Small, furry animals are in big demand among local pet lovers

Sometimes I wish my beloved 50-pound Border Collie mix was a small, furry ferret. These evil thoughts generally occur around 6:30 a.m. on rainy weekdays as I reach down to grab a fresh pile of dog doo with a plastic bag in one hand, a cup of coffee in the other and an open umbrella held in place by my chin and shoulder.

Other urban condo and apartment dwellers, especially those of us without yards, are apparently thinking along the same lines. According to an annual survey from the nonprofit American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, more than six million U.S. households are home to a small animal that is neither dog, cat, fish nor bird.

In Seattle, small animals are definitely increasing in popularity, says Sandi Ackerman, founder of The Best Little Rabbit, Rodent and Ferret House. "Rabbits are probably the best apartment pets," says Ackerman, who sells pet supplies and frequently gives advice to new small-animal owners from her Lake City shop, which doubles as a rescue organization.

Jennifer Johannsen, owner of West Seattle-based Bunny Bytes -- "outfitters of the urban rabbit" -- agrees, explaining that rabbits are social creatures who appreciate a lot of love and attention. The online rabbit supplier sells a multitude of bunny accoutrements, including carrot-shaped rope for chewing, wood for gnawing and balls that can be filled with hay to allow rabbits to play with their food.

Even local pet-supply chain Mud Bay, best known for its focus on healthy treats and toys for dogs and cats, is getting in on the action. The company's 14 Puget Sound-area stores (five of them in Seattle) also carry food and bedding for bunnies, and staff members at the University Village store say they have seen an increase in demand for supplies for small animals, including about 12 rabbit-related requests per day.

Not everyone should hop on the bunny bandwagon, though; people with an allergy to grass should be aware that hay -- which is the most important part of a rabbit's diet, according to Ackerman -- may cause similar allergic symptoms. She estimates that a 5-pound rabbit will go through a football-sized bunch of hay daily.

If you're in the market for a creature even tinier than a rabbit, head to Animal Talk in the Roosevelt neighborhood. Part small animal-supply store, part nonprofit no-kill shelter for cats, mice, hamsters, rats and even the occasional hedgehog, the store has been around for 19 years, and owner Michelle Young has helped many owners learn about their new pets.

"Rats are by far one of the most popular," Young says. "They are social, and you can train them to come when you call and do tricks." Mice are the stinkiest, she says, and most hamsters are more nocturnal and like to be alone.

Small critters such as rabbits, ferrets and rats may take up less space than their feline and canine counterparts, but they're still a big responsibility, and new parents should do their research before bringing one home.

"Ferrets are entertaining, funny and dangerously smart, but they are also very high-maintenance and mischievous," Ackerman says. Their litter box must be changed daily to prevent odor, their musky-smelling bodies can squeeze through any opening through which their head can fit, they aren't always great around kids and they can dig through a carpet or "scratch the heck out of a hardwood floor."

Their velvet ears and soft little noses are irresistible, but rabbits have their challenges, too. "People don't realize that that cute, cuddly animal is going to turn into a raging hormone factory when it becomes sexually mature, if it isn't spayed or neutered," says Ackerman of the phenomenon that occurs at three months for males and four months for females.

She says that many people are surprised when their sweet bunny starts spraying and becomes aggressive. That $10 bunny now requires a $200 operation, which leads to many abandoned animals.

Ackerman reminds pet owners that even little companions need comprehensive medical care, so no matter which small animal you decide to take home, be sure to find a good vet.

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