Indoor Pet Enclosures

When you want to keep your pets close to you, housing them indoors is an option. For some pets, it’s the only option. Here are some examples of different types of indoor pet enclosures that work indoors.

We love our pets like family. But, if you have ever owned a dog, cat, or other pet, then you know that they are all animal. They have their own mannerisms and instincts and that can lead to costly damage in your home.

A solution is an indoor pet enclosure. Whenever your pet is inside, or, if they reside inside on a permanent basis, they can be restricted to certain areas when you are not at home. It also works for the purpose of training your pets.

Gates

Let’s begin with temporary enclosures. Gates restrict access for pets left home alone. This not only protects the furniture and your other belongings but also protects your pet. They could knock something over or eat something they shouldn’t and get hurt. No one wants to come home and find their pet ailing or mortally wounded.

Pet gates come in a variety of finishes and heights. For small pets, choose a gate that is as low as 20 inches high. This prevents them from jumping over and leaving the area you placed them in. Taller gates are available for large dogs and rambunctious pets.

Choose your features. Gates can be made of solid construction with small spaces between railings so pets don’t get heads caught. Some have walk though doors to easily release your pet. Gates work best for dogs.

Crates

Training your pet can take a bit of time. One device to use is a pet crate. Your dog or cat may not want to use it at first, but you can outfit it with comfy accessories to entice them to give it a try. Be sure to choose one that allows room for your pet to turn around in as well as sit down. Giving them too much room can result in your pet using the bathroom there.

Crates keep pets safe. During the day when you are not at home, your pet is kept from harm. It can also double as a place to house your pet while you are cleaning or hosting events in your home.

Crates also give pets a place of retreat from the family. They need their own space as well.

Cages

These are made for cats and dogs. A cage can be an alternative place for your pet to sleep. Crates are often used for training purposes, but a cage can be used as their hang-out spot.

This is often true of cats. Their cages can come equipped with scratching posts and perches for climbing and jumping.

Aviaries

Let’s move away from cats and dogs for a moment. Other pets need a place to call home inside the house. For birds, building an aviary allows room for socialization. You don’t have to build anything yourself. A large cage with room for flying and perching will work for one bird or several.

If you want to keep your pets safe indoors, try an indoor pet enclosure.

Check out this Gallery of Animal Photographs!

Pictures of Animals
“It’s NOT just for the birds! More pictures than you can shake a stick at. Fish, dogs, cats, snakes, elephants… well no elephants yet:) But over 8000 pictures!

Take a safari by traveling through animal photographs on Animal-Image! Many

interesting galleries of animals are there for your viewing pleasure!

Dr. Jungle’s Animal-Image gallery has thousands of pictures of different animals on this earth, including water dwellers, land dwellers, and sky creatures! Whatever you want to see – wild animals, family pets, exotic pets, and companion animals – there is a large variety!

Animal-Image has one of the most comprehensive and largest galleries of animal photographs available! It includes both images and videos. The photographs come from people all over the world… Read More

Photographing Your Pet

For many of us who have or have ever had pets, they are a part of the family. So, when we take family pictures or candid shots around the house, we want them to be included. Here are some pointers to help you when photographing your pet.

Pets do some of the craziest things. Those moments are priceless and we want to capture them for all time. It can be hard to do this as they move fast sometimes or worse, move so slow that paint dries faster. But, you can show your pet in their best light through photography.

Photograph Pointers for Pets

Don’t mind the alliteration. Pets are not people but they are photogenic. The key to photographing your pet is capturing them in the best possible way to accentuate them. That can mean that you have to start thinking of your project in terms of photographing animals and not people.

1. Use their best features and personality – If you have a Persian cat, it’s going to be hard to capture them jumping around on a cat tree. It’s not in their nature. Instead, photograph him lying regally on their perch or the pet bed. Since they stay still, pop a small crown on their head or replace their bedding with a royal pillow for the shot.

2. Check your lighting – Cats have varying colors in their eyes. This can bring out the red eye phenomenon. If you don’t want your cat to look like a zombie, adjust for eye color. Avoid the flash but also use the right lighting so your picture isn’t washed out or too dark. This is especially important for pets in tanks.

