Pet Discussion - What do you keep? - General

[B][U]The Pet and Animal Discussion Thread[/U][/B] Domesticated animals and tamed animals have played a vital role in humanity's success. Without them, our lives would be dull, we would want for companionship, and our stomachs wouldn't be quite as full. Animals of all types are kept as companions or simply for the aesthetic value they hold. [B][U]Potential Points for Discussion:[/U][/B] 1. What animals do you keep? 2. Do you have any general questions on their proper husbandry? Wanting to make a new friend and not sure where to start? 3. Do you live on an ostrich farm? Have any exciting anecdotes? [B] [U]Terrestrial[/U][/B] [B]Dogs-[/B] Serving a tremendous host of roles, dogs are among the more intelligent animals kept by man. Among our oldest companions, about [URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dog_breeds"]400 breeds[/URL] are available. [URL="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APuli_600.jpg"][img_thumb]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Puli_600.jpg[/img_thumb][/URL] [URL="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APuli_600.jpg"]Puli 600[/URL] [GFDL ([URL]http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html[/URL]) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 ([URL]http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)][/URL], by Sannse (Photo by w:en:User:Sannse), from Wikimedia Commons [B]Cats-[/B] They think that they are better than you, and they'll keep your lap warm. Cats are low maintenance animals. [URL="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AChartreux_cat_J_adult_female_001.jpg"][IMG]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Chartreux_cat_J_adult_female_001.jpg/256px-Chartreux_cat_J_adult_female_001.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AChartreux_cat_J_adult_female_001.jpg"]Chartreux cat J adult female 001[/URL] [FAL, GFDL ([URL]http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html[/URL]), CC-BY-SA-3.0 ([URL]http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/[/URL]) or CC BY-SA 2.5 ([URL]http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)][/URL], by Douglas Edwards (Own work), from Wikimedia Commons [B]Rodents- [/B]A diverse group, the rodent order contains many family critters. Mice, rats, guinea pigs, and chinchillas are among the more common animals kept. They are generally low maintenance animals, but many require companionship to remain in good health. [url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ALittleGuy.jpg][img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/LittleGuy.jpg/256px-LittleGuy.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ALittleGuy.jpg]LittleGuy[/url] [GFDL ([url]http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html[/url]) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 ([url]http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)][/url], by Melissa Wolff (self), from Wikimedia Commons [B]Livestock-[/B] Any animal which is kept for purposes other than companionship - dairy, fur, meat, etc. Different locales will utilize vastly different species. Llamas, cattle, ostriches, sheep, goats, chickens, etc. [URL="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AHighland_Cattle_1.jpg"][IMG]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Highland_Cattle_1.jpg/256px-Highland_Cattle_1.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AHighland_Cattle_1.jpg"]Highland Cattle 1[/URL] [GFDL ([URL]http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html[/URL]) or CC BY-SA 3.0 ([URL]http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)][/URL], by Aconcagua (Own work), from Wikimedia Commons [B]Birds-[/B] Birds are among the more intelligent and potentially [I]loud[/I] companions we keep. They are very diverse. Pigeons, parrots, chickens, and more. [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/jSbJ4rW.jpg[/img_thumb] [I](Watch your fingers)[/I] [B][I]Arthropoda[/I]- [/B]While some may not be fond of them, arthropods are becoming increasingly common as pets. This group refers to pretty much anything with an exoskeleton. They tend to have simple feeding requirements, and are fairly easy to maintain aside from a few species which may require specific ranges of humidity. Have you ever kept some caterpillars around and watched them develop? Do you have a tarantula? A hermit crab? [URL="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AHermit-Crab.jpg"][IMG]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Hermit-Crab.jpg/256px-Hermit-Crab.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AHermit-Crab.jpg"]Hermit-Crab[/URL] [Public domain], by ZooFari (Own work), from Wikimedia Commons [B]Reptiles-[/B] Want a pet that doesn't need a whole lot of interaction? Reptiles are generally low maintenance pets. though their requirements are quite diverse. Turtles, lizards, crocodilians, etc. Some species are aggressive, some are tame. Some are quite difficult to maintain, others require infrequent feedings and can be kept with very simply setups. Easy starter species include bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and some snake species. [URL="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAldabra.giant.tortoise.arp.jpg"][IMG]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Aldabra.giant.tortoise.arp.jpg/256px-Aldabra.giant.tortoise.arp.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAldabra.giant.tortoise.arp.jpg"]Aldabra.giant.tortoise.arp[/URL] [Public domain], by Adrian Pingstone (Taken by Adrian Pingstone), from Wikimedia Commons [U][B]Aquatic [/B][/U]While often daunting to newcomers, aquariums are quite easy to keep and can provide tremendous aesthetic value to a living space. Water conditions are regularly monitored, and water is removed and replaced from the tank on a weekly basis to maintain a set of chemical conditions. Some species are quite hardy, and many are quite easy to maintain. Need help cycling a tank? Want to understand the nitrogen cycle a bit better? Fish, amphibians (frogs, newts, and salamanders), and invertebrates are very popular. Aquatic frogs are a favorite of mine. [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/NUhz7vS.jpg?1[/img_thumb] Want to start out? Many stores have 1$/gallon sales frequently. Consider working with feeder fish at first until you've gotten a handle on the basics. [B]Suggestions for this thread? Need some references? Shoot me a PM or post below and we'll improve the thread. [/B]

