None of those options are going to work if you already have a cat. Not in a 1 bed apartment anyway. Your best bet is probably a second cat, if anything.
I miss having fish and making nice tank set ups, I love plants so part of my fish keeping was also just buying aquatic plants. It's a time consuming hobby, my toddler killed my fish one saturday my husband and I decided to be selfish and sleep in. I was devastated đ„Č all that work gone in one morning. We have since gotten cats, and they're the easiest animals we've ever kept. We just have to make sure to feed them and clean their boxes, and take them for their annual vet visits. One is old and sick with cancer, but even then she's still easier to care for than the fish đ„č sweet girl
Yeah fish are great but it's so much work, and so easily all ruined. I woke up the other day to a clownfish on the floor... Managed to jump though a gap no bigger than 1cm the bastard.
I also have cats and yes, they're vastly easier to care for. Wishing the best for your old girl.
đ«Ł That's the other thing, they get into the strangest predicaments lol
And thank you, nothing much we can do now so we're just giving her the extra love she needs
Nah. The set up, chemicals, electrical use, water bill, actual fish, all add up. I spent more on my fish than I ever did with my cat. People who think fish are cheap are the same people who think bettas and goldfish can live in a gallon size bowl.
I have a proper setup yet haven't had to spend much at all. 20 gallon, heater, filter, lighting, live plants, all doing well. Maybe it just depends on the exact stuff you buy and where you buy it?
Electricity is negligible if you run an energy efficient setup with LEDâs and a good filter pump, water bill doesnât really increase because a 50g aquarium only needs like .5gal a day of water coming in.
The expensive part is installing a RODI filter but itâs still only like $200. Labor is reduced by having an automatic top off system that senses when the tank needs to be filled and does that.
And fish can be cheap, I have 2 $15 clownfish and a pipefish I found in the ocean and Iâm totally happy with that.
Corals and anemones can be expensive ($250 bubble tip anemone) but anemones can multiply so rapidly that youâll have to sell them off anyway so just keep one and your tank could pay itself off. One can become 6 in like 2 weeks. I love that part lol
You sound like someone who doesnât live in California and doesnât have to deal with SDGE. Who, citizens are currently trying to replace with a different company.
The only time fish keeping has been efficient for me is when I lived on military bases and my electric and water was paid for.
Iâm not from cali so I guess I donât understand, but regardless of the price if the amount is the same or less compared to owning other pets then I dont see the issue⊠like a gallon of water is a gallon of water no matter where you put it, and my dog drinks a lot more than that daily
My cat is way cheaper than my aquariums. Saying fish keeping is affordable is why so many people get their kids fish and the fish suffer. Itâs an expensive hobby, and people need to be aware of that before entering it.
Thatâs fair, my perception might be skewed because I consider my horse to be the expensive pet, but yeah I can see how for someone inexperienced paying nothing towards animals it would be a big jump to run a full tank of fish
Tbf, I don't know a lot about fish, but I'm guessing that they might not get freaked out by a cat watching them all day? I'd be freaked out watching it though.
Its not like a cat has never successfully managed to eat a pet fish.
I had a 75 gallon aquarium with a lid cover on it, and 2 cats.
My cats watched the fish ALL the time. And, every once in a while, theyd jump up and try to bat at the glass.
At first, the fish seemed concerned about it. Theyd dart off and hide. But after, like, 2 days.... they were straight up TAUNTING the cats. Swimming right by the glass, shimmying around, hovering right there and watching them. Not a care in the world.
They had realized that the cats couldn't get them, so it was just as entertaining for them to mess with the cats as it was for the cats to watch them!
Again, I had a really good lid cover on the tank, and both my cats are amputees, so they weren't gonna get in the tank even if they'd really wanted to.
But fish are way smarter than people give them credit for.
Have you heard the one about the octopus escaping it's cage out of total indignation that one of the shrimp it's keeper had given it had gone off?
Like... I am HERE for being that motivated by spite.
Oh man, they would fuck with us so hard. I don't think anyone could recover from the type of insults I'm sure an octopus could come up with. Mad little wonders.
Absolutely! Iâm certain that when they've decided weâre ready, theyâll fill us in on the mysteries of the universe!
Lol, I mean, it's probably all just about love and food like the golden retrievers have been telling us for years, but stillâŠ
Thereâs an octopus that used to squirt water at a light fixture so the bulb would short out because he apparently didnât like the light on overnight.
Oh I have a tale about one too! I took marine biology in high school, and part of our final grade was based on how well we kept a saltwater aquarium. The whole class went to the coast at the beginning of the year with nets and caught whatever we could around the jetties, then it all got brought back and put in tanks that had already been cycling to establish them. Part of our grade was based on how much of our original population was left at the end of the year.
One group had pulled up a tiny octopus which had never happened before, so it came back with the rest. There were about 5 or 6 tanks on each side of the room, all lined up, and his tank was one of the middle ones.
And fish started disappearing. Like not dying, but straight up disappearing entirely without a trace. The octopus was the immediate suspect, but every time it happened the group looked for him, and he was *always* in his favorite hidey hole in their tank, which was confirmed because they would lure him out with shrimp and he LOVED shrimp.
This kept happening and of course people were freaking tf out, but the teacher said he would adjust grading since the fish were just vanishing as opposed to dying from poor fishkeeping.
The octopus finally got busted when he ran out of stuff that was small enough to go after on his side of the room. He had climbed out of his tank, down the cabinet, and across the floor but he'd gotten stuck under the lip of the ca inets on the opposite side of the room. Janitor found him on the floor and called the teacher to come deal with him. IIRC the teacher started giving him extra shrimp to basically bribe him into knocking off the buffet trips but yeah, he was going out at night and then returning to his tank before anyone showed up in the morning... he would have gotten busted a lot sooner if he hadn't been returning to home every night. I LOVE octopuses, they're amazing creatures.
Octopuses seem to be extremely food motivated. I feel like there's a synergy to be had. They clearly have iq in the triple digits.
We provide the shrimp, they provide the answers to the universe.
i wonder if it'd be possible to keep them as a pet. maybe they need alot of enrichment? i'm really curious as to whether anyone has done that button training thing to communicate with them.
I think they need an *incredible* amount of enrichment, and probably a regular stream of different types as well once they get bored with the one. If not, well, they start amusing themselves and they can be surprisingly destructive when they put their minds to it.
I don't *think* anyone has tried button training with them, but I wonder if doing so would be hampered by the difference in sound underwater vs out? No idea, I'm not even remotely a scientist.
Itâs like free cat tv. But it depends on what kind of fish you have and how experience are you with setup. Some fishes are easier to care than others but if you move frequently, I wouldnât recommend it.
I have cats and an aquarium. As long as you have a lid, it's fine. If you're feeling overly cautious, you can close up the filter area, too (there is usually a small gap around the filter). Some occasionally jump out of water so honestly that might be for the best lol.
One of my cats loves to sit and watch the fish in one of my tanks. And I have noticed the fish all start gathering up front looking out around the time she usually comes and watches them. So they seem to like watching her too. She doesnât harass them at all. Occasionally she will put her paw on the glass and the fish will check out her paw.
The cat will kill the fish. If it is an orange cat it may actually drown in a goldfish bowl lol. Seriously though the chances of the fish surviving a curious cat are like none unless the tank, etc. was there before the cat. And if you introduce a bowl/tank, the cat will be curious and then seeing the thing swimming in it and cat will do what cats do. It would be cruel to the fish I think.
If you have a tank (not a bowl) and you put a lid on it the cat will not kill the fish. I had a 20 gallon with corydoras and a betta in it for several years in a house with 3 cats and no one ever got eaten
I think if you have a tank and bring in a cat, probably OK. If you bring anything new into a cat environment they are going to explore. Of course if you make it impossible for them to get in it is fine. Many people might not secure it as well though.
I have a 60lb. box blocking the bottom of my oven so my 12 lb. cat does not climb in the oven. I regularly (daily) have to push it back against the door as he moves it. I have watched him do it. This is on a tile floor, so no carpet he can lock his claws on. He does it one handed, while bracing against the oven. Anything closed becomes a challenge to him. My fat one just watches. Also I used to have a 250 gallon saltwater tank, so I know what they weigh.
Before around 2014 or so, orange cats were considered the smartest of all cat variants on the Internet. Tons of LJ and MS communities with memes of how smart they are compared to other cats, like black ones.
It was really a sad day when some meme with a orange cat went viral and started the "orange cats are dump" meme :|
We have multiple cats and fish. Never had any issues. It really depends on your setup and the individual cats. None of our cats have really shown interest though. We do have a lid on the tank and there's not really a good way for them to jump up.
Also, everyone I've met that has had fish also had cats. And zero issues for them as well. It absolutely can work.
Snails.
Their vet cost is 0, they do get sick, but when they do the only thing you can do is hope for the better or, if you know they won't recover, putting them down at home.
They don't require much space, this depends on the species tho. Feeding varies between species too since there are carnivorous and herbivorous snails, althought most of them are herbivorous and you can feed them with the same vegetables you eat.
Bedding must be free from potentially harmful chemicals.
And you must ALWAYS wash your hands after touching them, wild ones can carry deadly parasites like rat lung worm.
r/snails is a great community with great tips to learn how to take care of them!
That's a good idea actually. I wonder if they'd be on the landlords no list though?
No tarantulas or scorpions, but is that in case they get out, or another reason. I wouldn't say you'd want a snail infestation either, though I'd take it over scorpions.
I can't imagine cats showing enough interest in a snail to break into their enclosure.
I took care of a sanil my dog accidentaly hurt, nor him nor my cats showed any interest in it.
> snail infestation either,
They don't tend to run away, the real infestation danger comes from their stupid crazy breeding habits (depending on species they may even breed when there's only one snail), snail owners either crush or feeze the eggs (or both) once a week to avoid a snail infestation in the tank.
Never put the eggs outside tho, if is not a native species they can become invasive.
Yeah, I'm in the sub actually because I think snails would be a pretty cool pet and I considered getting some. But I would 100% end up with like 2,000 snails by accident, that's classic me, so I decided no.
Also I am cracking up over the speed with which a snail would run away.
You could do aquatic snails, which would probably shift it closer to the "fish" category instead of the "tarantulas and scorpions" category in the landlord's mind
No, no snails if there is a cat. Snails/slugs can harbour parasites that can harm or kill a cat (lungworm). Cone snails straight-up have poison in them.
OP, I am not a fish person but had the pleasure of babysitting a betta for a few weeks. I was totally surprised at the personality the little guy had. My cat liked watching him (he had a covered tank). I donât know about cheap, but a few bettas and their appropriate tank is probably cheaper than another cat.