3. Feature them with the family – A pet will be calmer if they are with others and not chased around the house with a camera. For cats, holding them or petting them can calm them enough that you get the pose you want. Also, they may tolerate clothing accessories better when you are near.

4. Have your camera ready – There is nothing worse than missing your prized shot because you had to run for your camera. Animals get bored easily and won’t hold their cute pose for long. Always have the camera set up to help when when you are photographing your pet.

5. Get down to their level – If you have a small pet, they are not going to crane their neck to look upwards at you and your camera. Get down on the floor where they are. They can look straight at your camera without feeling intruded upon. Also, the pictures will look more natural.

6. Tighten the shot – For the best detail, come in close enough for them to be seen. This means doing so with your lens not eclipsing your pet’s view with your camera.

Photographing your pet to remember their growth just like other members of the household will really make them part of the family! If you would like to check out a huge gallery of animal photos, check out Dr. Jungle’s Animal Photos!

Animal-World’s Featured Pet of The Week – Pet Gerbils

Animal-World’s Featured Pet for this week is: The Pet Gerbil!

Gerbils are a fairly well-known small pet – particularly for children. Often considered “pocket pets” due to their size, pet gerbils are very friendly, quiet, and clean little animals! Most people believe they make even better pets than other small animals such as hamsters, mice, and rats. Gerbils do not have the same reputation as hamsters do when it comes to biting. Pet gerbils very rarely bite! And many people prefer gerbils over mice and rats because they have furry tails, rather than scaly naked tails. Another plus of these little creatures over other rodents is that they are much less prone to some respiratory illnesses. Gerbils are illegal in some areas, such as in the state of California, because of the fear that if they escape they could be a hazard to crops due to their very fast breeding times.

There are many, many different types of gerbils throughout Africa and Asia. However, the type that has become popular as a pet in the United States and Europe is specifically the Mongolian gerbil from Eastern Mongolia. They were first discovered in 1867 and brought into captivity for the sole purpose of using them as laboratory animals. It wasn’t until the 1960′s that they started to become widely available as pets.

Pet gerbils can live 3 to 4 years – which is longer than most mice, rats, and hamsters. They are easy to care for and demand little of your time. They should be housed with at least one other gerbil because they are very social creatures. They must have another companion of their kind to thrive and not become lonely, and humans don’t fit this bill. They will become quite friendly with a human friend, but require other gerbils as well.

Because of their small size, they don’t need a huge enclosure, but their space should be large enough that they can run around and get plenty of exercise. Providing them with a bedding that they can burrow in and toys they can climb on will also help keep them healthy and happy.

Of course they should have clean water everyday as well as fresh food. Pellets or a small animal food mix bought in a pet store should be sufficient and include all of their needed nutrients. Giving small amounts of fresh vegetables and a little fruit occasionally is good for their diet and also a nice change for their pallets. Because their teeth continually grow throughout their lives, they need things to chew on. Offering them chew sticks and other toys meant to chew on will help keep their teeth in shape.

Gerbils make excellent pets for children for several reasons. First of course, is that they are easy to care for and don’t have many specialized needs – which makes it easier for a child to take on the responsibility of their care. They also are diurnal, meaning they sleep at night. This makes them awake and available to play during the day when kids have the time! Because of their sweet nature and reputation as non-biters, they are generally easy to handle and will tame down as they get to know a child.

Pet gerbils are very hardy animals and very rarely become sick. When they do become sick, it is often due to lack of care and not keeping their environment clean. As I stated earlier, they are much less prone to respiratory illnesses than can often kill mice and rats. Some illnesses to watch out for would be external parasites (particularly if their cage is not cleaned very often), hair loss, and fungal infections. If you do notice your pet becoming ill, make sure to completely clean out their cage and food/water dishes. If it continues to get worse you may want to consult a veterinarian.

If you would like to learn more about gerbils as pets, check out Animal-World’s page on Pet Gerbils!

Jasmine is a team member at Animal-World and has contributed many articles and write-ups.

How to Care for your Pet Rabbit

Rabbits are cute and fuzzy but require a lot of care. Whether you plan on keeping them inside with the family or outside in a hutch, know how to make them a happy addition to the group.