Here's my cat. 12 years old now. [t]http://horobox.co.uk/u/orkel_1462530135.jpg[/t] [t]http://horobox.co.uk/u/orkel_1462522299.jpg[/t] Smug bastard. Has a strange fetish for [url=http://g03.a.alicdn.com/kf/UT8COOJXgVfXXagOFbX2/110534956/UT8COOJXgVfXXagOFbX2.jpg]hair holders[/url] and will do anything to find them, grab them into his mouth, and run across the house to the kitchen to drop them into his cat food. Has learned to express "want" by doing a hitler salute. Want food, want petting, want to go outside, want the hair holder in your hand, he will come next to you and do a salute. And keep doing it till you respond.

I have seven of these: [t]http://f15.imgup.net/DreiDSC_4497f5.jpg[/t][t]http://m12.imgup.net/KaiyouDSC_afa9.jpg[/t][t]http://c23.imgup.net/SeiyaJan16061e.jpg[/t] And also currently a whole bunch of this: [t]http://k64.imgup.net/puppies7091.jpg[/t] Good thread. [editline]9th May 2016[/editline] Oh and they also won all of these and more: [t]http://e03.imgup.net/trophies5f44.jpg[/t]

-shit. Wrong kind of pet.-

[QUOTE=Firecat;50283285] I REALLY want ferrets, or rats. I want a tiny active animal. I asked for ferrets a while ago after we had no pets for a while and my dad said they smelt very bad so he wouldn't get them.[/QUOTE] I would read more into keeping rats. Females produce very little smell if any, and they're actually quite clean. Just need regular maintenance of their dwellings. You'll want to get a pair of the same sex. Mice and ferrets can smell pretty strong. Guinea pigs aren't so bad smelling either, but they aren't really affectionate like rats are.

My miniature dachshund: [img]https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7689/17139135217_c7aaa0480e_z.jpg[/img]j pic taken by me ^.^

I have two cats. Our house used to be a zoo with an aquarium full of diverse, exotic fish, an iguana, a bearded dragon, three cats, a dog, a cockatiel, and two ferrets. While I miss the creatures I don't miss the maintenance. :v: Down to just two cats now, going on 14 years old each. [t]http://i.imgur.com/mRehZrW.jpg[/t] I don't have any good pictures of my other one, but she's a black shorthair.

i love my cat but she sheds A LOT theres white fur constantly everywhere tufts of it I really don't know how to manage it

ket acquired fully functional [t]http://i.imgur.com/HIEFnV6.png[/t]