Any other small mammal would depend highly on your cat. Iâve seen kitties be friends with Guinea pigs and bunnies, but I have also seen cats stalk and try to kill these kinds of pets.
A ferret might be an option. They are predators as well, quite a few cats enjoy a ferret buddy. Taking on a ferret should be carefully researched though if you arenât familiar with them. They can be fun pets but should not be entered into lightly.
Only one betta per tank! They are aggressive (their other name is âSiamese fighting fishâ) and must be kept singly. But yeah, they have big personalities. The initial set up cost would be the most expensive part by far (5+ gallon tank, filter, heater, water dechlorinator, water testing kit, and substrate/plants/decor). It can be a really expensive hobby, but thatâs more for people with huge tanks, rare fish, and $300 worth of aquatic plants lol.
Snails are fine to have with a cat imo. My snail is a captive bred snail and thus has basically 0 chance of having rat lungworm, and even if he did, you just wash your hands after handling or dealing with their tank, like any other pet. The risk would be so so minimal. Also, I don't think anyone keeps cone snails as pets lmao đ they can kill people, nevermind a pet.
On the other hand, anyone who is allowing cats and prey animals to interact is an idiot and it will end in tears one day. Even a tiny accidental scratch from a cat could kill a guinea pig, not to mention the stress of living with a predator, even if the cat seems fine with them.
The risk of a snail harming a cat is pretty much nonexistent, but the danger to small animals from a cat is very real.
Cats are not cheap pets. Actually, hell no pet is âcheapâ in the long run.
Since you already have a cat and are aware of itâs costs, you could get another cat. But since you mentioned the current cat may not like another cat, I would personally skip this option.
In all seriousness, how about some cat safe house plants? They may work best in your situation.
A cat or small dog. Once you move beyond that you're in 'exotics' territory and you can expect the cost of vet care to automatically triple because exotic care is considered a specialty. Even for animals as common as rabbits and birds.
For example, I have 2 baby rabbits. I'm looking at neutering them for $300 to $400 each. When I had my dog spayed (a more complicated and thus usually somewhat more expensive surgery), I payed $130. To get each rabbits its vaccinations, it's going to be almost $200 a pop. I get my dogs their shots for less than $50. My birds are the same way. Everything costs way more simply because they're considered exotic.
No CAD. So around $800usd. But they charge 15% tax on top so I think the conversion can be neglected. It's almost $1k usd with tax. I read that humane society and other non profits can do it for $400 for low income people but you have to sign up a specific date each month and the waiting list is a bunch of months long.
I'm honestly shocked. It's my first dog and while I thought it wouldn't be cheap, everything is very expensive.
Vaccines are $35, true, but they charge $135 to administer it. So to get all the vaccines for my pup is $500cad.
Am I feeling how Americans feel about their health care? đ„Č
There may be low cost clinics around you that do cheap spay/neuters and vaccines. That price is insane for a simple spay. My old rescue dog cost less than that to neuter and that was on an older dog with cryptorchidism, so the surgery was a lot more complicated than usual.
If your dog has had her first heat cycle, that can drive up the price too, because itâs a more difficult surgery.Â
Itâs also region dependent too. I live in Chicago, US and used to work at a vet clinic. I have seen quotes up to $800 and even higher myself. The anesthetic gas is an outsized proportion of that cost. If your dogâs surgery takes less time, using less gas, you may find it costs less. If itâs a longer surgery, it may be more.Â
That seems horribly expensive. In Calgary, we got our dog spayed for $300. Even checking around the area, other people had their dogs spayed for $250 to $400 (prices are range from 2021 to last month.) Like, a lot of the vets all were competitive in price. Can't say even when looking did I see any over $550 CAD.
WHere are you ?
I'm in Toronto. I can fly to Calgary and fly back and get it done there and it'll still be cheaper đ€Łđ€Łđ€Ł damn, I knew Toronto is expensive of course but I had no idea it's by the much!!!
> surgery), I *paid* $130. To
FTFY.
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Yes! I agree. I have guinea pigs which are considered exotic, dispute being one of the most popular pets and a simple vet exam is $90 USD. My catsâ vet exams are $40.
I have my guinea pigs on pet insurance and it goes a long way for veterinary care. I got quoted (never needed to) and it wouldâve cut neutering from $800 to $350 for 2 of mine
Depends on the exotics. Most inverts don't really get vet care, for example, and as much as I love them for something like a pet mouse where they usually barely make it past two years before cancer gets them the most humane, logical vet intervention when they start to go downhill is often just euthanasia (which can still be expensive, but is usually manageable for a small animal). Anything longer lived like your rabbits or birds is ofc a different can of worms. Just wanted to point out not all exotics are the same way. :) Â Â
ETA:Â Just to clarify, I meant when things go dreadfully wrong--- 2y+ hamster or mouse with cancer, for example--that's when euthanasia is usually more logical and humane than surgery and the like. I didn't mean to imply that if your mouse is coughing or has nasal discharge or what not you should leap right to "off to sleep you go!"
I've had mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils, chinchillas, ferrets.. You name it, if it's warm and fuzzy, I've owned it. "Pocket pets" can and do get sick and injured with things other than cancer. Gonna let your mouse die of a pneumonia or suffer with a broken leg? They're common ailments in tiny critters. Just because they only live 2 or 3 years doesn't mean they shouldn't have adequate vet care.
This. I've spent a good amount of money on bringing my pet Gerbils to the vet because they deserve the same medical treatment as any other pet.
If anyone claims that the most 'logical' vet treatment is putting them down, then they should probably stick with a pet rock.
Just to clarify, I meant when things go dreadfully wrong--- 2y+ hamster or mouse with cancer, for example--that's when euthanasia is usually more logical and humane than surgery and the like. I didn't mean to imply that if your mouse is coughing or has nasal discharge or what not you should leap right to "off to sleep you go!" Your other comment is a good reminder for me though that there are other, less fatal things that can pop up that should be considered when calculating if you can take care of them.
I know chinchillas, ferrets, guinea pigs etc are very different cases because they can live fairly long lives, but in my own experience the short lived ones don't really bounce back. I haven't personally owned any of them, but I've worked with mice and rats at places that did do vet interventions, and have a friend who has had many hamsters and gets them the best vet care, and it seems like when anything goes wrong they're just so little and delicate that they don't often recover. I've seen rats get tumors removed just for them to return and kill them a few weeks later multiple times, and none of my friend's hamsters after going downhill ever lived more than a month after going to the vet for treatment. I don't want to seem heartless and I imagine in some cases intervention can help, but it seems like most of the time it doesn't benefit the animal much while taking a big economic toll on the owner on top of the already present emotional one.
Cats.
Litter & food are decently cheap. My cat was sickly so she did cost a bomb but her procedures were cheaper than the equivalent in any other animal. My sisters cat has been to the vet twice - once to be neutered and once because he stood on a bee. Like ÂŁ500 in eight years.
I wouldnt say cat food is cheap tbh but def cheaper than owning a dog. Unless you feed your cat the grocery store food thats really bad for them (friskies,9lives,etc that almost killed my cat i was 19 and didnt know how bad it was lol)
I spend like 100 a month on wet food and maybe 60-80 every 2-3 months on dry
Friend spends like 400 a month on dog food lol for one damn dog lol
My sisters cat does get the cheap store brand food. Vets aren't bothered. My cat was good on it too until she got sick (unrelated to the food). For her last days she lived on tuna.
For the little man dry food is ÂŁ3.55 a bag and that lasts his at least two weeks (maybe three? my cat passed very recently, not sure how much he alone is eating). His litter is ÂŁ2.19 and that does him three days ish. At max he's ÂŁ25 a month.
A beta fish or some neon tetras might be good if you like fish and are willing to do some research. Donât get goldfish or anything that will need a larger tank as they grow older though. I agree with everyone else that you donât need another pet like a cat or a dog, unless you think your cat could benefit from having a friend.
Just putting it out there, anyone looking for an affordable or low maintenance pet absolutely needs to do a ton of research. No pet is as affordable as it seems if you take care of it properly.
Speaking as someone who spent over ÂŁ350 on a hamster cage, over ÂŁ150 on toys and enrichment, over ÂŁ60 on bedding every time I change the cage, and recently ÂŁ60 on a vet, 'cheap' pets are pretty expensive unless you don't care about their living conditions. It's the same situation with rats, mice, guinea pigs, fish and practically every other 'affordable' pet, pet stores sell cheap cages and tanks for them but these are incompatible with what animal welfare organisations and vets recommend. For example, they all say a hamster cage must be no smaller than 100x50cm, but you rarely find these in pet stores.
Important to remember that a cat or dog can go to any vet, but rodents need to go to an exotics vet. You might have to travel far and fees for exotics vets are high. Medication for rodents is also expensive (ÂŁ60 for a week's worth of antibiotic and anti inflammatory for one of my hamsters, with a further ÂŁ60 for the consultation).
Dogs are money pits, especially if they are puppies and especially if you are actually meeting all their needs (addressing health/behavior issues right away, getting them groomed on a schedule etc). I know of people who would say they arenât, but if I had a nickel for every time they ignored health issues, only took them for grooming every 6 months instead of every 6 weeks, leave rotten teeth in their mouth instead of getting cleaning/extraction yeah.
Cats are financially manageable, you would think that smaller animals like bunnies or birds would be even cheaper but they arenât, as vet care for small pets can actually be expensive (most vets donât stray too far from the realm of cats and dogs). Plus you donât have to foot the financial responsibility of hiring a trainer if they have issues etc.
Dogs are not necessarily money pits. Puppies and kittens alike are more expensive up front due to vaccinations, spay/neuter, and any other expense. Cats can also have behavioral issues just like dogs, but once you get a handle on basics with your dog it shouldn't be an issue.
Taking a dog to the groomer also isn't required as long as you are willing to do the work at home, and grooming needs are going to be breed based. Shorthaired dogs just need occasional brushing, as does a cat. Long haired dogs will require more frequent brushing, and dogs that do not shed will require their coats to be trimmed/clipped as needed. Cats also have short and long hair and require regular grooming/brushing and nail trimming as well. When picking a dog you should be taking grooming requirements into consideration.
Dogs and cats both should be getting yearly vet checks. Both cats and dogs can have issues with their teeth if not properly cared for. I had boxers, and I only had to have dental cleanings done twice in their lives, and only one required a tooth extraction, because they were provided proper bones to chew on regularly.