Choosing your Rabbit

Any potential rabbit owner needs to look beyond the fuzzy fur and look closely at the animal before purchasing him. Look for obvious signs of illness like bald patches, runny or rheumy eyes, discharge in the ears, fecal matter in the hind fur and problems walking. Also, look at teeth to be sure they are even and not overgrown.

If you don’t plan on breeding then buy same sex rabbits to share the same hutch. Mixing will undoubtedly result in a bunch of little baby bunnies running around.

The Rabbit Cage

A rabbit needs a suitable place to stay. The cage or hutch needs to be large enough for them to move around and get exercise. Also, they need a place to burrow and eat and also to do their business. If you use an outside hutch, make sure that the rabbits are well-protected from the elements should it rain, snow or get too hot outdoors. You may consider having a space in the garage where you can bring the hutch inside in inclement weather.

Cleaning is not fun but it is a necessary evil. On a daily basis, remove any soiled hay from their cage. Half eaten fresh food should also be removed before it rots. Inspect water bottles or bowls and change water daily.

Check litter boxes daily. If you have more than one rabbit, you may definitely need to empty it each day. Litter training your rabbits will make cleaning easier throughout the life of your pet. You will still need to make a habit of regular cleaning to avoid their strong urine smell and your rabbit getting sick.

Feeding your Rabbit

Bugs Bunny might only eat carrots but your bunny will need a bit more. Rabbits can eat pellets that are commercially sold but need fresh vegetables to supplement their diet. Choose a variety of greens (mustard, kale, dandelion, turnip and spinach). Avoid rhubarb, iceberg lettuce, potatoes, beans and cauliflower.

Hay is also a good source of roughage for their diets. Choose grass hays like oat. Alfalfa is a good nutritious hay for baby bunnies. When they are older, you can switch to other grass hays.

Fresh fruit can be given as a treat but not too often. Try one or two tablespoons a day. Commercial treats are not necessary to their diet and can make them overweight.

Rabbits love the company of their families even if they don’t like to be picked up much. Learn to care properly for your rabbit so they can enjoy a long healthy and happy life.

For general rabbit care, check out Animal-World’s Rabbit Care page!

Purchasing a Hedgehog

Pet Ownership: Purchasing a Hedgehog

They look cute on the cartoon and quite harmless. We are speaking of hedgehogs. They are not your traditional pet so make sure that you do some research before you buy one as a pet.

Hedgehogs are becoming more popular as pets these days. They are small animals that have pointed noses and whose skin is covered in quills. They remind people of porcupines only more compact.

Even though they are small, owning one is not a walk in the park. Here are several tips that can help you know before you buy if a hedgehog will make a good pet for your lifestyle and family situation.

What to Know before Buying a Hedgehog

1. Check the Laws – Know the laws. Hedgehogs may not be allowed as pets inside city limits in all areas. If they are allowed, you may need a special permit. Don’t get your heart set on one until you know that it is a possibility.
2. Hedgehogs are solitary animals – This means that they don’t get along well with other animals sharing their space, especially another hedgehog. Putting two together can be disastrous as they will fight.
3. Hedgehog females can breed early – As early as eight weeks a female can have a litter. It is best for them to wait until they are at least five months of age.
4. Know how to house them – Besides being alone, hedgehogs need a solid walled cage that they can exist in. An aquarium can work or you can build a habitat for them. When you first bring your hedgehog home, it is important to let him stay in his cage so he can become familiar with the surroundings. Hedgehogs also need very warm temperatures to feel comfortable (75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit). If they become too cool it can induce a partial hibernation state which can be deadly for your pet.
5. Know how to feed and entertain them – They can play with plastic toys made for dogs or even blocks of wood or flowerpots. It is good to create a habitat with hiding places so they can slip out of view. Also, they eat vegetables, some fruit, insects, worms and also foods of other animals such as cats and dogs. Don’t feed them too much or weight will become a problem. Hedgehogs need regular exercise. They can get them by themselves but will welcome you to play with them if you do so consistently.
6. Know how to care for them – Hedgehogs need to have their quills cleaned. Also be careful if they are losing too many quills outside of the times when they shed them naturally. It could be a sign that they are sick or are not getting enough nutrients in their diet. Their habitat needs regular cleaning and daily litter box changes. They also don’t like too much noise at all.

