TikTok star Ben The Vet explains why he’d rather not have to look after these animals in his spare time and warns people against ever owning one animal in particular
Vets by default are animal lovers but one has shared a handful of creatures he’d never consider having as a pet.
TikTok star Ben The Vet posted a video labelled ‘5 species I personally wouldn’t have/would think carefully before getting’. He even urged against ever owning one of the animals on the list. He was keen to point out initially though that his post didn’t mean that he disliked the animals mentioned. Instead, he wanted to ‘expose the pitfalls’ of having certain types of pets, for example the financial implications or ones that are subjected to the most common health complications.
Parrots
First on his list are parrots, giving a reason that many probably haven’t even realised. “Having a parrot means never having a nonstick saucepan again – no joke, when it’s heated, the coating releases a gas which can be fatal to parrots,” he explained. Ben added that, while parrots can be considered “highly rewarding pets” it can be “extremely difficult” to provide birds with the right amount of “space and stimulation” as they usually live in the wild.
Mice
Next up are mice, as Ben said they only live for about one or two years, which can be hard for an owner who becomes attached to the little animal. He shared: “I’ve had lots of guinea pigs over the years, and you grow very attached to them. It’s hard enough to say goodbye after four or five years, but for me, a year, as an amount of time to develop a bond with a pet and then have to say goodbye to them, is too short.”
Rabbits
Perhaps the most surprising entry in the list, being a popular pet, is a rabbit. Despite what people may think, Ben said that they don’t live well in a household with children. “Contrary to what many people assume, they [rabbits] really don’t make great children’s pets. They’re a prey species, so they’re naturally very timid,” he explained.
He carried on: “They don’t always enjoy being held and they’re very fragile. They kick and they fall out your arms from a height onto the floor. It’s not unheard of for them to break limb bones and even their spines.” On top of this, as well as needing a strict diet and regularly cleaning out, Ben noted that they are also susceptible to health issues – leading to potentially expensive vet bills. “They can be great pets if you invest time in them, but too many people get them put them in the hutch and forget about them,” he added.
Monkeys
“You many be thinking why is he talking about monkeys – nobody has a monkey as a pet – but actually there are estimated to be 5,000 primates kept as pets in the UK,” Ben revealed. The vet spoke about the time he volunteered at a wildlife charity in Ecuador. He saw many baby monkeys while there whose mothers had been shot so they could be snatched and sold as pets to people, “who just want a monkey because they’re cute.” He slammed these actions as “pretty sick”. “A monkey is an extremely intelligent wild animal – not a domesticated species like cats or dogs,” Ben added. Having a monkey as pet is “extremely difficult” due to their “complex needs in your home”. He finished by simply stating: “don’t do it”.
Ferrets
Last on the list is the ever-wriggly ferret. Ben said: “They are cheeky, funny, entertaining pets, but they are an acquired taste. They really do stink and they have nasty bites if they lock onto your hand.” Ferrets are extremely intelligent – as clever as dogs and cats, in fact – and like parrots they also require a lot of interaction and physical space. However, Ben advised that ultimately ferrets “aren’t for everyone”.
