Background information
DIY luxury litter box with interior lighting: maybe my cat’ll like it
by Debora Pape
Forget rabbits! Why these rodents might be the best pets
14.1.2026
Translation: machine translated
Pets always mean work. If you're looking for flatmates who don't have high demands, don't need much space and are largely self-sufficient - why not rats?
Dogs, cats and birds - these are the pets that our editors have. Thanks to the articles here in the magazine, you'll know how much work such a pet means and what products you need to buy from us, from litter trays to dog toys.
I don't have a pet myself and don't actually have any plans to get one. I wouldn't know when to take a dog for a walk. I don't want to be owned by a cat. And the memories of the rabbits I had as a child have a lot to do with cleaning the smelly cage.
Despite this, the topic occasionally comes up when our eleven-year-old daughter expresses a desire for a pet. For me, I would only consider a pet that is space-saving, easy to care for and undemanding, if at all. Because I know that my wife and I would end up doing most of the work.
A potential flatmate would have to be entertaining, of course, and if he was also cuddly, Mrs Daughter would like that. Does such an egg-laying, woolly-milk pet sow even exist?
I ask Susy Utzinger. She is the managing director of the Susy Utzinger Foundation for Animal Welfare
(SUST).
(SUST) and an expert on pet-related issues. Before I can go through my list of potential candidates with her, she asks the crucial questions that should always be asked before getting a pet:
- What do I expect from a pet?
- What requirements does the animal have
I have already answered the first question. Question 2 is trickier, so the expert helps and goes through a list of animals with me that I have prepared. In the end, we end up with an animal that I didn't have on the list. It's also not one that played a role in the latest Galaxus survey.
Lizards
In principle, Susy Utzinger explains to me, as a human I can't build a social relationship with a lizard. Animals lack the necessary physical prerequisite for complex feelings such as joy or affection, namely the limbic system. At best, such a reptile learns that you are not a danger. Then it won't run away, but will accept you as a reliable food supplier.
Keeping a lizard is above all a fun pastime, which also involves decorating the terrarium. However, this requires specialist knowledge, as beginners in particular find it difficult to judge how comfortable the animal is, says Susy Utzinger. She says:
«Reptiles mainly suffer in silence. Unlike dogs and cats, we humans don't notice when a reptile is unwell.»
Source: Shutterstock
Leopard geckos and bearded dragons, as well as the smaller bearded dragon, are the most suitable if you want to start keeping reptiles. A relatively small terrarium, for example 80 x 40 x 40 centimetres, is sufficient for the nocturnal leopard gecko. For bearded dragons, on the other hand, terrariums measuring at least 120 x 60 x 60 centimetres are recommended. We do not currently stock these in the shop.
Don't underestimate the running costs of keeping a reptile. They may not eat the hair off your head, but their terrarium must always be kept nice and warm. You will notice the consumption of special lamps on your electricity bill. And a lizard like this can grow old. The leopard gecko can live for up to 15 years in a terrarium.
Reptile food
Quantity discount
CHF10.30 per piece for 2 units CHF103.–/1kg
Exo Terra Multi Vitamin
1 x, 0.10 kg
Fish
Fish are the most popular pets in some countries. When they swim around in their aquarium like this, they appear peaceful and undemanding, and they also glow beautifully. But it takes a lot of knowledge to keep an aquarium in good shape - from water quality, temperature and filter performance to the question of who can live with whom in such an artificial fauna.
«Fish are not decoration, but sensitive creatures», Susy Utzinger tells me. Many people underestimate how much stress, the wrong food or a tank that is too small can affect the animals. As with reptiles, the following applies:
«A fish in pain withdraws, eats less - and we often only notice when it's too late.»
Source: Shutterstock
Tough species such as guppies, platies or zebrafish are suitable for starting out with an aquarium. They are more forgiving of mistakes and are peaceful to live with.
Fish also incur running costs: Filters, heating and lighting run daily, food and water tests are added to this.
Hamster, rabbits, mice and co.
The most important question here is: Is the animal diurnal or nocturnal? If you want to play with your pet, rabbits or guinea pigs are a good choice. Like us humans, they sleep at night and are active during the day. Hamsters and chinchillas like twilight and night. Waking them up during the day does them no favours.
Daytime-active rabbits should be given plenty of exercise outside in the garden. They are generally less suitable for cuddling because they are flight animals. Even if it may look like it, a Chüngel does not feel comfortable in the arms of a child and is happy to be stroked. The animal is more likely to be in a kind of paralysis of fear.
Source: Shutterstock
The situation is similar with guinea pigs. If they are picked up and stroked, they perceive this as a threat. They would then prefer to retreat into a cave and hide there until the danger has passed.
Susy Utzinger says that there is no small animal that can be kept in a small cage with a clear conscience. Hamsters, rabbits and guinea pigs need space, exercise and opportunities to play. For a hamster, the Animal Welfare Ordinance provides just 0.18 square metres of space, which is a cage with a base area of 60 by 30 centimetres, as seen here.
Animal welfare organisations, on the other hand, recommend at least one square metre, more than five times as much. For outdoor rabbits, we have suitable enclosures in our range, such as these maisonette flats.
Rats
All the animals mentioned so far have one disadvantage: they cannot build a «genuine» relationship with humans. Unlike rats. They are among the most intelligent small animals, understand their name and can learn tricks. They are capable of developing a bond with «their» humans. Each animal also has its own character, for example being playful or shy.
Rats are extremely social animals, and owners report that they seek out and even enjoy human company. They seek contact, like to play and show affection. They climb into the sleeve of your hoodie, for example. Or they gently nibble on your fingertips, as is customary among rat friends.
If rats are doing well because they enjoy little games, you can see it in their eyes. Then they grind their teeth slightly and their eyes vibrate, technically known as «Boggling». What looks strange at first glance can be thought of as the rat equivalent of a cat purring.
Source: Shutterstock
Rats should not be kept alone, they need to be with other rats. Two or three rats are ideal, preferably of the same sex. Or females with a neutered male rat (yes, that's the name of the male rat). According to the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance, 0.5 square metres is the minimum cage size for rats. More is better, say animal welfare organisations or, for example, the Verein der Rattenliebhaber und -halter in Germany. The members provide important tips on rat housing on their website.
Susy Utzinger's conversation almost got me to the point where I could seriously imagine having a small gang of rats as pets. But of course there's a catch: rats only have a short life. They die after two or three years at the latest. Whew. I can already see myself digging little graves in the garden for the deceased rats.
I'm trying my rat approach in a literary way for now.
Do you have any experiences with rats or other pets from my article? Share it with the Community. Maybe you can help someone else make a decision.
Header image: Shutterstock
Martin Jungfer
Head of Content
Martin.Jungfer@digitecgalaxus.chJournalist since 1997. Stopovers in Franconia (or the Franken region), Lake Constance, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Zurich. Father since 2014. Expert in editorial organisation and motivation. Focus on sustainability, home office tools, beautiful things for the home, creative toys and sports equipment.
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