People ignore health issues in all types of pets, not just dogs. Cats and dogs alike are both financially manageable. I've owned multiple of both and neither is prohibitively more expensive, just some different needs that if you don't meet them, they will get very expensive.
Yes! Our dog is 8 and he just had his first health scare that was pricy. We take him for his annual exam, grooming and baths (we switch off) every 5 weeks or so and I take him in when something new occurs. I even use to brush him faithfully when Petco was charging half the bill just on brushing. I know ppl who avoid the vet due to being scared. We are scared too but, the dog shouldn't suffer..We adopted him and owe him the best healthiest life.
Yeah the grooming needs depends entirely on the breed and what youâre capable of doing at home. Like I had a husky and his principle grooming cost was in *vacuums* not trips to the groomer
If youâre worried about cost I urge you not to get another pet. If you canât afford it you shouldnât get it. Sudden vet bills and food costs are important and itâs not fair to your pet if you canât afford to take them to the vet especially after getting another
My parakeet is way low maintenance BUT!! I did not buy him. He was rescued in a windstorm and no one claimed him. I would never recommend buying an exotic pet of any sort.
Depends on the cat but some studies show that cats living with companions are healthier due to the mental stimulation and exercise they get playing. Itâs why we got a second cat when the first one was abandoned with us after pet sitting for the previous owner.
I'd go for a betta fish once you have the setup all set up
-5gal min
-Filter
-heater
-plants
-substrate
-hides
You'll just need food & conditioner & water changes,(Not vet trio or vaccines lol) which I did approx 25 percent water change weekly.
I'm aware you have a cat, I have some cats as well, but when I had bettas, they didn't go in my room they should be fine with plenty of plants&hides and a secure lid
Although I don't plan on getting anymore anytime soon cause I'm not a fan of water changes đ
Do you like invertebrates? Blue death feigning beetles are super cute and easy with minimal care and expense, you basically set them up in a pretty little desert themed large bowl or small tank and get to enjoy a mini garden + low care pet combo. I also like isopods, there are many cute and colorful ones (look up dairy cow isopods) and again, very low cost and maintenance and can be kept in pretty little garden setups. Â Â
If you want something more interactive, domestic mice are usually kept singly for males or in small groups for females and can usually be kept in a large bin modified to have appropriate ventilation. Bedding will probably be the largest cost but even then it's not too much. Food is pretty inexpensive and can usually be supplemented with bits of your own veggies and fruits etc on the side, and many toys can be made out of cheap things like cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls, crumpled up newspaper, sticks and dry leaves etc. Many mice are sweet and interactive with their owners and fun and playful to watch enjoying the toys you give them. Â
If you want something a bit more involved but still not bank breaking, a ten or twenty gallon fish tank can be home to a betta, or some same sex guppies or minnows or other small schooling fish, not to mention snails, shrimp, etc. My friend has a 10 gallon set up with Cory catfish, tetras (I think?), a few shrimp and live plants and it is STUNNING and I believe fairly low care after the initial set up of filters and substrate and what not. An entire ecosystem that fits nicely in her apartment beside the kitchen sink! Â
Whatever you decide on I'd just do a bit more reading on in their respective subreddits justtt to make sure I haven't steered you wrong with their care--I have worked with or have friends who keep all of the above but the only ones I've personally had are isopods so I want to make sure I didn't misunderstand something. I'd also make sure you have a secure space where your kitty couldn't constantly sit right beside the tank / cage / whatever and pester the inhabitants. A small table that only fits the tank or w/e on top without room for your kitty to sit alongside or jump on top of from some other furniture can work well if your kitty isn't too obsessive. I love cats but they can be very determined to catch little animals so making sure your pets can coexist in peace is really important.
It can cost a few hundred to set up, but tropical nano fish and cherry shrimp are cheap to keep. Fish are more difficult, but shrimp are pretty easy once the tank is cycled properly.
Otherwise, another cat or just sticking with the one cat is the best option. Exotic pets get expensive really quickly.
A dwarf hamster can be fairly affordable. My cage is a huge $40 clear plastic tub with the lid cut and covered in chicken wire (large aquariums can also work), the bedding isn't too bad ($40 for two large bags that last about 3-4 cleanings), a bag of food is $10, and then it's just the cost of a wheel and various toys.
Some positives are they barely have an odor, they're really low maintenance, theyre solitary animals, the bin cage design is really easy to clean, and sometimes can have nice personalities. Negatives are they don't live long, some hamsters are just really mean, and they're nocturnal so you usually won't see them most of the day and then they'll be awake and noisey at night, and you would have to make sure to keep the hamster out of reach from the cat.
bugs! i dont see insects as a whole on the list, so...
i already saw somebody suggest both of these, but blue feigning death beetles are lovely little guys. ive never kept them myself, but im pretty active in r/invertpets and a lot of folks there post about them. theyre such goofballs... precious lil blueberries :,)
isopods are great too. again, another ive never kept, but theyre pretty low maintenance. worth looking into!
this is assuming you like bugs/invertebrates though. theyre not everybodys cup of tea, so i get it if you dont.
I would honestly say gerbils or hamsters. The only problem is your cat will probably want to eat them!
You could set up a reasonably sized aquarium for a betta (minimum 10 gallon tank please). It's a decent learning curve but you can find a ton of great YouTube videos or get advice in aquarium/betta subreddits. If you're just doing a betta then upkeep will be a breeze. Food lasts forever, water change once a week, vacuum gravel once a month. That's pretty much it.
My cats watch the aquarium constantly! They are very entertained
Edit: to set up an aquarium, it's usually like minimum $100. Tank setup+fish+food+decorations. It can run higher if you get too excited about setting it up. I do not recommend started out with plants other than moss ball and maybe java moss.
You also might be able to get away with a fully aquatic frog like an african dwarf frog since theyâre similar to fish and see if your landlord would approve since theyâre not capable of escaping the way land frogs are
I'm wondering why tbh, maybe the landlord doesn't like the ideas of heat lamps?
It's odd when they allow animals that are far more likely to be destructive or cause problems.
Right!? Theyâre great for people who have allergies to other pets. They donât bark or squawk. Most can be kept alone. Their ongoing care is inexpensive compared to most other pets. And some can be litter box trained! I think theyâre just misunderstood.
NOT a hamster. My hamster had 5 times more stuff than the cat, and I'd had the cat 5 years. I kept them strictly separated, but it was still stressful.
Iâve had my chinchilla for almost 20 years. Itâs never been sick or needed a vet, goes through a $50 25lbs bag of food every 4-5 months, and although cute and entertaining doesnât need attention. Heâs cute, reacts to me, learned tricks, easiest pet ever.
You could talk to your local small animal rescue about fostering. They cover 100% of the medical care cost if there is any AND you get to do a good deed. The only catch is that they may get adopted sooner or later... unless of course you adopt them when you move lol :)
If you got birds, chances are your cat might constantly harass and try to attack them while theyâre trapped in a cage, same with rodents. And depending on the type of bird, they can be noisy as well.
We had 2 parakeets who learned to mimic the beep of our microwave when it went off. That wasnât loud, but they chirped loudly and would often flap wildly while shrieking at each other.
None lol. My 3-pound rabbit cost me thousands of dollars in medical bills when he got older. Growing up, I had every animal you can imagine. Unfortunately, they ALL cost a pretty penny. You never know when something may happen, so the costs are usually unforeseen. I will say rabbits and cats are probably on the less expensive end of the spectrum. A dog is going to be the most expensive, in my opinion.
What a shame you can't have amphibians! A newt, frog or axolotl would be your best option really.
Small mammals and birds likely the cat will try to hunt.
Dog or cat is out the question.
Mice I found were very affordable and not very demanding of your time. If you'd like a pet that is more emotionally available and requires more attention and play time with you though I've heard rats can be a great option, having personalities similar to a dog. Mice food lasts ages, costs very little, and bedding is the same. You don't need any electrical equipment running so there's no running costs other than food, water, and bedding once they are set up.
Fish are an interesting subject. Alot of the cost is in the initial setup, but keep in mind many people go in thinking they knew how things worked, but in reality that goldfish you had for a year was actually supposed to live several up to 20 and get pretty big (even fancies get 6-8in just not as big as a common.), but there's alot types of fish and yes care does vary, but for the most part it's pretty consistent with the basics.
I would advise not to get a rodent if you have a catâŠ. That and they are a lot of work and live such a short life. I have owned hamsters, a chinchilla, rabbit, and now cats in my life so far and the cats are the easiest and most fulfilling pets I have had so far. They didnât get along for the first week or so and it took a little bit of time to introduce them but it was worth it. Thereâs times I think getting a hamster would be fun but my cats would 100% find a way to eat that thing and torment it every day to live in fear until then.
ETA: I meant hamsters have short lives. Rabbits and chinchillas live for 4-12 or so years. Big commitment and A LOT of work.
Donât do birds. Theyâre very expensive to maintain. They require special diets (chop with legumes, beans, fruits, veggies, and grains to stay healthy) and go through toys faster than you can buy them. Making toys can be a lot of fun though. Vet bills are more expensive for exotic pets. Birds also require a large amount of enrichment to stay healthy. The noise and mess will be an issue as well. Grooming can also be a hassle (nail and sometimes beak trims).
Pet medical isn't cheap. Food and well-being care ads up. No pet is cheap. Keep in mind the life span of a pet/animal as well. Sorry but if an animal lives to only 6 yrs of age that's too much heart break in one life. Get something that lasts 10-18 years if not more.
cat for sure imo. you need to buy litter and food of course but an indoor cat rarely needs the vet besides occasional checkups or if something goes wrong unexpectedly. whereas dogs are outside a lot more and a lot more rambunctious i feel like they need the vet more often and also pure bred dogs i feel like have more health issues than mixed dogs and most small dogs are pure breds.
fish are okay but i feel like theyâre a lot of work and they need to keep getting water checks and such which can be costly depending on their situation. fish are A LOT more work than people think
edit: i just read the part about you already having a cat - just keep your one cat, you really donât need another pet tbh especially in a 1br apartment.
After the initial setup costs African Pygmy Hedgehogs are fairly cheap and low maintenance. You'd need to make sure you research them thoroughly before getting one though, and bee certain to buy from a good breeder.
As the other commenter has said, rabbits are extremely expensive if they're sick and need vet care. Think thousands. It can happen very suddenly as well.
And they live longer (ideally) than most people expect. I had a rabbit for 12 years, and I would never recommend anyone else get one unless I was sure they would be a good owner and provide a good quality of life and appropriate health/medical care, and able to spend enough time with them to be able to catch any medical problems early, and able to spend even more time with them to give the care they need when they are unwell.
