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Any pet owner will tell you that having a pet can be a life-changing experience. Of course, many owners may also experience a change for the worse if their lives aren’t suitable for the pet they chose.
Having a pet might be daunting for busy professionals, especially if the only pets you’ve ever had were dogs. Thankfully, not all pets require hours of your precious time every day.
So in this article, I’ve rounded up some great low-maintenance pets that would add nothing but joy to your life. This list has something for everyone, from bunnies to reptiles and more!
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Table of Contents Show
Top 10 Low-Maintenance Pets
While some cat and dog breeds are pretty low-maintenance, they can still be a handful for someone with a packed schedule. That’s why it’s important to look for a more diverse selection of pets.
1. Betta Fish
Fish are one of the easiest pets to keep, depending on the species you go for. They’re also one of the most misunderstood. They’re super easy to care for but can be fragile and need a solid setup to thrive.
Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, are as stunning as they are low-maintenance. They’re freshwater fish that can thrive in an aquarium that gives them room to explore and don’t require a filtration system.
Time and Effort: Betta fish won’t need more than 5 minutes a day aside from the initial setup and bi-weekly tank cleaning. They eat pellet food and brine shrimp and need to be fed twice a day. They only live for 2-5 years, which makes them more suitable for people who’re likely to move.
2. Leopard Gecko
Leopard geckos are pretty docile reptiles, making them great low-maintenance pets, not to mention that they’re stunning.
They have simple habitat requirements and don’t need complex setups like their aquatic friends.
These geckos are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during dawn and dusk.
Time and Effort: Leopard geckos need 15-20 minutes per day. They eat every other day, and their tanks need frequent spot cleaning and monthly deep cleaning. They can live to be 15 years old with proper care.
3. Cats
Let’s preface this section by emphasizing that cats aren’t as independent and reclusive as they’re made out to be. Any cat owner will attest to that.
They need serious human interaction to thrive and be a good housemate. That said, most cats don’t need bathroom breaks, extensive training, or frequent grooming sessions to be happy and well.
Their self-grooming habits and lower exercise requirements than dogs make them excellent, low-maintenance pets. There are also great automated solutions these days for the more demanding tasks such as daily litter box cleaning.
Time and Effort: Cats need food at least twice a day at set times, daily litter box cleaning, playtime, and cuddles. Providing them with toys, climbing areas, scratching posts, and a cozy resting area is essential. They’re long-term pets, which means they’ll live 12-20 years.
4. Corn Snake
Corn snakes are popular pet snakes known for their docile nature and relatively simple care requirements. They’re one of the most common pet snakes, so you can find them in most pet stores.
Time and Effort: Corn snakes only need a weekly meal and monthly cage cleaning. They’re among the easiest pets to keep if you’re comfortable around our hissing friends. They can live to be over 20 years old.
5. Guinea Pigs
Interacting with a Guinea pig is a surefire way to fill your heart with very little effort in return. They’re adorable and sociable small mammals that make wonderful companions.
Guinea pigs are very cuddly pets when socialized and handled well. Their straightforward care needs have made them a classic kid-friendly pet, so caring for them is a piece of cake for busy adults!
Time and Effort: Guinea pigs eat once a day and need relatively frequent cage cleaning and social interaction. You need 30 minutes to an hour a day, depending on the size of their cage. They live less than ten years.
6. Hermit Crabs
Hermit crabs are adorable crustaceans that live in shells. They’re known for their unique behavior and ability to change shells as they grow.
Hermit crabs only need a deep clean-up every few months. So if you’re looking for an exceptionally low-maintenance aquatic animal, this is it.
Time and Effort: Hermit crabs need to be fed daily, given fresh water, and occasionally need a shell change. You won’t need a lot of time to take care of them, but you’ll need to spend some time researching their behavior and needs at first.
7. Budgies (Parakeets)
Budgerigars, budgies, or parakeets, are small and intelligent parrots that are popular for, you guessed it, how pleasant and low-maintenance they are.
They have captivating personalities; some can even learn to mimic human speech. They’re super sociable birds and can even get sick without adequate amounts of socialization. They bond for life and need some serious quality time. That can either be you or other budgies that they can bond with.
Time and Effort: Budgerigars require around 15 minutes per day for food and cage cleaning. Depending on their cage mates, they may need a considerable amount of human interaction.
8. Rabbits
Pet rabbits are some of the most adorable low-maintenance pets you could opt for, with their soft fur and playful nature. An added advantage is that they will make you feel like a Disney character from time to time.
What’s cool about pet rabbits is that they can be litter-trained, which means they can safely and freely roam the house. While that can mean you need to take a lot of safety measures, it beats having a cage to deal with for most people.
Time and Effort: Rabbits need about 30-60 minutes a day for food, occasional cage cleaning, and social interaction and training. You’ll probably need to potty and clicker train them for maximum fun and convenience, which is an ongoing process. They live 5-10 years.