[QUOTE=Firecat;50283633][t]http://www.sphynxcatsandkittens.com/images/2005_0524EllieKits0001.JPG[/t] Does anyone else here think hairless sphynx cats look kinda cute? Everytime I bring them up with people they always say they are ugly, but I think that their odd looks kind of add onto how interesting they are. The only thing is I don't know what it feels like petting/touching them, I imagine them feeling like a ballsack[/QUOTE] I grew up with one (a cross), they're very intelligent and have good temperaments. Ours was part Devon-Rex, so he developed a thin velvet like coat after a while. When he was young, he was completely hairless. Sphynx feel interesting, I don't know if I would quite describe it that way though. They have a tendency to get a bit greasy around their necks and joints. The protein responsible for my allergy is expressed in those cats, but I haven't had problems with them. [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/3YVl4Lj.jpg[/img_thumb] [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/dATrwR4.jpg[/img_thumb] [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/8vWOQ94.jpg[/img_thumb]

[QUOTE=Biotoxsin;50283388]I would read more into keeping rats. Females produce very little smell if any, and they're actually quite clean. Just need regular maintenance of their dwellings. You'll want to get a pair of the same sex. Mice and ferrets can smell pretty strong. Guinea pigs aren't so bad smelling either, but they aren't really affectionate like rats are.[/QUOTE] I currently have a pet rat. I got her solo, although many rat owners recommend getting them in pairs or groups (from the same litter) since they enjoy having a friend to play with. The entire cost to get everything set up (food, a cage, bedding etc plus the rat herself) all cost a little under $100, and food and bedding are not anywhere near that expensive. They're very inexpensive little animals to keep, and yes female rats don't produce any discernible scent. After about 1-2 weeks their bedding starts to smell from moisture buildup and dried urine and waste, and most places recommend just changing the bedding when it starts to smell funny. They are very clean animals, mine almost never has anything on her fur and she keeps herself very clean. Behaviorwise, they vary a lot. They aren't loud, they like to have things to do so it's good to have a toy in there or to have a running wheel for them to use. Lots of rat owners like to take them out of the cage and let them run around the floor for a bit, but mine doesn't really understand the concept of not shitting on the carpet so I don't do it very often. They can also be taught tricks if you're into that sort of thing. Most rats have a 2-3 year lifespan, which is actually longer than it sounds at first. It does give you enough time to enjoy their company. As for ferrets, they smell a LOT. A childhood friend of mine had a few and they're adorable and wiggly little things, but they exude a very thick, musky scent. It doesn't smell [I]bad[/I], but it smells unusual and not everyone enjoys having their entire house smell of animals all the time. And it will.

[QUOTE=Firecat;50283633] Does anyone else here think hairless sphynx cats look kinda cute? Everytime I bring them up with people they always say they are ugly, but I think that their odd looks kind of add onto how interesting they are. The only thing is I don't know what it feels like petting/touching them, I imagine them feeling like a ballsack[/QUOTE] A family member of mine has a hairless sphynx and I think it looks really cute. It's also one of the nicest and most well tempered cats I've ever seen. Petting it does feel weird though.

I would say that rodents (specifically rabbits in this case) are definitely NOT low-maintenance pets. Rabbits are one of the most-abandoned pets in the UK because parents get them for their children thinking that they're a good practice pet before moving onto a cat or a dog (a 'real' pet). What they don't realise is that a rabbit is a 10+ year commitment and they require just as much care as cats and dogs. There are actually campaign groups in the UK to have rabbit classified as one of the main sorts of pets (for purposes of pet insurance, veterinary care etc.). Not to put people off getting rabbits as they're great pets, just know what you're getting into before you get one.

