Axolotls are NOT fish and they are not low-maintenance pets. Axolotls need a minimum of ten gallons each of water to live comfortably and it is important to house axolotls in groups of two or more, as life alone can lead to severe depression in your pet. You should also not house very young axolotls together. Axolotls require a weekly water change and a high-quality filtration system. They also eat any meat they can fit in their mouths every 2-3 days after they’re done growing. If you really, really want one, I got all my information from here (Adams). Please do NOT get this pet unless you are an absolute amphibian fanatic willing to give it all the care that it needs.
If you’d like more information on axolotl care, please click here: https://thewittyfish.com/axolotl-care/
Hamsters, Gerbils, Rats, and Mice
All of these little guys are social creatures, although they may not necessarily want to be social with you! It is necessary that each of these rodents are given playmates (of the same sex to prevent accidental breeding). Moreover, they also need lots of room to grow and play. Their cage will be their entire life, so it’s important not to make it a prison. Give them a spinning wheel, tunnels, or other play equipment to entertain them. In his 2019 study of Rat Park, published in Psychiatric Times, Lloyd Sederer proved the importance of play when he found that rats in isolation became addicted to cocaine water in isolation but chose to be sober in areas where they could thrive and play. Cages for these animals also require regular cleaning and they must always have water and food available.
Reptiles
Last but not least, we have reptiles! It is important to note that reptiles are not cuddly like many other pets, and tend to view their owners as sources of food rather than companions. If they are cuddling you, it is probably because you’re warm. Reptiles all have different needs, but they all require a heated tank that mimics their natural environment. They also require live or recently living food such as mice, crickets, or maggots. If you don’t feel comfortable regularly buying and feeding these things, please do not get a reptile!
Finally, with any sort of pet it is important that you do your research on the specific needs of the animal, be honest about your ability to care for them, and have a plan for how to care for your pet after the social distancing rules have been lifted and you aren’t home as often.
Adams, Christopher. “Axolotl Care Sheet: Expert Guide On Housing, Feeding, & Breeding.”
ModestFish, 2020. https://modestfish.com/axolotl-care/
Jennings, Rebecca. “My quarantine cat hates me.” Vox, April 2020.
https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/4/28/21232763/dog-cat-adoption-foster-coronaviru
Sederer, Lloyd. “What Does ‘Rat Park’ Teach Us About Addiction?” Psychiatric Times, 2019.
https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/what-does-rat-park-teach-us-about-addiction