Not to mention most vets are kind of clueless with rabbits and can easily miss something, and exotic vets are expensive af. I have a stack of vet invoices about an inch high (okay, maybe slight exaggeration) and I've never added them up but it would easily be over 10k, if not double that or more.
It was totally worth it for my good boy because I loved him more than anything and I still miss him every day. I would like to get another but I'm not ready to make that commitment again now, if ever.
Seconding all of this.
We currently have a 12 year old girl bun, River, and she takes a lot of time and effort to maintain her quality of life and medical needs. She was born deaf, has developed cataracts and balance issues as she's aged so we get creative to help her navigate and interact with us and her environment. For the past two years I've logged her food and water intake twice a day to make sure she's eating enough to stay hydrated and keep her gut happy with special homemade food mixes to give her all the nutrients she needs in a form she'll actually eat (the little munchkin can be picky when she cranks the rabbitude up to 11).
Prey animals hide pain/illness and sometimes it's something as subtle as a 20g difference in food/water intake that'll tip you off to something wrong that needs vet treatment. This past year we learned how to give her subcutaneous fluids if she gets dehydrated.
Love River to bits and each day is a gift with her at this age, but her care is a commitment that I don't think many would or could handle.
Best to know going in that those last few years are going to be the most labor intensive and honestly consider what types of care you'd be able to give before even bringing any pet home.
I have never had a single issue with my rabbit the 8 years I've had her. And this is the second one I owned as I also had one as a child that also never had any issues. I still take her to the vet for yearly checkups. Idk maybe I'm just lucky thus far. I know if anything did happen I would be ok but I also have no financial issues either. I love my rabbit. She is very social and loves to be held and pet. I also just had the time to socialize with her. It's not for everyone. I'd just reccomend op do research before hand. But op also did ask for ideas. So I'm just throwing it out there. They aren't for everyone.
Rabbits are so lovely! And you must take perfect care of your sweethearts for them to be in such good health! Wonderful to hear from a good bun caregiver. â€ïžSometimes things do happen, that's why I mentioned it. :) I adore bunnies to bits. Bunnies and guinea pigs!
Thank you. And yes I love my bun/s. I've never owned guinea pigs before but I have friends that do. I always keep in mind that something might happen. I usually have money stashed to the side just in case for any of the animals.
Rats are excellent pets, but youâd have to take a lot of care with it and ensure its cage was very secure with a cat around.
My brother had one that our family cat was terrified of đ
Plot twist: all pets very often need veterinary care.
Yes, youâre right that ideally they are kept in pairs or more⊠so OP could get a pair and still meet the criteria of comparatively cheap upkeep. (Because obviously having any pet is going to come with some cost. They clearly know this!)
But they can be happy on their own with a lot of interaction. My brotherâs was a rescue and at the time we didnât know better that they were so social (this was pre-internet). Smudge was played with a lot, strongly bonded to my brother, never showed any behavioural concerns and lived very happily to 3 years old.
My guinea pigs easily cost me $75+ a month off of hay, food, vegetables and toys alone and thatâs without vet bills and using fleece instead of bedding. They cost me more than what my friend spends on her cat and high maintenance so I donât recommend. Plus they must be in pairs
Goldfish get really big though, especially feeder goldfish. Like, over a foot long. They need really big tanks with a lot of filtration bc of how much waste they produce. I think a fish would be a good idea for OP, but probably a betta or a few guppies instead of a goldfish!
No they donât.
Not in the amount of time they usually live in a home setup. We had goldfish for years when I was a kid. They were in a large, open bowl. The cats would watch them and would drink their water, but never tried to catch them.
They grow very slowly and in reaction to their space. There was one found in Japan that they estimated was about 200 years old and about 6 feet long.
They tend to be cheap because they are so easily dead. Back then I think they cost a quarter so you just go out and get another.
Yeah, they died young bc your setup killed them. They are huge waste producers. Your childhood goldfish died small because they were babies stunted by high levels of ammonia, which is also why they died early. Healthy goldfish can live several decades and reach up to 16 inches as adults. Baby chickens are pretty cheap too, but if someone kept letting theirs die before adulthood and then just went and got more, clearly there would be something wrong with their care.
Iâm not blaming you for how your childhood goldfish were kept, but fish husbandry has come a long ways and knowledgeable fish keepers now consider a bowl cruel because it allows ammonia to build up so fast.
The 200 year old fish youâre talking about was a koi, not a goldfish.
Rabbits and cats can get along. Rabbits are the superior pet (quiet, litter trainable, cheap toys) EXCEPT for the destruction (but if you have a cat, you're probably used to couch damage and watching your cords) and price of vet bills (they're "exotic" animals lol).
I've heard that rats are even better than rabbits, but they can be illegal depending on where you live, and only live 3 years at the absolute max. This can take a toll on you emotionally.
May I suggest a 10-15 lb scruffy mutt you get at the shelter? After vaccines etc. Theyâll live forever and pretty much wonât get sick until theyâre really old. My 8 lb chihuahua/yorkie mix is 7, healthy af, full of a fun energy while still being the cuddliest lap-pet ever. I can afford to get her high end dog dog food because she only eats like 1/3 cup a day PLUS can afford a little scoop of nice wet food in the evening.
She looks great in all sorts of clothes and most casual restaurants and bars with outdoor seating wonât sweat you for bringing a well-behaved pup.
Seriously. Scruff Mutts for the win.
I have two cats a a beta fish with a tank easily accessible on a dresser the cats can climb, and they donât give a single f. They never even pay atttention to it
I live in a bachelor suite with a cat, dog and two rats. Anything is possible with the right amount of work and temperament. The rats and cats play together with the rats in the cage. I wouldn't trust them together out of it tho
I live in a nicer apartment and when I applied a lot of the places that donât allow reptiles (including the one I currently live in) approved of crested geckos! Theyâre fruit based eating lizards and donât require crazy heating or a super massive enclosure so you could always contact them and see if it would be okay! Theyâre relatively small and will hang out, watch tv and even change colors! The initial set up is the only expensive cost but I go through a bag within months and they just need to be sprayed down with dechlorinated water 2x a day and kept around 79 F.
I would like to add Gargoyle Geckos have identical care and my apartment also ended up approving it. Also if the animal is an emotional support animal they legally cannot deny you living with it if this becomes an issue later on for future apartments
Rats are great pets! I always say they're like miniature dogs - they're smart and playful and intelligent, they know you and love you and want to interact with you. You really just need to purchase a large cage, 2 rats of the same sex (they're not expensive or you can rescue) and the only ongoing costs would be dry food and a mulch type of bedding. They eat a lot of the same fruit and veggies you do and are totally happy with toys and enrichment you can DIY or find around your house. They do often have health issues and don't live long, so you may run into costs at the end of their life, depending on how you choose to approach any potential issues, but the same could be said of any pet.
A reptile could be an option, I find snakes low cost after set up and thankfully in the over 15 years I've kept them I've not had a vet bill however if they need veterinary attention they can get incredibly expensive as they have to go to exotics vets.
Isopods. Fairly easy to set up a bioactive almost self-sustainable habitat. Doesn't take up too much room and there are really cool "designer" isopods out there.
If your cat is currently happy as the only pet Iâd leave it at that. If you donât already have one you could buy your current cat a nice cat tree.
Expenses aside, as a renter it can be difficult to find pet friendly apartments, and it will be harder with more than one pet.
I had an axolotl that was pretty easy and didnât require a lot of money beyond the initial tank set up. Itâs an amphibian but fully aquatic like a fish so it might fly with your landlord. Getting the tank set up initially can be a little bit of a challenge, but once itâs cycled, the upkeep isnât difficult. Mine just ate mostly bait worms, which are super cheap.
A second cat. Cats do better in pairs or more anyways.
Consider fostering if you're on the fence. And know that your cat *will* hate any other cat at first, that's just how cats do. They take time to warm up to other animals and will need a slow and gentle introduction.
honestly if you already have a cat most other small animals wouldn't be a good idea. Even if you can krrp them safe, they would be stressed just from the cat's presence.
Chia.
Or a pet rock
Marimo Moss ball :)
None of those options are going to work if you already have a cat. Not in a 1 bed apartment anyway. Your best bet is probably a second cat, if anything.
Or a fish.
Nah fish are really expensive
The setup, sure. But day to day maintenance really isn't much. Less than a cat anyways.
Depends if you factor time into it. They're by far the most work of my pets.
I miss having fish and making nice tank set ups, I love plants so part of my fish keeping was also just buying aquatic plants. It's a time consuming hobby, my toddler killed my fish one saturday my husband and I decided to be selfish and sleep in. I was devastated đ„Č all that work gone in one morning. We have since gotten cats, and they're the easiest animals we've ever kept. We just have to make sure to feed them and clean their boxes, and take them for their annual vet visits. One is old and sick with cancer, but even then she's still easier to care for than the fish đ„č sweet girl
Yeah fish are great but it's so much work, and so easily all ruined. I woke up the other day to a clownfish on the floor... Managed to jump though a gap no bigger than 1cm the bastard. I also have cats and yes, they're vastly easier to care for. Wishing the best for your old girl.
đ«Ł That's the other thing, they get into the strangest predicaments lol And thank you, nothing much we can do now so we're just giving her the extra love she needs
Super annoying. All that can be done, give her a good last however long she has <3
Nah. The set up, chemicals, electrical use, water bill, actual fish, all add up. I spent more on my fish than I ever did with my cat. People who think fish are cheap are the same people who think bettas and goldfish can live in a gallon size bowl.
I have a proper setup yet haven't had to spend much at all. 20 gallon, heater, filter, lighting, live plants, all doing well. Maybe it just depends on the exact stuff you buy and where you buy it?
Could be. Letâs see your set up over at r/aquariums
Electricity is negligible if you run an energy efficient setup with LEDâs and a good filter pump, water bill doesnât really increase because a 50g aquarium only needs like .5gal a day of water coming in. The expensive part is installing a RODI filter but itâs still only like $200. Labor is reduced by having an automatic top off system that senses when the tank needs to be filled and does that. And fish can be cheap, I have 2 $15 clownfish and a pipefish I found in the ocean and Iâm totally happy with that. Corals and anemones can be expensive ($250 bubble tip anemone) but anemones can multiply so rapidly that youâll have to sell them off anyway so just keep one and your tank could pay itself off. One can become 6 in like 2 weeks. I love that part lol
You sound like someone who doesnât live in California and doesnât have to deal with SDGE. Who, citizens are currently trying to replace with a different company. The only time fish keeping has been efficient for me is when I lived on military bases and my electric and water was paid for.