9. Fancy Rats
Fancy rats (yes, that’s really what they’re called) are intelligent and sociable rodents that are relatively easy to care for. With their curious and social nature, they make lovely low-maintenance pets.
Just like any furry friend, they need a stimulating environment with toys, hiding spots, and exercise opportunities to be a pleasant companion.
Time and Effort: You’ll likely spend less than 20 minutes a day feeding your fancy rat and cleaning its cage. The amount of social interaction they’ll need, however, depends entirely on the individual. They only live 2-3 years, which makes committing to one a rather simple decision.
10. Goldfish
Goldfish are the poster child of low-maintenance fish. They’re so well known for it that they’re often put through grueling conditions because most people don’t even realize it’s a problem.
If you want to be a good pet fish owner, ditch the claustrophobic fish bowl for a nice 10-gallon fish tank with fun little games or even other fish and freshwater critters for entertainment.
Time and Effort: Caring for a Goldfish requires just 10-15 minutes per day. This includes feeding, monitoring water quality, and performing weekly tank maintenance. With proper care, they can live for around ten years.
Understanding Your Lifestyle
Most new pet owners miss a thing or two when figuring out what they need to account for when choosing a low-maintenance pet. But many different areas of life can help you determine the right pet for you, not just time and money.
So before you commit to a new pet, make sure to look at all the different aspects of pet ownership and how your new bestie will fit into your lifestyle.
Factors to Consider in Choosing a Pet
These are the most important points to consider when choosing a pet. Make sure to research the ideal circumstances for whatever pet you choose from this list before you commit.
- Budget: Your financial commitment towards your pet involves providing the best food and health care possible. This includes any necessary veterinary procedures, which can be quite expensive for large or niche pets.
- Time commitment: The time a pet needs from you includes obvious activities such as feeding and cleaning up. Other commitments include social enrichment, studying their behavior and needs, and regularly adding enrichment options to their enclosures.
- Knowledge: For the more niche pets, you may need to have a wealth of information to keep them thriving. This is especially true for some aquatic animals and reptiles.
- Handywork: Pets like chickens, guinea pigs, and hamsters often need some fun stuff in their little homes to keep them happy and healthy. For some, this means investing in intricate setups for their pets, but if you want to save hundreds of dollars, you might need to DIY a lot of stuff.
- Climate: If your area is particularly cold or warm, make sure that your chosen pet can handle it with ease. If not, you’re committing to providing a comfortable temperature for them through air conditioning or heaters. It might add a considerable expense to your electricity bills, but anything to make a suitable habitat for your pet, right?
- Housing regulations: Whether you’re a renter or a homeowner, it’s important to look at your area’s regulations regarding the pets you’re allowed to keep. This isn’t limited to state regulations; some suburbs and communities have their own rules on this matter as well.
- Allergies: One of the biggest reasons adopted cats are returned to their shelter is allergies. This hurts all parties involved: the adopter, the shelter, and the returned pet. So get tested for allergies before you commit to a new pet, especially the furry and feathery kinds.
- Long-term commitment: Factor in the life expectancy of the species you’re considering and see if that matches your lifestyle and circumstances. Some pets can live for only a year or two, while others can live until they’re 30 or more with proper care.
Caring for Low-Maintenance Pets
A busy schedule shouldn’t keep you from enjoying a pet’s company. A lot of animals make good low-maintenance pets and can co-exist with you happily with minimal care.
That said, it’s important to grasp that even the lowest maintenance pet will still need care. No matter how forgiving an animal is, there will always be a bunch of parameters to take care of.
Whether you go for a pet snake, fish, or other animals, you’ll still need to make sure to provide them with clean space, social interactions, good and consistent feeding, and lots of love.
Misconceptions About Low-Maintenance Pets
- A low-maintenance pet is easy for everyone: Taking care of a snake or even a bird can be a breeze for some but a literal nightmare for others. It’s important to know what you need from a pet and what you can’t handle, such as noise, smell, or a strict schedule.
- Low-maintenance pets don’t need attention: Everyone knows a dog needs a considerable amount of time for one-to-one human interaction every day, but you don’t think about that with a snake or even a cat. The reality is that every kind of animal needs some level of interactivity, and it’s your responsibility to provide it.
- You can’t bond with a low-maintenance pet: Most people don’t think a fish or a reptile is capable of bonding with humans, but that’s debatable and depends entirely on how you define a bond. Sure, you won’t see the celebratory tail wag from a snake, but you’ll feel their trust in you with time.
Adopting the Right Pet for You
Choosing the right pet for your busy lifestyle requires careful consideration, and you’re doing the necessary research to help you make informed decisions.
Remember that even the best low-maintenance pets require time, attention, and commitment. Taking the time to learn each pet’s unique needs and considering factors like budget, time commitment, and long-term care is essential.
If you want to learn more about pet ownership, check out our website; we’ve got tons of tips and guides for aspiring and new pet owners.