If you want a hedgehog as a pet, go into it with your eyes open. They are small but delicate and need a lot of regular care.

Featured Pet of the Week – Mini Lop Rabbits

The Featured Pet for this week is: The Mini Lop Rabbit!

I personally really love rabbits as pets – with lops being my favorite! Mini Lops are quite cute with their long floppy ears, and in my experience, if they are handled regularly they tend to be very affectionate and sweet. I had several types of rabbits growing up, including mini lops, and I bred them for some time as well. They are smaller than a typical regular rabbit which makes them a little less awkward to pick up, and due to their gentle nature they can be good kid pets.

Some other perks to the mini lop rabbit are that once they are adapted to their owners and families, they become quite playful and are sometimes considered to being akin to a pet dog. They also can be litter-box trained if enough time and dedication is spent working with them!

The Mini Lop is related to the regular Lop-eared Rabbit and was bred to be a miniaturized version of it. They were originally derived from the German lops, however the Mini Lop that is in the United States is believed to have been developed from several varieties of lops. They were first recognized in the United States as a their own breed in 1982, however they are still not recognized in England.

Mini Lops are a breed that is fairly popular for rabbit shows because they are recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc. (ARBA) and the Mini Lop Rabbit Club of America. They come in a range of colors, with the following color and pattern groups being officially recognized at shows: Agouti (chinchilla, chestnut, opal); Broken (white with colored spots); Ticked (steel gene and ticking); Self group, white pointed (solid color with no ticking); Shaded (shaded markings with colors); and Wide Band (cream, orange, red, and fawn).

Here I will include some general guidelines on how to select and keep a healthy mini lop! When first purchasing your rabbit, try to get a younger one – between 2 to 3 months old – because that is an ideal age to start the training and handling process to get your rabbit used to you. Look for healthy signs – such as an alert rabbit with no matted fur, healthy eyes with no drainage, and hard and dry stools. If you want to get more than one rabbit, you will most likely want to choose 2 females because 2 males will have have a tendency to fight.

Your Mini Lop will be it’s healthiest and live the longest if provided with the correct foods and nutrients, as well as fresh water daily (through a water bottle ideally). Their basic diet should consist of grass hay and green foods. You can buy commercially prepared rabbit pellets which should contain the correct nutrients, however you will want to offer them fresh green foods daily as well. This includes romaine lettuce, cabbage, celery, broccoli, and most other greens.

Mini Lops need lots of exercise, so you will want to make sure they have an enclosure that is big enough for them to run around in or make sure they get enough time outside of their cage each day. If you choose to house your rabbit outdoors, make sure that they have shelter from the elements and/or are allowed indoors during extreme temperatures (80′s and above and very cold temperatures). Make sure to clean out their cage or hutch at least twice a week. This will ensure that your Mini Lop is happy, healthy, and a joy to be around!

If you would like to learn more about Mini Lops in general check out the Mini Lop Rabbits page!

Jasmine is a team member at Animal-World and has contributed many articles and write-ups.

Class Pet Showcase: Hamster

Hamsters are among the most popular rodents kept as pets. Their small size makes them ideal for small spaces, and they are reasonably easy to care for. Each one has a unique personality, and they are lots of fun to watch and interact with. These attributes make them good candidates for classroom pets.

The breeding of hamsters is a fairly recent achievement. They weren’t successfully bred and domesticated until 1930. But today there are numerous hamster breeds available, including dwarf hamsters, striped hamsters, long-haired Angora hamsters and golden hamsters. Depending on the breed, adult hamsters may measure anywhere from 2 to 13 inches in length. Most, however, grow to approximately 5 to 7 inches long. The life span is generally 2 to 5 years.

Hamsters are omnivores, and they will eat everything from insects to nuts to fruits and vegetables. Captive hamsters do well on a diet of commercial hamster food, but they may also be given treats. They hoard food, and can often be seen carrying food in the large pouches located in their cheeks. They also do a lot of gnawing to wear down their front teeth, which never stop growing.