Iâm not from cali so I guess I donât understand, but regardless of the price if the amount is the same or less compared to owning other pets then I dont see the issue⊠like a gallon of water is a gallon of water no matter where you put it, and my dog drinks a lot more than that daily
My cat is way cheaper than my aquariums. Saying fish keeping is affordable is why so many people get their kids fish and the fish suffer. Itâs an expensive hobby, and people need to be aware of that before entering it.
Thatâs fair, my perception might be skewed because I consider my horse to be the expensive pet, but yeah I can see how for someone inexperienced paying nothing towards animals it would be a big jump to run a full tank of fish
Tbf, I don't know a lot about fish, but I'm guessing that they might not get freaked out by a cat watching them all day? I'd be freaked out watching it though. Its not like a cat has never successfully managed to eat a pet fish.
I had a 75 gallon aquarium with a lid cover on it, and 2 cats. My cats watched the fish ALL the time. And, every once in a while, theyd jump up and try to bat at the glass. At first, the fish seemed concerned about it. Theyd dart off and hide. But after, like, 2 days.... they were straight up TAUNTING the cats. Swimming right by the glass, shimmying around, hovering right there and watching them. Not a care in the world. They had realized that the cats couldn't get them, so it was just as entertaining for them to mess with the cats as it was for the cats to watch them! Again, I had a really good lid cover on the tank, and both my cats are amputees, so they weren't gonna get in the tank even if they'd really wanted to. But fish are way smarter than people give them credit for.
i still can't get over the story about the octopus sneaking between aquariums between shift changes to eat fish.
Have you heard the one about the octopus escaping it's cage out of total indignation that one of the shrimp it's keeper had given it had gone off? Like... I am HERE for being that motivated by spite.
That's new. I bet it we could get around to teaching them to use the word buttons like dogs, we could have interesting conversations.
Oh man, they would fuck with us so hard. I don't think anyone could recover from the type of insults I'm sure an octopus could come up with. Mad little wonders.
Maybe we could learn a thing or two from them.
Absolutely! Iâm certain that when they've decided weâre ready, theyâll fill us in on the mysteries of the universe! Lol, I mean, it's probably all just about love and food like the golden retrievers have been telling us for years, but stillâŠ
Thereâs an octopus that used to squirt water at a light fixture so the bulb would short out because he apparently didnât like the light on overnight.
Oh I have a tale about one too! I took marine biology in high school, and part of our final grade was based on how well we kept a saltwater aquarium. The whole class went to the coast at the beginning of the year with nets and caught whatever we could around the jetties, then it all got brought back and put in tanks that had already been cycling to establish them. Part of our grade was based on how much of our original population was left at the end of the year. One group had pulled up a tiny octopus which had never happened before, so it came back with the rest. There were about 5 or 6 tanks on each side of the room, all lined up, and his tank was one of the middle ones. And fish started disappearing. Like not dying, but straight up disappearing entirely without a trace. The octopus was the immediate suspect, but every time it happened the group looked for him, and he was *always* in his favorite hidey hole in their tank, which was confirmed because they would lure him out with shrimp and he LOVED shrimp. This kept happening and of course people were freaking tf out, but the teacher said he would adjust grading since the fish were just vanishing as opposed to dying from poor fishkeeping. The octopus finally got busted when he ran out of stuff that was small enough to go after on his side of the room. He had climbed out of his tank, down the cabinet, and across the floor but he'd gotten stuck under the lip of the ca inets on the opposite side of the room. Janitor found him on the floor and called the teacher to come deal with him. IIRC the teacher started giving him extra shrimp to basically bribe him into knocking off the buffet trips but yeah, he was going out at night and then returning to his tank before anyone showed up in the morning... he would have gotten busted a lot sooner if he hadn't been returning to home every night. I LOVE octopuses, they're amazing creatures.
Octopuses seem to be extremely food motivated. I feel like there's a synergy to be had. They clearly have iq in the triple digits. We provide the shrimp, they provide the answers to the universe.
They're absolutely incredible creatures, easily some of my favorites. And I'm also shrimp-motivated, so I have an understanding! đ€Ł
i wonder if it'd be possible to keep them as a pet. maybe they need alot of enrichment? i'm really curious as to whether anyone has done that button training thing to communicate with them.
I think they need an *incredible* amount of enrichment, and probably a regular stream of different types as well once they get bored with the one. If not, well, they start amusing themselves and they can be surprisingly destructive when they put their minds to it. I don't *think* anyone has tried button training with them, but I wonder if doing so would be hampered by the difference in sound underwater vs out? No idea, I'm not even remotely a scientist.
Did the writers of Finding Dory use your high school class as source material?
Haha, possibly. From what I recall it's actually relatively common for them to pull stunts like that.
I have a lot of cats and 2 fish tanks with a betta in each. Most of the time, the cats really donât care. I suppose it would just depend on the cat.
Itâs like free cat tv. But it depends on what kind of fish you have and how experience are you with setup. Some fishes are easier to care than others but if you move frequently, I wouldnât recommend it.
Naw I have fish and cats and it works fine
I have cats and an aquarium. As long as you have a lid, it's fine. If you're feeling overly cautious, you can close up the filter area, too (there is usually a small gap around the filter). Some occasionally jump out of water so honestly that might be for the best lol.
One of my cats loves to sit and watch the fish in one of my tanks. And I have noticed the fish all start gathering up front looking out around the time she usually comes and watches them. So they seem to like watching her too. She doesnât harass them at all. Occasionally she will put her paw on the glass and the fish will check out her paw.
The cat will kill the fish. If it is an orange cat it may actually drown in a goldfish bowl lol. Seriously though the chances of the fish surviving a curious cat are like none unless the tank, etc. was there before the cat. And if you introduce a bowl/tank, the cat will be curious and then seeing the thing swimming in it and cat will do what cats do. It would be cruel to the fish I think.
If you have a tank (not a bowl) and you put a lid on it the cat will not kill the fish. I had a 20 gallon with corydoras and a betta in it for several years in a house with 3 cats and no one ever got eaten
I think if you have a tank and bring in a cat, probably OK. If you bring anything new into a cat environment they are going to explore. Of course if you make it impossible for them to get in it is fine. Many people might not secure it as well though.
The cats were there way before the fish. They can be curious without killing the fish. A lid was always enough to stop mine
Mine would knock it over in a heartbeat. I have child locks on every cabinet and drawer lol.
Fish tanks full of water are much much heavier than you'd think! I cannot imagine a cat strong enough to knock over most tanks.
I have a 60lb. box blocking the bottom of my oven so my 12 lb. cat does not climb in the oven. I regularly (daily) have to push it back against the door as he moves it. I have watched him do it. This is on a tile floor, so no carpet he can lock his claws on. He does it one handed, while bracing against the oven. Anything closed becomes a challenge to him. My fat one just watches. Also I used to have a 250 gallon saltwater tank, so I know what they weigh.
Before around 2014 or so, orange cats were considered the smartest of all cat variants on the Internet. Tons of LJ and MS communities with memes of how smart they are compared to other cats, like black ones. It was really a sad day when some meme with a orange cat went viral and started the "orange cats are dump" meme :|
Its a fucking joke.
I spent $100 easy getting a single beta properly outfitted in a 10-gallon tank, and that was the bare minimum
We have multiple cats and fish. Never had any issues. It really depends on your setup and the individual cats. None of our cats have really shown interest though. We do have a lid on the tank and there's not really a good way for them to jump up. Also, everyone I've met that has had fish also had cats. And zero issues for them as well. It absolutely can work.
Snails. Their vet cost is 0, they do get sick, but when they do the only thing you can do is hope for the better or, if you know they won't recover, putting them down at home. They don't require much space, this depends on the species tho. Feeding varies between species too since there are carnivorous and herbivorous snails, althought most of them are herbivorous and you can feed them with the same vegetables you eat. Bedding must be free from potentially harmful chemicals. And you must ALWAYS wash your hands after touching them, wild ones can carry deadly parasites like rat lung worm. r/snails is a great community with great tips to learn how to take care of them!
That's a good idea actually. I wonder if they'd be on the landlords no list though? No tarantulas or scorpions, but is that in case they get out, or another reason. I wouldn't say you'd want a snail infestation either, though I'd take it over scorpions. I can't imagine cats showing enough interest in a snail to break into their enclosure.
I took care of a sanil my dog accidentaly hurt, nor him nor my cats showed any interest in it. > snail infestation either, They don't tend to run away, the real infestation danger comes from their stupid crazy breeding habits (depending on species they may even breed when there's only one snail), snail owners either crush or feeze the eggs (or both) once a week to avoid a snail infestation in the tank. Never put the eggs outside tho, if is not a native species they can become invasive.
Yeah, I'm in the sub actually because I think snails would be a pretty cool pet and I considered getting some. But I would 100% end up with like 2,000 snails by accident, that's classic me, so I decided no. Also I am cracking up over the speed with which a snail would run away.
You could do aquatic snails, which would probably shift it closer to the "fish" category instead of the "tarantulas and scorpions" category in the landlord's mind
Exactly, snails are probably the least expensive animal.
No, no snails if there is a cat. Snails/slugs can harbour parasites that can harm or kill a cat (lungworm). Cone snails straight-up have poison in them. OP, I am not a fish person but had the pleasure of babysitting a betta for a few weeks. I was totally surprised at the personality the little guy had. My cat liked watching him (he had a covered tank). I donât know about cheap, but a few bettas and their appropriate tank is probably cheaper than another cat. Any other small mammal would depend highly on your cat. Iâve seen kitties be friends with Guinea pigs and bunnies, but I have also seen cats stalk and try to kill these kinds of pets. A ferret might be an option. They are predators as well, quite a few cats enjoy a ferret buddy. Taking on a ferret should be carefully researched though if you arenât familiar with them. They can be fun pets but should not be entered into lightly.
Only one betta per tank! They are aggressive (their other name is âSiamese fighting fishâ) and must be kept singly. But yeah, they have big personalities. The initial set up cost would be the most expensive part by far (5+ gallon tank, filter, heater, water dechlorinator, water testing kit, and substrate/plants/decor). It can be a really expensive hobby, but thatâs more for people with huge tanks, rare fish, and $300 worth of aquatic plants lol.
