The Exotic Pet You'll Love Almost as Much as Your Child

I once owned so many pets that the neighborhood kids called me Dr. Dolittle. You name it, I had it — fish, albino rats, a guinea pig, turtles, birds, rabbits, a sugar glider, hamsters, a pygmy hedgehog, two dogs, a cat and numerous chinchillas. And I loved every one of them as a family member.

Animals help lower our blood pressure and heart rate, plus reduce anxiety, loneliness and depression. Caring for an animal also gives owners a sense of purpose.

LIMITED TIME OFFER: Labor Day Sale!

Join AARP for just $9 per year with a 5-year membership and get a FREE Gift!

Join Now

According to recent pet owner surveys, almost 91 million households in the U.S. own pets. Although most own dogs or cats, about 12 percent have freshwater fish, 10 percent have birds, 6 percent own a small animal, 6 percent have reptiles, and 3 percent own saltwater fish. Boomers account for 32 percent of U.S. pet ownership.

A large slice of the senior population owns exotic animals. Why? Andrea Zimandy of Welleby Veterinary Hospital in Sunrise, Florida, explained to AARP Experience Counts : “Some exotics have lower daily maintenance. You don't have to walk them, and some don't need much human interaction to be content. They also have lower medical costs and don't require monthly preventative medication or grooming.”

Subscribe Here!

You can sign up here to AARP Experience Counts, a free email newsletter published twice a month.

Exotic animals don't take up much space and are great for people with pet allergies. Dr. Zimandy said: “These pet owners enjoy setting up and maintaining their habitats, especially when it comes to reptiles or fish.” Even better, many exotic species live as long or longer than cats and dogs.

Before buying an exotic, there's a lot to consider, such as cost, daily maintenance, activity level, habitat space and attention needed. But if you're looking for a low-maintenance animal to fulfill your nurturing side, Dr. Zimandy suggests these four exotics:

Parakeet

Getty images

Also known as "budgies," parakeets are little birds with big personalities. They're a manageable size pet and quite sociable if hand tamed. They usually require a cage (roughly 36 inches long, 24 inches wide and 24 inches high), but they can fly around the house if it has been bird proofed. Budgies are also very smart. They can mimic words and phrases, fly to you, sit on your shoulder, and snuggle up to you while you scratch their head feathers.

Rabbit

Getty Images

Rabbits are sociable, affectionate animals that are easy to train and interact well with their owners. They're quiet and don't require too much space: just a cage large enough for a litter box, a food station, and room to move around.

Cindy McMullen, a Guest Service Specialist for the city of Boca Raton in Florida, had her rabbit “Mr. Pineapple” for 13 years. “We found him roaming the neighborhood and brought him home after noticing he was missing a paw. It was the best decision because he brought so much love to our household.