I have a dog (border collie) and a cat. Think my dog is scared of my cat but that's understandable since she's a total bitch (the cat). You can see the hate in her eyes [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/05sDNPo.jpg?1[/IMG]

Hello, have my cat [t]https://my.mixtape.moe/llqftw.jpg[/t] Any thoughts on partly cutting the claws? My parents do that because she's loud as fuck when walking on our floor but she was in real panic mode when cutting the claws so we are unsure if its the right thing to do. [editline]9th May 2016[/editline] Do keep in mind that we cut about 4mm at most

[QUOTE=Xubs;50287176]Hey OP, small nitpick here, you have a picture of a rabbit listed under 'rodents'. Rabbits are lagomorphs, not rodents. Lagomorphs include hares, rabbits, and pikas. I would replace the picture under 'rodents' with a rat or something. It's not very representative. Also I'll echo the sentiments of CoolCorky above, rabbits are [I]not[/I] low maintenance animals. They are at the very least on par with cats and dogs, but in my experience they're higher maintenance than either of the two. They will fuck up your possessions and chew the edges of furniture and pages of books or chew on electrical cords and all sorts of things. You can't stop them from doing this, either. It's not really a thing you can train out easily. The best way to deal with it is by "rabbit proofing" the rooms you expect them to stay in. It's tough work. I would absolutely never recommend a rabbit to anyone with valuable furniture or belongings, and I would also never recommend them as a pet to get for children. However, I own a rabbit myself, and he's an absolutely wonderful pet. In my experience a rabbit is just as friendly and compassionate of a pet as any cat or dog. The way they show this compassion is very unique and often misunderstood. They're some of the best pets I've ever owned.[/QUOTE] I'll update the OP with a [I]Lagomorpha[/I] section. You're right, not sure why that didn't occur to me.

My dugs: [T]http://i.imgur.com/LnuiHy2.jpg[/t] Big fellow is Cicero, the little pom is Mowgli. Cicero is a nervous wreck unfortunately. Like, he's fine with us, but everything else scares the hell out of him. When strangers are in the house, he'll cower in his kennel, often shitting himself, especally around men. No idea how he ended up so skittish. We've had him since he was a puppy, and he's had no obviously traumatic experiences. Just has severe doggy anxiety. It makes him quite a handful. Can't take him on walks in public places, can't leave him unsupervised in the yard in case the neighbor kids come outside (he has never tried to bite anybody, but I fear that he might if some kids who didn't know better cornered him or something). I'm looking forward to leaving my day job and having more time to work with him. Thinking of taking him to the park, popping him in his crate so he feels safe (always runs to his crate when he's scared) and having any interested passing strangers give him his favorite treat for an hour or so a day, two or three times per week. I'm hoping that will cause him to develop positive associations with strangers, instead of his current "cower and shit" reaction. The little one, Mowgli, is fine. Just very dumb.

[t]http://i.imgur.com/CZno7F6.png[/t] Taffy the cat. She's 19 this year.

[t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/73775541/20160508_134153.jpg[/t] This is Lombardi. For those frequenting WAYT you may have seen me post him from time to time. Lombardi is about 8 months, and we're not exactly sure when his hatch date was. I tamed him to be hand-trained on my own, and was a quick learner in doing so. Like my old budgies, he seems to have an obsession with house sparrows ([i]passer domesticus[/i]). He calls back to them to no avail, as they do not know what a budgie call is. He's even tried mimicking their call, only for a male sparrow to approach him and give him some sort of "test" in which he made a series of calls to test if he knew the language. When he failed the sparrow flew off. This birb of mine is quite tame when handled by vets, and didn't bite at all or squirm when he got a shot. He loves to watch me play games, and has been nothing short of perfect for me as a buddy.

Does a virtual pet count? My webkinz are cool as fuck! :cool:

our 16 year old dog [img]http://i.imgur.com/cUh9Un7m.jpg[/img]

I have a dog (a weimaraner, to be specific) who is turning 13 this month. She's actually a bit of a runt, which is kinda weird because female weimaraners are actually supposed to get pretty big but she was always smaller than her brother. The silver lining is that her joints are doing pretty good for a 13 year old dog! [img]http://i.imgur.com/7TABFVJ.jpg[/img]

