Small mammals as pets
The domestication of small mammals to keep as pets is a relatively recent development, arising only after large-scale industrialization.
Historically, Western society was more agrarian than today, with rodents as a whole seen as vermin that were carriers for disease and a threat to crops.
[2] Some of these small mammals are prohibited from being kept as pets in certain jurisdictions for being invasive; California,[3] Hawaii, Alberta and New Zealand have strict regulations to protect their native environments and agricultural operations.
While historically they served as a food staple for the native Inca people, they were imported to Europe as early as the mid-16th century, shortly after Spain conquered Peru.
As an oddity from the New World, they were afforded a special status, and seen as house pets, rather than vermin or food.
While their popularity was initially limited to the wealthy, their prodigious reproductive habits ensured that they spread throughout the middle classes shortly after their introduction; guinea pig burial places (not scattered bones—as would be found with an eaten animal) have been found in archaeological digs in early modern middle-class suburbs.
As pack animals in the wild, the domestic Guinea pig also thrives when kept with one or more companions (except boars in the presence of a sow).
With an average gestation period of 59–72 days, a female Guinea pig may become pregnant again in as few as 6 hours after giving birth.
In 1787, a book on this hobby, The Breeding of Curious Varieties of the Mouse, was published by Chobei Zenya, a Kyoto money exchanger.
Over time, the tradition spread from Japan to Europe, and in 1895 the National Mouse Club was established in England.
[11] Fancy mice are nocturnal animals who utilize burrowing and hiding to evade predators due to their general defenselessness.
Their sense of touch is also highly developed; due to their poor eyesight a lot of movement is interpreted through the utilization of whiskers and guard hairs to orientate themselves and determine their surroundings.
Female mice have a gestation period of 19 to 21 days and may have up to 15 litters a year, due to their ability to become pregnant again within 24 hours of giving birth.
Wild hamsters are typically found in open areas such as deserts, plains, steppes, and fields.
Hamsters temporarily store their food in their large cheek pouches for transport to their burrows, where they maintain hoards.
Gerbils are active most during the evening and morning, times in which the weather is calmest, making them primarily crepuscular.
Gerbils are naturally curious, social, and nonviolent animals, making them more suitable for children than most pocket pets.
Degus' incisor and molar teeth never stop growing, so they need access to items to regularly chew on.
[21] They consume a diet heavy in fiber and require constant access to hay, and small amounts of pellets and leafy vegetables.
Chinchillas may eat small amounts of dried fruit and root vegetables as treats, but too much can lead to serious health issues such as obesity.
However, they are not allowed to be kept as pets in Western Australia, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland or Tasmania.
Breeding takes place in June to November and the glider gives birth to one child, or joey, although having twins is possible.
Hedgehogs are omnivorous and threaten insect, snail, lizard, and bird populations due to a lack of natural predators in New Zealand.
[28] Hedgehogs may tighten the orbicularis muscle on their back to hide their head, legs, and belly in a coat of prickly erect spines.
Despite their small size Hedgehogs require a large cage with bedding and plenty of furniture to hide in and explore.
[30] Hedgehogs have a gestation period of about 35 days, and give birth to on average 4 deaf and blind young (hoglets).