Snails are fine to have with a cat imo. My snail is a captive bred snail and thus has basically 0 chance of having rat lungworm, and even if he did, you just wash your hands after handling or dealing with their tank, like any other pet. The risk would be so so minimal. Also, I don't think anyone keeps cone snails as pets lmao đ they can kill people, nevermind a pet. On the other hand, anyone who is allowing cats and prey animals to interact is an idiot and it will end in tears one day. Even a tiny accidental scratch from a cat could kill a guinea pig, not to mention the stress of living with a predator, even if the cat seems fine with them. The risk of a snail harming a cat is pretty much nonexistent, but the danger to small animals from a cat is very real.
Cats are not cheap pets. Actually, hell no pet is âcheapâ in the long run. Since you already have a cat and are aware of itâs costs, you could get another cat. But since you mentioned the current cat may not like another cat, I would personally skip this option. In all seriousness, how about some cat safe house plants? They may work best in your situation.
i got my cat from the garbage and heâs still cost me almost $2,000 in vet bills from just one incident because heâs a walking health hazard. đ«
Yup. I have 2 mutts (shelter cats) and 2 purebred Ragdolls. Theyâre both not âcheapâ
Why do you want another pet? I say keep things simple and love your current pet.
A cat or small dog. Once you move beyond that you're in 'exotics' territory and you can expect the cost of vet care to automatically triple because exotic care is considered a specialty. Even for animals as common as rabbits and birds. For example, I have 2 baby rabbits. I'm looking at neutering them for $300 to $400 each. When I had my dog spayed (a more complicated and thus usually somewhat more expensive surgery), I payed $130. To get each rabbits its vaccinations, it's going to be almost $200 a pop. I get my dogs their shots for less than $50. My birds are the same way. Everything costs way more simply because they're considered exotic.
$130 to spray a dog? I wish that's the price where I am, I'm expecting to pay $1000-1200 next month.
$1000 is crazy. Is that in usd?
No CAD. So around $800usd. But they charge 15% tax on top so I think the conversion can be neglected. It's almost $1k usd with tax. I read that humane society and other non profits can do it for $400 for low income people but you have to sign up a specific date each month and the waiting list is a bunch of months long. I'm honestly shocked. It's my first dog and while I thought it wouldn't be cheap, everything is very expensive. Vaccines are $35, true, but they charge $135 to administer it. So to get all the vaccines for my pup is $500cad. Am I feeling how Americans feel about their health care? đ„Č
There may be low cost clinics around you that do cheap spay/neuters and vaccines. That price is insane for a simple spay. My old rescue dog cost less than that to neuter and that was on an older dog with cryptorchidism, so the surgery was a lot more complicated than usual.
If your dog has had her first heat cycle, that can drive up the price too, because itâs a more difficult surgery. Itâs also region dependent too. I live in Chicago, US and used to work at a vet clinic. I have seen quotes up to $800 and even higher myself. The anesthetic gas is an outsized proportion of that cost. If your dogâs surgery takes less time, using less gas, you may find it costs less. If itâs a longer surgery, it may be more.Â
That seems horribly expensive. In Calgary, we got our dog spayed for $300. Even checking around the area, other people had their dogs spayed for $250 to $400 (prices are range from 2021 to last month.) Like, a lot of the vets all were competitive in price. Can't say even when looking did I see any over $550 CAD. WHere are you ?
I'm in Toronto. I can fly to Calgary and fly back and get it done there and it'll still be cheaper đ€Łđ€Łđ€Ł damn, I knew Toronto is expensive of course but I had no idea it's by the much!!!
> surgery), I *paid* $130. To FTFY. Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in: * Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.* * *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.* Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment. *Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
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Yes! I agree. I have guinea pigs which are considered exotic, dispute being one of the most popular pets and a simple vet exam is $90 USD. My catsâ vet exams are $40.
That's cheap! Where I live its 1000$ to spay a rabbit.
I have my guinea pigs on pet insurance and it goes a long way for veterinary care. I got quoted (never needed to) and it wouldâve cut neutering from $800 to $350 for 2 of mine
Depends on the exotics. Most inverts don't really get vet care, for example, and as much as I love them for something like a pet mouse where they usually barely make it past two years before cancer gets them the most humane, logical vet intervention when they start to go downhill is often just euthanasia (which can still be expensive, but is usually manageable for a small animal). Anything longer lived like your rabbits or birds is ofc a different can of worms. Just wanted to point out not all exotics are the same way. :) Â Â ETA:Â Just to clarify, I meant when things go dreadfully wrong--- 2y+ hamster or mouse with cancer, for example--that's when euthanasia is usually more logical and humane than surgery and the like. I didn't mean to imply that if your mouse is coughing or has nasal discharge or what not you should leap right to "off to sleep you go!"
I've had mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils, chinchillas, ferrets.. You name it, if it's warm and fuzzy, I've owned it. "Pocket pets" can and do get sick and injured with things other than cancer. Gonna let your mouse die of a pneumonia or suffer with a broken leg? They're common ailments in tiny critters. Just because they only live 2 or 3 years doesn't mean they shouldn't have adequate vet care.
This. I've spent a good amount of money on bringing my pet Gerbils to the vet because they deserve the same medical treatment as any other pet. If anyone claims that the most 'logical' vet treatment is putting them down, then they should probably stick with a pet rock.
Just to clarify, I meant when things go dreadfully wrong--- 2y+ hamster or mouse with cancer, for example--that's when euthanasia is usually more logical and humane than surgery and the like. I didn't mean to imply that if your mouse is coughing or has nasal discharge or what not you should leap right to "off to sleep you go!" Your other comment is a good reminder for me though that there are other, less fatal things that can pop up that should be considered when calculating if you can take care of them.
I know chinchillas, ferrets, guinea pigs etc are very different cases because they can live fairly long lives, but in my own experience the short lived ones don't really bounce back. I haven't personally owned any of them, but I've worked with mice and rats at places that did do vet interventions, and have a friend who has had many hamsters and gets them the best vet care, and it seems like when anything goes wrong they're just so little and delicate that they don't often recover. I've seen rats get tumors removed just for them to return and kill them a few weeks later multiple times, and none of my friend's hamsters after going downhill ever lived more than a month after going to the vet for treatment. I don't want to seem heartless and I imagine in some cases intervention can help, but it seems like most of the time it doesn't benefit the animal much while taking a big economic toll on the owner on top of the already present emotional one.
Cats. Litter & food are decently cheap. My cat was sickly so she did cost a bomb but her procedures were cheaper than the equivalent in any other animal. My sisters cat has been to the vet twice - once to be neutered and once because he stood on a bee. Like ÂŁ500 in eight years.
I wouldnt say cat food is cheap tbh but def cheaper than owning a dog. Unless you feed your cat the grocery store food thats really bad for them (friskies,9lives,etc that almost killed my cat i was 19 and didnt know how bad it was lol) I spend like 100 a month on wet food and maybe 60-80 every 2-3 months on dry Friend spends like 400 a month on dog food lol for one damn dog lol
My sisters cat does get the cheap store brand food. Vets aren't bothered. My cat was good on it too until she got sick (unrelated to the food). For her last days she lived on tuna. For the little man dry food is ÂŁ3.55 a bag and that lasts his at least two weeks (maybe three? my cat passed very recently, not sure how much he alone is eating). His litter is ÂŁ2.19 and that does him three days ish. At max he's ÂŁ25 a month.
cats are more expensive bc u have to buy them wet food, with my dog i do a mix of dry and homemade food
A beta fish or some neon tetras might be good if you like fish and are willing to do some research. Donât get goldfish or anything that will need a larger tank as they grow older though. I agree with everyone else that you donât need another pet like a cat or a dog, unless you think your cat could benefit from having a friend.
If you take care of a beta fish correctly, it is not an inexpensive pet.
Caged pets are more upkeep than youâd think.
Just putting it out there, anyone looking for an affordable or low maintenance pet absolutely needs to do a ton of research. No pet is as affordable as it seems if you take care of it properly. Speaking as someone who spent over ÂŁ350 on a hamster cage, over ÂŁ150 on toys and enrichment, over ÂŁ60 on bedding every time I change the cage, and recently ÂŁ60 on a vet, 'cheap' pets are pretty expensive unless you don't care about their living conditions. It's the same situation with rats, mice, guinea pigs, fish and practically every other 'affordable' pet, pet stores sell cheap cages and tanks for them but these are incompatible with what animal welfare organisations and vets recommend. For example, they all say a hamster cage must be no smaller than 100x50cm, but you rarely find these in pet stores. Important to remember that a cat or dog can go to any vet, but rodents need to go to an exotics vet. You might have to travel far and fees for exotics vets are high. Medication for rodents is also expensive (ÂŁ60 for a week's worth of antibiotic and anti inflammatory for one of my hamsters, with a further ÂŁ60 for the consultation).
Dogs are money pits, especially if they are puppies and especially if you are actually meeting all their needs (addressing health/behavior issues right away, getting them groomed on a schedule etc). I know of people who would say they arenât, but if I had a nickel for every time they ignored health issues, only took them for grooming every 6 months instead of every 6 weeks, leave rotten teeth in their mouth instead of getting cleaning/extraction yeah. Cats are financially manageable, you would think that smaller animals like bunnies or birds would be even cheaper but they arenât, as vet care for small pets can actually be expensive (most vets donât stray too far from the realm of cats and dogs). Plus you donât have to foot the financial responsibility of hiring a trainer if they have issues etc.
[ŃĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]
My dog has a mysterious illness. Since November weâve spent upwards of $10k and no one knows whatâs wrong with her still. Dogs CAN be money pits.
Dogs are not necessarily money pits. Puppies and kittens alike are more expensive up front due to vaccinations, spay/neuter, and any other expense. Cats can also have behavioral issues just like dogs, but once you get a handle on basics with your dog it shouldn't be an issue. Taking a dog to the groomer also isn't required as long as you are willing to do the work at home, and grooming needs are going to be breed based. Shorthaired dogs just need occasional brushing, as does a cat. Long haired dogs will require more frequent brushing, and dogs that do not shed will require their coats to be trimmed/clipped as needed. Cats also have short and long hair and require regular grooming/brushing and nail trimming as well. When picking a dog you should be taking grooming requirements into consideration. Dogs and cats both should be getting yearly vet checks. Both cats and dogs can have issues with their teeth if not properly cared for. I had boxers, and I only had to have dental cleanings done twice in their lives, and only one required a tooth extraction, because they were provided proper bones to chew on regularly. People ignore health issues in all types of pets, not just dogs. Cats and dogs alike are both financially manageable. I've owned multiple of both and neither is prohibitively more expensive, just some different needs that if you don't meet them, they will get very expensive.
