Which pet is right for me?
Six honest questions about your time, home, family, money and plans. Then a ranking of the animals, with the reasons for and against.
The score is ours: it combines your answers with what the sources say about lifespan, company, space and cost.
Sources
All 44 sources, pet by pet
- McMillan K. M. et al., “Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death,” Scientific Reports 2024 (CC BY 4.0) (checked on October 6, 2026)
- International Cat Care, “How to tell your cat’s age in human years” (checked on October 6, 2026)
- Facile.it and EMG Different, survey of pet spending in Italy (January 2026), via QuiFinanza (checked on October 6, 2026)
- Rover, “2026 Cost of Pet Parenthood” report (press release, June 2, 2026) (checked on October 8, 2026)
- RSPCA, Rabbit environment (checked on September 30, 2026)
- PDSA, How long do pets live? (checked on September 30, 2026)
- Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund, Vaccines (checked on September 30, 2026)
- RSPCA, Guinea pig health (checked on September 30, 2026)
- PDSA, Guinea pig health (checked on September 30, 2026)
- Merck Veterinary Manual, Description and Physical Characteristics of Guinea Pigs (checked on September 30, 2026)
- RSPCA, Hamster environment (checked on September 30, 2026)
- PDSA, Hamsters as pets (checked on September 30, 2026)
- Merck Veterinary Manual, Description and Physical Characteristics of Hamsters (checked on September 30, 2026)
- RSPCA, Pet birds: environment (checked on September 30, 2026)
- Merck Veterinary Manual, Table: Popular Pet Birds (checked on September 30, 2026)
- RSPCA, Fish (checked on September 30, 2026)
- OATA, How to look after goldfish in an aquarium (checked on September 30, 2026)
- Merck Veterinary Manual, Routine Health Care of Fish (checked on September 30, 2026)
- RSPCA, Handle with care: Spur-thighed, Hermann's, marginated and Horsfield's tortoises (PDF) (checked on September 30, 2026)
- British Chelonia Group, Care sheet for Mediterranean tortoises (checked on September 30, 2026)
- Merck Veterinary Manual, Table: Important Husbandry Requirements for Selected Reptiles (checked on September 30, 2026)
- Italian Ministry of the Environment (MASE), guidelines on land tortoises (2019) and CITES note of 4 March 2026 (checked on October 13, 2026)
- Italian Ministry of the Environment (MASE), CITES note of 4 March 2026, and Regulation (EU) 2026/1383 (checked on October 13, 2026)
- RSPCA, Terrapin care (checked on September 30, 2026)
- Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 on invasive alien species (arts. 7 and 31) and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141 (Union list) (checked on October 13, 2026)
- RSPCA, Leopard gecko care (checked on September 30, 2026)
- RSPCA, Bearded dragon care (checked on September 30, 2026)
- RSPCA, Corn snake care (checked on September 30, 2026)
- RSPCA, Royal python care (checked on September 30, 2026)
- Italian Legislative Decree 135 of 5 August 2022, art. 3 (wild-caught exotic animals) (checked on October 13, 2026)
- RSPCA, Ferret environment (checked on September 30, 2026)
- PDSA, Ferrets as pets (checked on September 30, 2026)
- American Ferret Association, Frequently asked questions (checked on September 30, 2026)
- RSPCA, Rat environment (checked on September 30, 2026)
- PDSA, Rats as pets (checked on September 30, 2026)
- National Fancy Rat Society, Keeping rats as pets (checked on September 30, 2026)
- Association of Avian Veterinarians, Signs of illness in companion birds (PDF) (checked on September 30, 2026)
- Royal Veterinary College, “Tarantula care” (2024) (checked on October 13, 2026)
- University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine, “Caring for pet tarantulas” (checked on October 13, 2026)
- University of Kentucky, Entomology, “Exotic bugs: care and feeding” (checked on October 13, 2026)
- Royal Veterinary College, “Canary care and advice” (2022) (checked on October 13, 2026)
- German Animal Welfare Federation (Deutscher Tierschutzbund), “Canaries” (checked on October 13, 2026)
- RSPCA, Fish environment (checked on September 30, 2026)
- OATA, How to look after Siamese fighting fish (bettas) (checked on September 30, 2026)