Hamsters are nocturnal animals. That means they will spend most of the school day sleeping. However, most do not mind being awoken for play and lessons. This is also good because they rarely cause a disruption during class. However, it is important to make sure that the hamster receives attention during its regular waking hours, and that may mean taking it home with you at night or allowing students to keep it over the weekend.

A class hamster may be kept in a wire or plastic cage or a 10-gallon or larger tank. Solid habitats provide the advantage of keeping substrate inside, making for much less mess. The bottom of the cage should be covered with pine or cedar chips. The hamster will also need a wheel, a water bottle, and a sturdy food dish and some toys to chew on. The cage should be cleaned and disinfected once a week.
Hamsters provide endless learning opportunities for students. Kids especially enjoy rubbing food along paths to create scent trails and watch hamsters follow them. You can find lots of hamster lesson plans online, and it’s also easy to create your own.

The biggest issue with hamsters as class pets is biting. Some hamsters bite frequently, others occasionally, and others rarely. It may be a good idea to keep a hamster at home to see how tolerant it is to handling before bringing it to the classroom, but be prepared to keep it as your own pet if you find that you’re not willing to expose it to your students. It’s also wise to keep only one hamster and purchase it while still young due to the risk of having a litter of baby hamsters to contend with.

Hamsters are educational pets that generally do well with children. Hamster allergies are rare, and they’re lots of fun for kids to play with. If you’re looking for a classroom pet that’s easy to care for and doesn’t take up a lot of space, a hamster is a fine choice.

If you would like to learn more about hamster care in general, check out the Hamster page!

Class Pet Showcase: Guinea Pig

Guinea Pigs are popular pets because they pack lots of personality into a small package. They love attention, and their sounds and actions are quite entertaining! These qualities have led many teachers to consider a guinea pig as a classroom pet.

If you’re thinking about getting a guinea pig for your classroom, it’s important to realize that they are high-maintenance animals. They can’t be left in a small cage day in and day out. They need plenty of space to run around and lots of human interaction every single day. They’re also notoriously messy, so you’ll need to set aside time each day for cleaning up after them. If a child in your class turns out to be allergic to guinea pigs, you may have to make special accommodations or remove the guinea pig from the classroom. Even so, for many teachers, the benefits of a guinea pig as a class pet far exceed the disadvantages.

Children love guinea pigs because they are so active and fun-loving. However, guinea pigs are more appropriate for older children than younger ones. Small children may be too rough with them or accidentally drop and injure them. These creatures are best suited to children aged 10 and up, but they can work for younger age groups with close adult supervision.

Having a guinea pig in the classroom provides lots of educational opportunities. It’s great for teaching kids about responsibility, as you can assign a different child to clean the cage or feed the pet each day. And since a guinea pig’s favorite meal consists of fresh fruits and vegetables, it’s great for encouraging healthy eating. Special education teachers have also found that children with autism or other special needs can benefit greatly from interacting with guinea pigs.

Guinea pigs need a large cage with a solid floor. They also need a thick layer of bedding, which may consist of aspen shavings or manufactured bedding. Their diet should consist primarily of fresh timothy, but they also need a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables each day. Toys should be provided to keep them busy during class. Wooden bird toys and cat balls with bells in them are good choices. The cage should be thoroughly cleaned every day.

For a dedicated, animal-loving teacher, a guinea pig can be a fabulous class pet. For your care and attention, you will be rewarded with ample learning opportunities and lots of smiles from your students. The most important things to remember are to provide daily floor time for the guinea pig, keep the cage clean, and provide for its care on the weekends (either by taking it home or allowing students to keep it over the weekend). And don’t forget the fresh fruits and veggies!

Sugar Gliders as Pets

Sugar Gliders

"These little guys can live up to 15 years if taken well care of!

Sugar Gliders are known to have a “sweet tooth”, and they also have a fold of skin

from their front feet to their back feet which helps them glide – which is how they got their name!

Sugar gliders ability to glide when they spread out their furred fold of skin is similar to the Flying Squirrel. But that is the only thing they have in common with the Flying Squirrel. Sugar gliders are naturally nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day and wake up at night to go about their activities. They are very active little animals and are very social creatures. They can make great pets and with the right nurturing care they can bond for life with their owners… Read More

Next Page »