Toby: [t]http://imgur.com/otKUwPf.png[/t] Loveliest dog around the family, turns into a Satanically possessed murder dog of doom the moment he sees another dog that isn't the other one though. (He was bitten when he was a puppy by the dog of some moron who doesn't understand the concept of dog leashes.) Coming up on 5-6 years old now. Coco: [t]http://imgur.com/0XFXPZA.png[/t] Friendly but brain dead. She'll cuddle into your lap for hours, then immediately jump up and try to eat flies. Used to be a vicious little nipper but then got better as she got older. Approaching 8-9 years old now. Lennie: [t]http://imgur.com/G3AeSw5.png[/t] My mum's prize cat - Was the breeder's token cat but we got her because the breeder's other cat had a heart condition. She's a pedigree Maine Coon, and about 17 months old. She loves being carried around in boxes and being babied, just don't hold any toy mice or she'll take your hands off with her huge as fuck claws. Marley: [t]http://imgur.com/oLetR0Y.png[/t] Standard cat really. Maine Coon like Lennie. 13 months old soon. Little Zosh (And bonus Lennie shot): [t]http://imgur.com/XKU6l7F.png[/t] Pretty antisocial ragdoll. Only likes being stroked when she's sleepy. I wish I had a shot of her playing with toys, it's like a blob of fur wobbling on the floor while a toy drifts away slowly. 18 months old I think.

My dog died yesterday, too damn soon. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOALVe4r40M[/media]

[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;50288117] Cicero is a nervous wreck unfortunately. Like, he's fine with us, but everything else scares the hell out of him. When strangers are in the house, he'll cower in his kennel, often shitting himself, especally around men. [B]No idea how he ended up so skittish. We've had him since he was a puppy, and he's had no obviously traumatic experiences. Just has severe doggy anxiety. [/B] It makes him quite a handful. Can't take him on walks in public places, can't leave him unsupervised in the yard in case the neighbor kids come outside (he has never tried to bite anybody, but I fear that he might if some kids who didn't know better cornered him or something). I'm looking forward to leaving my day job and having more time to work with him. Thinking of taking him to the park, popping him in his crate so he feels safe (always runs to his crate when he's scared) and having any interested passing strangers give him his favorite treat for an hour or so a day, two or three times per week. I'm hoping that will cause him to develop positive associations with strangers, instead of his current "cower and shit" reaction. [/QUOTE] Sounds like bad genes unfortunately. Mental issues like anxiety are genetic, so it's important to research the family tree before choosing a puppy. Serious breeders, especially of working breeds, test their dogs' mental and physical health before breeding them. I personally wouldn't buy a puppy without thoroughly researching its pedigree, because I want a physically healthy and mentally stable dog. Anxiety and fear are things that are hard to get rid of even with proper training and hard work, unfortunately. I hopes Cicero's issues aren't as serious as I've interpreted them and that your training pays off! Get help from an educated dogtrainer and stay clear of Cesar Millan's methods and I'm sure you'll be fine :)

My two cats who live with my parents when I'm at college [t]http://i.imgur.com/jFr68W6.jpg[/t] Sam [t]http://i.imgur.com/vD0A8Wp.png[/t] Max [t]http://i.imgur.com/soLjzqx.jpg[/t] I'm getting kind of worried about Max though. He's starting to get on in his years and he's becoming incontinent and is basically living in the bathroom now. He's lost weight and his coat is starting to thin out. I debated with my parents whether or not we should take him to the vet, but at his age, it's likely the best course of action would be to put him to sleep. We're all against it right now, mostly because he doesn't appear to be suffering. If you go inside and visit him he'll come up to you and let you pet him, he'll rub up against you, the usual. It's just a tough call right now. I'm just preparing for the day when he does pass. I don't know how I'll be able to handle it.

Don't have particulary much to say except that he's a very comfy Jack Russel. [IMG]https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7468/26352619443_4970d7d0fd_c.jpg[/IMG]

My Netherland Dwarf rabbit, Tinkerbell. She loves being outside. [img]http://i.imgur.com/KHopGof.jpg[/img]

[t]http://i.imgur.com/flwai2l.jpg[/t] This is Nipper, he is about 13 years old and has noise anxiety. He has wonky teeth cause he was hit by a car, shattering many of his ribs and other bones but also fracturing his jaw down the middle.

2 cats and a dog. Will upload pictures later. Just a little message to Aussies - be responsible with your cats please, don't let them outside.