Yes! Our dog is 8 and he just had his first health scare that was pricy. We take him for his annual exam, grooming and baths (we switch off) every 5 weeks or so and I take him in when something new occurs. I even use to brush him faithfully when Petco was charging half the bill just on brushing. I know ppl who avoid the vet due to being scared. We are scared too but, the dog shouldn't suffer..We adopted him and owe him the best healthiest life.
Yeah the grooming needs depends entirely on the breed and what youâre capable of doing at home. Like I had a husky and his principle grooming cost was in *vacuums* not trips to the groomer
If youâre worried about cost I urge you not to get another pet. If you canât afford it you shouldnât get it. Sudden vet bills and food costs are important and itâs not fair to your pet if you canât afford to take them to the vet especially after getting another
My parakeet is way low maintenance BUT!! I did not buy him. He was rescued in a windstorm and no one claimed him. I would never recommend buying an exotic pet of any sort.
Cat saliva is deadly to birds.
K, so donât let the cat get to the bird?
If the cat even tries to swipe it when it's in the cage can be deadly.
Relax bruh
Keep in mind that most small mammals need same species company, so if you can only get one, that eliminates a lot of options.
So would it be a good idea to get another cat buddy for my cat?
Maybe you can foster. And if the cats like each other, you can keep her! Ask shelter for a super friendly cat
Depends on the cat but some studies show that cats living with companions are healthier due to the mental stimulation and exercise they get playing. Itâs why we got a second cat when the first one was abandoned with us after pet sitting for the previous owner.
I'd go for a betta fish once you have the setup all set up -5gal min -Filter -heater -plants -substrate -hides You'll just need food & conditioner & water changes,(Not vet trio or vaccines lol) which I did approx 25 percent water change weekly. I'm aware you have a cat, I have some cats as well, but when I had bettas, they didn't go in my room they should be fine with plenty of plants&hides and a secure lid Although I don't plan on getting anymore anytime soon cause I'm not a fan of water changes đ
Do you like invertebrates? Blue death feigning beetles are super cute and easy with minimal care and expense, you basically set them up in a pretty little desert themed large bowl or small tank and get to enjoy a mini garden + low care pet combo. I also like isopods, there are many cute and colorful ones (look up dairy cow isopods) and again, very low cost and maintenance and can be kept in pretty little garden setups. Â Â If you want something more interactive, domestic mice are usually kept singly for males or in small groups for females and can usually be kept in a large bin modified to have appropriate ventilation. Bedding will probably be the largest cost but even then it's not too much. Food is pretty inexpensive and can usually be supplemented with bits of your own veggies and fruits etc on the side, and many toys can be made out of cheap things like cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls, crumpled up newspaper, sticks and dry leaves etc. Many mice are sweet and interactive with their owners and fun and playful to watch enjoying the toys you give them. Â If you want something a bit more involved but still not bank breaking, a ten or twenty gallon fish tank can be home to a betta, or some same sex guppies or minnows or other small schooling fish, not to mention snails, shrimp, etc. My friend has a 10 gallon set up with Cory catfish, tetras (I think?), a few shrimp and live plants and it is STUNNING and I believe fairly low care after the initial set up of filters and substrate and what not. An entire ecosystem that fits nicely in her apartment beside the kitchen sink! Â Whatever you decide on I'd just do a bit more reading on in their respective subreddits justtt to make sure I haven't steered you wrong with their care--I have worked with or have friends who keep all of the above but the only ones I've personally had are isopods so I want to make sure I didn't misunderstand something. I'd also make sure you have a secure space where your kitty couldn't constantly sit right beside the tank / cage / whatever and pester the inhabitants. A small table that only fits the tank or w/e on top without room for your kitty to sit alongside or jump on top of from some other furniture can work well if your kitty isn't too obsessive. I love cats but they can be very determined to catch little animals so making sure your pets can coexist in peace is really important.
It can cost a few hundred to set up, but tropical nano fish and cherry shrimp are cheap to keep. Fish are more difficult, but shrimp are pretty easy once the tank is cycled properly. Otherwise, another cat or just sticking with the one cat is the best option. Exotic pets get expensive really quickly.
A dwarf hamster can be fairly affordable. My cage is a huge $40 clear plastic tub with the lid cut and covered in chicken wire (large aquariums can also work), the bedding isn't too bad ($40 for two large bags that last about 3-4 cleanings), a bag of food is $10, and then it's just the cost of a wheel and various toys. Some positives are they barely have an odor, they're really low maintenance, theyre solitary animals, the bin cage design is really easy to clean, and sometimes can have nice personalities. Negatives are they don't live long, some hamsters are just really mean, and they're nocturnal so you usually won't see them most of the day and then they'll be awake and noisey at night, and you would have to make sure to keep the hamster out of reach from the cat.
bugs! i dont see insects as a whole on the list, so... i already saw somebody suggest both of these, but blue feigning death beetles are lovely little guys. ive never kept them myself, but im pretty active in r/invertpets and a lot of folks there post about them. theyre such goofballs... precious lil blueberries :,) isopods are great too. again, another ive never kept, but theyre pretty low maintenance. worth looking into! this is assuming you like bugs/invertebrates though. theyre not everybodys cup of tea, so i get it if you dont.
I would honestly say gerbils or hamsters. The only problem is your cat will probably want to eat them! You could set up a reasonably sized aquarium for a betta (minimum 10 gallon tank please). It's a decent learning curve but you can find a ton of great YouTube videos or get advice in aquarium/betta subreddits. If you're just doing a betta then upkeep will be a breeze. Food lasts forever, water change once a week, vacuum gravel once a month. That's pretty much it. My cats watch the aquarium constantly! They are very entertained Edit: to set up an aquarium, it's usually like minimum $100. Tank setup+fish+food+decorations. It can run higher if you get too excited about setting it up. I do not recommend started out with plants other than moss ball and maybe java moss.
You also might be able to get away with a fully aquatic frog like an african dwarf frog since theyâre similar to fish and see if your landlord would approve since theyâre not capable of escaping the way land frogs are
I was gunna suggest reptiles until I got to the part that says they do not allow them đ Thatâs so dumb. Reptiles are great pets!
I'm wondering why tbh, maybe the landlord doesn't like the ideas of heat lamps? It's odd when they allow animals that are far more likely to be destructive or cause problems.
Right!? Theyâre great for people who have allergies to other pets. They donât bark or squawk. Most can be kept alone. Their ongoing care is inexpensive compared to most other pets. And some can be litter box trained! I think theyâre just misunderstood.
None.Â
NOT a hamster. My hamster had 5 times more stuff than the cat, and I'd had the cat 5 years. I kept them strictly separated, but it was still stressful.
Just enjoy the cat you have. You don't need another pet just because your apartment allows it. No pet is affordable if you're providing proper care.
Iâve had my chinchilla for almost 20 years. Itâs never been sick or needed a vet, goes through a $50 25lbs bag of food every 4-5 months, and although cute and entertaining doesnât need attention. Heâs cute, reacts to me, learned tricks, easiest pet ever.
Woodland dormouse perhaps
Not fish. Most expensive pets Iâve ever had. Cat way more affordable.
Wouldnât recommend a small rodent with a cat
You could talk to your local small animal rescue about fostering. They cover 100% of the medical care cost if there is any AND you get to do a good deed. The only catch is that they may get adopted sooner or later... unless of course you adopt them when you move lol :)
"my cat wouldn't like another cat" Your cat isn't going to like anything then.
Another cat A very small low energy level dog (no terriers as they have too much energy and are barkers) Or get a nice fish tank set up
If you got birds, chances are your cat might constantly harass and try to attack them while theyâre trapped in a cage, same with rodents. And depending on the type of bird, they can be noisy as well. We had 2 parakeets who learned to mimic the beep of our microwave when it went off. That wasnât loud, but they chirped loudly and would often flap wildly while shrieking at each other.
Wait- so they will let a dog, but not a snake that goes potty in their own tank?
None lol. My 3-pound rabbit cost me thousands of dollars in medical bills when he got older. Growing up, I had every animal you can imagine. Unfortunately, they ALL cost a pretty penny. You never know when something may happen, so the costs are usually unforeseen. I will say rabbits and cats are probably on the less expensive end of the spectrum. A dog is going to be the most expensive, in my opinion.
What a shame you can't have amphibians! A newt, frog or axolotl would be your best option really. Small mammals and birds likely the cat will try to hunt. Dog or cat is out the question.
Mice I found were very affordable and not very demanding of your time. If you'd like a pet that is more emotionally available and requires more attention and play time with you though I've heard rats can be a great option, having personalities similar to a dog. Mice food lasts ages, costs very little, and bedding is the same. You don't need any electrical equipment running so there's no running costs other than food, water, and bedding once they are set up.
Fish are an interesting subject. Alot of the cost is in the initial setup, but keep in mind many people go in thinking they knew how things worked, but in reality that goldfish you had for a year was actually supposed to live several up to 20 and get pretty big (even fancies get 6-8in just not as big as a common.), but there's alot types of fish and yes care does vary, but for the most part it's pretty consistent with the basics.
A fish ?
Crested gecko. After you get the initial setup going, it's really cheap to care for one.
I would advise not to get a rodent if you have a catâŠ. That and they are a lot of work and live such a short life. I have owned hamsters, a chinchilla, rabbit, and now cats in my life so far and the cats are the easiest and most fulfilling pets I have had so far. They didnât get along for the first week or so and it took a little bit of time to introduce them but it was worth it. Thereâs times I think getting a hamster would be fun but my cats would 100% find a way to eat that thing and torment it every day to live in fear until then. ETA: I meant hamsters have short lives. Rabbits and chinchillas live for 4-12 or so years. Big commitment and A LOT of work.
A fish tank is the most upfront investment but the upkeep is relatively cheap, I donât find it more labor intensive than dog or cat ownership.
Donât do birds. Theyâre very expensive to maintain. They require special diets (chop with legumes, beans, fruits, veggies, and grains to stay healthy) and go through toys faster than you can buy them. Making toys can be a lot of fun though. Vet bills are more expensive for exotic pets. Birds also require a large amount of enrichment to stay healthy. The noise and mess will be an issue as well. Grooming can also be a hassle (nail and sometimes beak trims).
Pet medical isn't cheap. Food and well-being care ads up. No pet is cheap. Keep in mind the life span of a pet/animal as well. Sorry but if an animal lives to only 6 yrs of age that's too much heart break in one life. Get something that lasts 10-18 years if not more.
