Even in the heart of the city the hard-core animal-lover can always find some semi-tame urban wildlife to cozy up to - pigeons in the parks, an assortment of rats, mice and cockroaches in your apartment buildings. Lacking a yard, you might still attract a few songbirds - or at least a squirrel or two - with a small window feeder. If you live or work in the penthouse suite, you might even catch an occasional glimpse of one of the growing number of peregrine falcons, hawks, and eagles making their homes in urban skyscrapers. Then, of course, there are the elusive city-dwelling coyotes, wolves, foxes and cougars of urban legends, not to mention the alligators in the sewers.
But even the tiniest apartment can be home to a growing population of alternative city pets if you can get them by the landlord.
They're beautiful, colorful, exotic, and float through the water so serenely you're certain to lower your blood pressure just watching them. What's more, these fascinating creatures are as low-maintenance as a pet can be. All they require is a little electric current and about 4 minutes of computer downtime (you can set them to appear earlier or later).
OK, so my computer screen-saving fish aren't quite like the real thing. Real fish, for example, need food, clean water, and other amenities. But I find my electronic breed so entrancing it's easy to understand the tremendous appeal of fish as pets.
These quiet, soothing city pets have already sailed ahead of their furry competitors as the number 1 pet of busy, overstressed Americans. But fish are as easy to care for as they appear. You need to consider which species can live together and how often they need to be fed or have their tanks cleaned. The American Veterinary Medicine Association also recommends annual checkups for your scaly companions, though few fish owners follow this advice.
I confess, I've always been partial to rodents - rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs . . . I love them all. But it's not just my bias that makes me say they really do make ideal city pets. They're small. They won't keep your neighbors up all night barking or whine all day while you're at work. They're funny and interesting to watch. They're very smart and affectionate. And while you're gone, they live contentedly in cages, where they can't chew up the furniture and woodwork.
All they ask in return is a nutritious diet, a clean, draft-free habitat, some companionship, and a stimulating environment. A bored rodent is an unhappy rodent, and usually a fat one, too. Guinea pigs in particular, I've found, need a little encouragement to exercise more and eat less. I can relate to that only too well.
Ants aren't just for picnics. You can enjoy them indoors, watching the industrious little bugs work their farm. Entomologists have discovered that ants were already experienced farmers some 23 million years before the first human plowed the earth. One ambitious but tradition-bound South American leaf-cutting ant variety, capable of chewing and transporting an entire vegetable garden overnight, has apparently been farming the same line of fungus, passing it down from generation to generation for millions of years. With as many as 10,000 types of ants, these highly adaptable and social insects also form armies and practice herding, hunting, and other group activities, depending on the species.
They may not be as companionable as a dog, but as long as they stay in their farm, they're certainly well suited for apartment life.
Are you looking for trouble? Then look no further, because this furry little rascal is ready to dish it out. Energetic and playful, the domestic ferret loves being the center of attention. The clever trickster can entertain his human friends for hours with his zany antics, but turn your back on him for a minute and he may disappear into the walls. These frisky, friendly companions require a special kind of human to handle their high-voltage personalities.
Jackrabbiting to the front of the pet pack . . . bunnies are growing in popularity by leaps and bounds. From the bantam-weight dwarf breeds to the heavyweight giants, big enough to boss around your dogs, these plucky, low-maintenance companions have been described as the pet of the 1990s.
Temperaments range from placid and friendly to shy, rambunctious, or downright ornery. But all of the 45 breeds share one quality that suit them to apartment living - they don't bark. The fun-loving rabbit can be a great friend and entertaining companion as long as you remember to always look carefully before you take a step or close a door. Bunnies love to circle your feet and can never resist sticking their curious little noses into every nook and cranny.
Slow but steady . . . the turtle has been a steady favorite among children. One great advantage they have over most of their competitors is longevity. A well-cared for box turtle may live for 100 years. They need a varied and balanced diet, but overfeeding can be as bad as underfeeding. Whether they live in an aquarium or dry enclosure, their homes need frequent cleaning, climate control, and enough space for slow-motion roaming.
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