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| © Aaron Jacobs/Flickr |
By Tiana Attride, INSIDER
It makes sense to assume that
dogs and cats are the most common pets in the United States; after all,
they make up a significant number ofour favorite animal accountson Instagram, attracting thousands of followers each day and taking over social media feeds.
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it would seem that something equally as soft and cuddly would come in
as third runner-up, the next most popular pet in the US isn't quite what
you'd expect. Below are the most popular pets in America besides cats
and dogs.
Fish are near the top of the popularity chart.
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| © Wikimedia Commons |
Fish are the third most
popular pet in the United States, with nearly 12% of American households
owning at least one. Owners say they make attractive home decor, as
well as that maintaining fish, is a fun and easy hobby.
Birds are popular for a few reasons.
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| © Kevin Jones/flickr |
Found in 6% of pet-owning households nationwide, bird owners mainly
enjoy their pets because they are fun to watch and are an interesting
conversation piece. According to Petcha, cockatiels and parrots are the two most popular breeds amongst American owners.
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Rabbits are at the top of the charts.
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| © Alisha Vargas/Flickr |
After fish, rabbits are the second most common specialty pet among households, according to the American Veterinarian Association.
Rabbits are
at the top of the charts. After fish, rabbits are the second most common
specialty pet among households, according to the American Veterinarian
Association.
Poultry is a very popular choice.
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| © gina pina/flickr |
Poultry - generally chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese - are a popular
choice around the US. They're more popular than hamsters and guinea
pigs. Plus, according to AVMA's calculations, a lot of households own multiple poultry pets. Can you say chicken coop?
Hamsters are a huge hit.
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| © -JvL-/Flickr |
According to AVMA's calculations, 887 out of 1,000 households own a hamster. This not surprising since they're small in size and can affordably found in most pet stores in the US.
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Guinea pigs are pretty popular.
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| © MJames via flickr |
Slightly less popular than hamsters, guinea pigs are a popular choice. Like hamsters, their small size and accessibility likely make them a top pick.
Ferrets are also pretty popular.
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| © Satan_mkii/Flickr |
According to the AVMA, an estimated 334 out of every 1,000 households owns a ferret. Again, makes sense due to their size and their availability in most pet stores.
Turtles come in on the list too.
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| © Flickr |
Turtles are one of the most popular specialty pets, according to AVMA's calculations. They're even more popular than snakes and lizards. Despite their tough exterior, many pet owners find them to be sweet and docile.
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Reptiles are especially popular with millennials.
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| © Grant Peters/Flickr Creative Commons |
About 4% of pet owners in the US keep reptiles at home. Like bird owners, those with reptiles feel that their pets are fun to talk about. A survey by the American Pet Products Association shows that reptiles are particularly popular with millennials, who own more than 50% of the reptiles in the US.