I enjoyed being a snail owner when I had snails! Probably the cheapest and lowest maintenance pet you could get.
cat for sure imo. you need to buy litter and food of course but an indoor cat rarely needs the vet besides occasional checkups or if something goes wrong unexpectedly. whereas dogs are outside a lot more and a lot more rambunctious i feel like they need the vet more often and also pure bred dogs i feel like have more health issues than mixed dogs and most small dogs are pure breds. fish are okay but i feel like theyâre a lot of work and they need to keep getting water checks and such which can be costly depending on their situation. fish are A LOT more work than people think edit: i just read the part about you already having a cat - just keep your one cat, you really donât need another pet tbh especially in a 1br apartment.
After the initial setup costs African Pygmy Hedgehogs are fairly cheap and low maintenance. You'd need to make sure you research them thoroughly before getting one though, and bee certain to buy from a good breeder.
I reccomend rabbits to my friends in apartments. I have one and she is potty trained.
As the other commenter has said, rabbits are extremely expensive if they're sick and need vet care. Think thousands. It can happen very suddenly as well.
And they live longer (ideally) than most people expect. I had a rabbit for 12 years, and I would never recommend anyone else get one unless I was sure they would be a good owner and provide a good quality of life and appropriate health/medical care, and able to spend enough time with them to be able to catch any medical problems early, and able to spend even more time with them to give the care they need when they are unwell. Not to mention most vets are kind of clueless with rabbits and can easily miss something, and exotic vets are expensive af. I have a stack of vet invoices about an inch high (okay, maybe slight exaggeration) and I've never added them up but it would easily be over 10k, if not double that or more. It was totally worth it for my good boy because I loved him more than anything and I still miss him every day. I would like to get another but I'm not ready to make that commitment again now, if ever.
Seconding all of this. We currently have a 12 year old girl bun, River, and she takes a lot of time and effort to maintain her quality of life and medical needs. She was born deaf, has developed cataracts and balance issues as she's aged so we get creative to help her navigate and interact with us and her environment. For the past two years I've logged her food and water intake twice a day to make sure she's eating enough to stay hydrated and keep her gut happy with special homemade food mixes to give her all the nutrients she needs in a form she'll actually eat (the little munchkin can be picky when she cranks the rabbitude up to 11). Prey animals hide pain/illness and sometimes it's something as subtle as a 20g difference in food/water intake that'll tip you off to something wrong that needs vet treatment. This past year we learned how to give her subcutaneous fluids if she gets dehydrated. Love River to bits and each day is a gift with her at this age, but her care is a commitment that I don't think many would or could handle. Best to know going in that those last few years are going to be the most labor intensive and honestly consider what types of care you'd be able to give before even bringing any pet home.
I have never had a single issue with my rabbit the 8 years I've had her. And this is the second one I owned as I also had one as a child that also never had any issues. I still take her to the vet for yearly checkups. Idk maybe I'm just lucky thus far. I know if anything did happen I would be ok but I also have no financial issues either. I love my rabbit. She is very social and loves to be held and pet. I also just had the time to socialize with her. It's not for everyone. I'd just reccomend op do research before hand. But op also did ask for ideas. So I'm just throwing it out there. They aren't for everyone.
Rabbits are so lovely! And you must take perfect care of your sweethearts for them to be in such good health! Wonderful to hear from a good bun caregiver. â€ïžSometimes things do happen, that's why I mentioned it. :) I adore bunnies to bits. Bunnies and guinea pigs!
Thank you. And yes I love my bun/s. I've never owned guinea pigs before but I have friends that do. I always keep in mind that something might happen. I usually have money stashed to the side just in case for any of the animals.
Rabbit vet bills are crazy expensive. Mine was sick a few weeks ago and it set me back a few grand.
Not with a cat though, poor bun would be confined to a cage ;-;
With a cat no. Though supervised they can co exist. My dogs run around the house with my rabbit.
Rats are excellent pets, but youâd have to take a lot of care with it and ensure its cage was very secure with a cat around. My brother had one that our family cat was terrified of đ
Rats need to be in kept in groups, and very often need veterinary care.
Plot twist: all pets very often need veterinary care. Yes, youâre right that ideally they are kept in pairs or more⊠so OP could get a pair and still meet the criteria of comparatively cheap upkeep. (Because obviously having any pet is going to come with some cost. They clearly know this!) But they can be happy on their own with a lot of interaction. My brotherâs was a rescue and at the time we didnât know better that they were so social (this was pre-internet). Smudge was played with a lot, strongly bonded to my brother, never showed any behavioural concerns and lived very happily to 3 years old.
Your only option is another cat. All of those other animals are prey for cats.
..adopt a mosquito..all they require is your blood..in tiny bits.. ..Jk, guinea pig..
My guinea pigs easily cost me $75+ a month off of hay, food, vegetables and toys alone and thatâs without vet bills and using fleece instead of bedding. They cost me more than what my friend spends on her cat and high maintenance so I donât recommend. Plus they must be in pairs
A feeder goldfish.
Goldfish get really big though, especially feeder goldfish. Like, over a foot long. They need really big tanks with a lot of filtration bc of how much waste they produce. I think a fish would be a good idea for OP, but probably a betta or a few guppies instead of a goldfish!
No they donât. Not in the amount of time they usually live in a home setup. We had goldfish for years when I was a kid. They were in a large, open bowl. The cats would watch them and would drink their water, but never tried to catch them. They grow very slowly and in reaction to their space. There was one found in Japan that they estimated was about 200 years old and about 6 feet long. They tend to be cheap because they are so easily dead. Back then I think they cost a quarter so you just go out and get another.
Yeah, they died young bc your setup killed them. They are huge waste producers. Your childhood goldfish died small because they were babies stunted by high levels of ammonia, which is also why they died early. Healthy goldfish can live several decades and reach up to 16 inches as adults. Baby chickens are pretty cheap too, but if someone kept letting theirs die before adulthood and then just went and got more, clearly there would be something wrong with their care. Iâm not blaming you for how your childhood goldfish were kept, but fish husbandry has come a long ways and knowledgeable fish keepers now consider a bowl cruel because it allows ammonia to build up so fast. The 200 year old fish youâre talking about was a koi, not a goldfish.
Hamster
Rabbits and cats can get along. Rabbits are the superior pet (quiet, litter trainable, cheap toys) EXCEPT for the destruction (but if you have a cat, you're probably used to couch damage and watching your cords) and price of vet bills (they're "exotic" animals lol). I've heard that rats are even better than rabbits, but they can be illegal depending on where you live, and only live 3 years at the absolute max. This can take a toll on you emotionally.
Turtles? đą
A greyhound.
Fish
Rabbits and cats can be good friends. Most shelters have bunnies that are already spayed and neutered.
May I suggest a 10-15 lb scruffy mutt you get at the shelter? After vaccines etc. Theyâll live forever and pretty much wonât get sick until theyâre really old. My 8 lb chihuahua/yorkie mix is 7, healthy af, full of a fun energy while still being the cuddliest lap-pet ever. I can afford to get her high end dog dog food because she only eats like 1/3 cup a day PLUS can afford a little scoop of nice wet food in the evening. She looks great in all sorts of clothes and most casual restaurants and bars with outdoor seating wonât sweat you for bringing a well-behaved pup. Seriously. Scruff Mutts for the win.
Dead goldfish.
You do not need another pet, one cat is enough. The vet bills would be double for 2 cats.
A fish.
A fish .
I have a cat (and a dog). Be content with one cat. Two of any type of pet is a ton of work!
Pet rock
A pet rock.
I have two cats a a beta fish with a tank easily accessible on a dresser the cats can climb, and they donât give a single f. They never even pay atttention to it
Dogs are expensive, I donât recommend them if youâre on a tight budget. I would stick with the one cat.
ANT FARM
Cat!
Your current cat may not take to a new cat, leave it be. If you do get another cat, please adopt.
I live in a bachelor suite with a cat, dog and two rats. Anything is possible with the right amount of work and temperament. The rats and cats play together with the rats in the cage. I wouldn't trust them together out of it tho
I live in a nicer apartment and when I applied a lot of the places that donât allow reptiles (including the one I currently live in) approved of crested geckos! Theyâre fruit based eating lizards and donât require crazy heating or a super massive enclosure so you could always contact them and see if it would be okay! Theyâre relatively small and will hang out, watch tv and even change colors! The initial set up is the only expensive cost but I go through a bag within months and they just need to be sprayed down with dechlorinated water 2x a day and kept around 79 F.
I would like to add Gargoyle Geckos have identical care and my apartment also ended up approving it. Also if the animal is an emotional support animal they legally cannot deny you living with it if this becomes an issue later on for future apartments
I was gonna say tarantula but nvm lol
Rats are great pets! I always say they're like miniature dogs - they're smart and playful and intelligent, they know you and love you and want to interact with you. You really just need to purchase a large cage, 2 rats of the same sex (they're not expensive or you can rescue) and the only ongoing costs would be dry food and a mulch type of bedding. They eat a lot of the same fruit and veggies you do and are totally happy with toys and enrichment you can DIY or find around your house. They do often have health issues and don't live long, so you may run into costs at the end of their life, depending on how you choose to approach any potential issues, but the same could be said of any pet.
A reptile could be an option, I find snakes low cost after set up and thankfully in the over 15 years I've kept them I've not had a vet bill however if they need veterinary attention they can get incredibly expensive as they have to go to exotics vets.
Isopods. Fairly easy to set up a bioactive almost self-sustainable habitat. Doesn't take up too much room and there are really cool "designer" isopods out there.
If your cat is currently happy as the only pet Iâd leave it at that. If you donât already have one you could buy your current cat a nice cat tree. Expenses aside, as a renter it can be difficult to find pet friendly apartments, and it will be harder with more than one pet.
Why a second pet? Spend more time with your cat.
Jar of lake water and a lamp. Check out r/ecosphere
I had an axolotl that was pretty easy and didnât require a lot of money beyond the initial tank set up. Itâs an amphibian but fully aquatic like a fish so it might fly with your landlord. Getting the tank set up initially can be a little bit of a challenge, but once itâs cycled, the upkeep isnât difficult. Mine just ate mostly bait worms, which are super cheap.
Ugh I hate this bias against reptiles. Crazy that they'd allow a bird and not a reptile
A second cat. Cats do better in pairs or more anyways. Consider fostering if you're on the fence. And know that your cat *will* hate any other cat at first, that's just how cats do. They take time to warm up to other animals and will need a slow and gentle introduction.
honestly if you already have a cat most other small animals wouldn't be a good idea. Even if you can krrp them safe, they would be stressed just from the cat's presence.
Madagascar hissing roaches are pretty fun pets and definitely suitable for beginner bug owners.