insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 07 - September 2015 | Page 60

PETS

pampered pets
Pets have been a part of life since ancient times; a cat – presumably a
domesticated one – was discovered in a grave dated to around 7500BC in
Cyprus. And, of course, the Egyptians were particularly keen on keeping
feline friends, and taking them with them to the afterlife. BY LISAMARIE LAMB

In all these thousands of years, the need and
want to own and protect an animal – be it feline,
canine, equine, rodent, insect, or anything else
that lives and breathes – has never diminished;
we’re just as in love with our animals as our
ancient ancestors were, only now in the 21st
century we can really pamper them like never
before.
However, getting a pet is not a quick decision –
there is so much to consider, not least of which
is the particular pet in question. A dog, a cat, a
rabbit, a bird… What is the right pet for you, your
circumstances, and your family? Doing your
homework before committing is essential.

If you want a pet that is low maintenance, which
needs only a small living area, and can be left
alone (for short periods), fish, snakes, lizards,
and spiders are ideal. Although these pets will
still need to be cleaned out regularly and fed,
they won’t need much more than 15 minutes of
care a day, and a little longer to clean out their
tanks every week. These are the perfect pets for
those who work long hours or have mobility
issues that mean they can’t hold a pet for a long
time. Of course, these creatures are also the
least cuddly – the ones that don’t show affection
and won’t offer much back in terms of love. One
thing to consider when thinking of adding a low
maintenance pet such as this to your household

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is that not everyone likes them; consider how it
might affect the rest of your family if you bring a
snake or tarantula into their house – especially
into a shared area.
If you have more time to spend on your pet, have
a larger living space, or want an animal that can
show affection, something like a cat, bird, rabbit,
guinea pig or smaller rodent (including hamsters,
mice, and gerbils) would fit the bill. These creatures
can be very loving, and they are easy to handle
and cuddle as well. When it comes to looking
after them, they will need regular feeding and, if
in a cage or a hutch or using a litter tray, cleaning
out; but they won’t need additional exercise as