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Companion pets can range from gerbils to full-grown dogs and cats. Most people’s first experience with a pet is as children. Animals were one of the first things that humans domesticated out of necessity, and they’ve been intertwined in our lives ever since.
Companion pets (particularly dogs and cats) are often valued for their friendship and love. Pets are also used as an early education tool, teaching children the responsibility of caring for another being.
It might be surprising, but you can keep pets in your bedroom! Keep reading to find out which ones are allowed to stay with you at night.
What Pet Can I Keep In My Bedroom?
As a general rule, pets that are smaller than 30 lbs (13.6 kg) can be kept in your bedroom. Examples of companion pets that fit this criteria include:
Hamsters
Considerations For Hamsters In An Bedroom
- First of all, hamsters are nocturnal! This means that they sleep during the day and are awake at night. Be mindful not to disturb your hamster’s normal sleeping cycle if you plan on keeping it in your bedroom.
- Depending on the type of cage, your hamster might be able to chew through it. If you want to keep your hamster in an enclosure that it can’t get through, opt for metal.
- When it comes to bedding, never use cedar or pine chips. Also, avoid corn cob bedding and hay with dye on it.
Gerbils
Considerations For Gerbils In An Bedroom
- Gerbils come from a very warm and dry habitat.
- Gerbils can be kept in an enclosure, such as a tank or plastic bin.
- Be mindful that gerbils need space to run around and exercise! Be sure that your bedroom is large enough for your gerbil to run around.
- When it comes to bedding, use an absorbent substrate like aspen shavings.
Rats
Considerations For Rats In An Bedroom
- Rats are social animals that need time to play with their own kind. If you plan on keeping a rat in your bedroom, we recommend getting a playmate.
- It’s important to not house rats and mice together by accident! Rats and mice may interbreed and produce deformed young.
- When it comes to bedding, paper pellets (like Carefresh) is the best option. You should avoid clumpable litters that turn into solid pieces and risks ingestion.
Guinea Pigs
Considerations For Guinea Pigs In An Bedroom
- You need to be very careful about your bedding. Guinea pigs can get respiratory infections if exposed to dusty litters, so be sure to use something clean and dust-free.
- If you are planning on keeping a large group of guinea pigs in your bedroom, make sure that you have a large enclosure with lots of room to move. This will not only keep them safe, but it’ll also cut down on odour.
- Guinea pigs can’t regulate their body temperature as well as humans do. In the summer, you might want to place a frozen water bottle inside of your Guinea Pig’s cage to keep them cool. In the winter, provide a heater and extra bedding to keep them warm.
Budgies
Considerations For Budgies In An Bedroom
- You can keep a budgie in your bedroom as long as it’s kept in a clean environment.
- Keep the cage out of direct sunlight but on top of a heater that will provide consistent warmth.
- Be sure to train your bird not to chirp at night, as this might bother you and your partner.
Cockatiels
Considerations For Cockatiels In An Bedroom
- Cockatiels are one of the most popular companion pets and they are often kept in bedrooms.
- It’s important to note that cockatiels need a large cage and lots of toys so they can be active and social.
- Like other companion pets, cockatiels need a clean surroundings with fresh bedding and good air quality.
Parrots
Considerations For Parrots In An Bedroom
- You should only house a maximum of two or three parrots in your bedroom.
- If you want to keep a single parrot in your bedroom, be sure that it has lots of ways to entertain itself and enough space to move around freely.
- To ensure adequate air quality, keep your bedroom door or window open and keep the cage out of direct sunlight.
All of these companion pets often require the least amount of work. They are not high-energy and will spend most of their time sleeping in a caged environment. Traditional and excitable pets such as cats & dogs, may have difficulty adapting to living in a bedroom.
Make sure that you are aware of how pets can affect your sleep cycle. If they tend to be nocturnal, it might be difficult for them to adjust to sleeping when you do. You’ll also want to make sure that you communicate with your pet before bedtime. They might be startled by the lights when you turn them off.
When it comes to companion pets in your bedroom, just remember these top tips:
- Remove anything that can be chewed up.
- Keep your pet in an escape-proof cage or enclosure.
- Use dust-free bedding.
- Make sure your pet has enough space to move around.
- Check your pet’s natural sleep cycle (not all pets are nocturnal).
- Communicate with pet before bedtime.
What Pets Should You Not Keep In A Bedroom?
Pets known for being loud or nocturnal cannot stay with you at night. Pets that are not toilet trained shouldn’t be allowed for obvious reasons.
Pets that are aggressive or dangerous cannot sleep in your bedroom either. Pets are living beings, and need to be supervised at all times.
How Many Pets Can I Keep In My Bedroom?
There’s no limit on the number of pets you can keep in your bedroom. If you want to, you can even keep more than one. You will need to make sure they are quiet at night, so that they don’t disturb anyone else trying to sleep.
You also have to be prepared for them jumping up onto your bed, and potentially making your pillows, cushions and bedsheets dirty.
What If My Pet Isn’t Allowed To Stay In My Bedroom?
If you live in an apartment or dorm, pets may not be allowed. Pets are more of a luxury than a necessity, so many people don’t get them simply because they’re expensive and time-consuming to take care of.
If pets aren’t allowed in your apartment or dorm, but a companion pet is a necessary part of your or your loved-ones mental health, talk to your landlord about the situation. Many times landlords will make an exception for pets if it means their tenant(s) can live a healthy & happy life.
Trouble Free Companion Pet For Bedrooms
If you want a companion pet that won’t be noisy at night, consider purchasing a companion pet toy cat or dog. While not completely silent, they have a sleep mode that is activated after so many minutes of no interaction.
These companion pets feature lifelike movements, sounds and a beating heart. They even come in several different breeds!
Check the latest prices for Lifelike Companion Pets
Companion pets have been found to have a significant positive effect on people’s morale and happiness. Having a companion pet is also associated with better overall mental health, faster recovery from illness or injury and reduced levels of stress and anxiety.
Conclusion
After reading this article, you should have a good idea of what companion pets are appropriate to keep in your bedroom.
As long as you can provide them with the necessary living space and care that they need to thrive, there’s no reason why any pet couldn’t be an excellent addition to your home.
What type of animal do you think would make for an ideal bedroom pet? Leave us a comment below. We’re always happy to hear from our readers.
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