Hey, I don't come on this forum often, I checked through the various pages to make sure a thread that answers this isn't here, but I apologize if it's a repeat.

I'm looking for a pet. Next year I'm living in an apartment that will allow me to have one, and I really want one. I'm just having trouble deciding what kind of pet I want. The qualities I'm looking for are

- actually seems to care you're there (like a dog or a cat sitting with you, or whatever)

- I want it to be free (not in a cage/tank)

- An animal with a certain "wow" factor

- Easy to train


Now, I'm thinking a dog might be best. The other problem is, I'm gone about 12 hours a day, and would feel bad if it gets too lonely... but I've also heard it's bad to get two dogs at the same time. What animal do you suggest? Is there a certain kind of that animal you can suggest?

Thank you for your responses.

Tough parameters.

Most animals that "wow" me don't really seem to care I exist. (Mostly reptiles and fish.) and they usually don't do so well outside of a cage or a tank.

I suggest rats. They are very affectionate and loving. You'll need to get two of them, because they get extremely lonely by themselves.

They will be in a cage, and aren't exactly "wowing" but they make nice pets.

Read up.
{DA}

I should have described more about the "wow" factor.

My parents have a Havanese dog. I've never seen another one, and no one knows what it is. Even something like that.

The main qualities I'd say that are important are an affectionate pet, that doesn't need to be caged.

Thank you for your response, though. I can't have a rat because if my mom comes to visit...she'd be quite freaked. She hates them.

I would get a polydactyl cat. The extra toes give it the wow factor and cats are just totally awesome pets. They're just as affectionate and loving as dogs (and they come greet you at the door when you come home too!) but they're way easier to care for. They basically take care of themselves, it's sweet.

You can litter train a rat, and teach it not to chew on stuff it's not supposed to. That gets rid of the cage and a trained rat is definatlly something people go wow over.

But I have a rat, so I'm a tad biased.

__________________
You don't have to think I'm right, as long as you think.

Since you are gone 12 hrs a day I'd say a cat.

If you really want a cat that will WOW and love you at the same time I'd recomment the Bengal cat. I have one and he gets ALOT of attention because of his markings and the things he does. He walks on a leash when I want to take him out. Knows the commands sit, roll over, and fetch. Semi- toilet trained. (he has his moments where he'll still use his box and when he's mad he uses the tub. And he is super affectionate. (as most cats are)

definitely a hairless cat

A gay t-rex.

Yeah...
Any kind of exotic cat.
Personally I find hairless cats rather ugly.

Whats with all the rat-loving? I never understood that shit.

Rats are awesome! I usually have mine in his cage, but when I'm here and watching over him he totally has free roam in some areas,

I also could suggest small birds, I have a parakeet that only stays in her cage when I'm not home, when I get home the cage doors get opened and she has the power to go into any room the rat's not in. They have issues against eachother, and Chu Chu (bird) almost lost a toe to Hatsuharu (rat).

Birds are really easy to train and very peaceable too. I, for instance, unintentionally trained Chu Chu to only shit in her cage and on my sister.