The upkeep, cleaning, and constant need for attention can be a barrier for people bringing pets into the home. Not being able to commit to the maintenance of a pet, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to miss out on the joy they can bring.

What you need, are low maintenance pets that like to cuddle. Low maintenance pets give unconditional love and are adept at looking after themselves. If you want the cuddles without the clean-up, here are some pets you could consider.

What Are Low Maintenance Pets?

What exactly do we mean by low-maintenance pets? To understand that we first need to establish what kind of maintenance most pets required. Here are just of the common tasks that pet owners must carry out:

• Keeping pets clean
• Cleaning pet beds/cages
• Vet fees
• Removing hair from home and clothing
• The constant need for attention

As you can see, having a pet is not for everyone. Having said this, it doesn’t always have to be this way when you own pets. Several pets do not require this level of attention and care.

Low-maintenance pets are ideal for the elderly, someone with a busy lifestyle, or those who live in cramped conditions. Here are some of the best low-maintenance pets that don’t require a great level of attention.

Cats

Our little feline friends are almost entirely self-sufficient and require very little from their owners. This goes for both house cats and those who love to roam.

With regard to necessary training, you will have to invest some time in showing the kitty where the litter box is. Most cats learn this without too much effort on their owner’s part.

Owners need not worry about vet bills here. Cats are generally very healthy and don’t run into as many issues as other pets. Once your cat is comfortable with you, it’ll purr at the thought of having its head scratched and belly rubbed by you.

Cats can leave some hair behind that you’ll have to clean up. Beyond this, a quick weekly groom and they are good to go.

Dogs

Believe it or not, several dog breeds don’t require a lot from their owners. Conversely, there are high-maintenance dogs that need to be taken out frequently, cared for eternally, and cleaned daily.

Dogs are the ultimate caregivers, of course, hence their place on this list. If you are looking for low-maintenance pets that like to cuddle, look no further than these breeds:

• Bassett Hound
• Chihuahua
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Chinese Crested
• Dachshund
• French Bulldog

These dog breeds are more than content to relax and watch the world go by, as long as they have regular food and love.

Guinea Pigs

If you are looking for the best small pets for cuddling look no further than a guinea pig. These little guys take care of themselves for the most part.

From a health perspective, guinea pigs suffer more from emotional distress than any kind of physical ailment. This is why it is recommended that you invest in 2 guinea pigs, as these sensitive little souls get lonely.

Guinea pigs will live inside a cage or caged area, where they feed on hay, green leaves, shoots, peppers, or tomatoes. Owners will have to give the cage a clean once per week, but beyond that and feeding, they don’t require anything else. These cuddly little critters live for between 4 and 8 years.

Rabbits

Another great low maintenance pet that likes to cuddle is a bunny rabbit. Rabbits have soft fur and spongy bodies, almost like they were tailor-made for hugs.

Rabbits do not need a large amount of space to live, although they do need a good-sized area to exercise in. Owners love pet rabbits because they require very little care, they enjoy being loved, and they make almost no noise.

A bunny will need some basic provisions each day. Their diet includes lettuce, carrots, some pellets, and a constant supply of hay. Rabbits are great for the elderly and recent data shows that they can help people with Alzheimer’s in staying calm.

If you are buying a bunny for a small apartment, be sure to look for miniature breeds. A large bunny may struggle to get the necessary exercise in a smaller apartment.

Ferrets

Ferrets have unfairly earned a reputation that they have poor hygiene or they are prone to attack. These are common myths that you should ignore entirely. As long as you treat a ferret with love, it can be one of the best small pets for cuddling.

The misconception regarding ferrets comes from the fact that they are a bit mischievous. This is one of the characteristics that most owners love about their ferrets. Ferrets have high levels of intelligence and can be trained to use a litter box and even perform tricks.

Not only are ferrets cuddly, but they also provide a lot of entertainment. This makes them ideal pets for the elderly or those who live on their own.

Bearded Dragons

You may not think that a lizard could be considered a cuddly pet, but wait until you meet a bearded dragon. These lizards are beautiful to look at, require very little in terms of care, and believe it or not, are incredibly affectionate.

The bearded dragon lives off a small number of vegetables and live insects, which are widely available in pet stores. Owners will have to put in a bit of effort to set up the living quarters for the bearded dragon. They must have a terrarium set to the right level of heat and humidity.

Once you have set up your lizard’s home, all they require from you is love and sustenance, the perfect pet for those who don’t have much free time. These lizards enjoy roaming and are very well-behaved when they are out of their home environment.

Chinchillas

Domestic chinchillas are loving, clean, and a lot of fun to own. In the early days of owning a chinchilla, you may find them to be nervous and skittish. Once these little creatures get used to you, however, they will love nothing more than cuddles with you.

Chinchillas are small in size and do not need a large area of space to live. Chinchillas require a soft touch and they take some time to trust their owners.

In terms of care, they feed on high-quality hay, some roughage, twigs, and some special pellets. Owners will need to clean the cage out every week and that’s about it, a very low maintenance pet to own.

Hamsters

Many parents like to buy hamsters to introduce their children to pet ownership, because of how low maintenance they are. This also makes hamsters a fantastic pet for those who simply cannot invest the time in taking care of a more demanding animal.

Not only are hamsters pretty self-sufficient, but they are also one of the best small pets for cuddling. Hamsters love human interaction, they are cuddly, entertaining, and love being active. All your hamster will need from you is a clean house, plenty of love, and lots of interactive toys that they can play with.

In addition to being easy to care for, hamsters are also very low-cost. The only downside of having a hamster is that they generally have a lifespan of 2-3 years. Whilst they may not be around for too long, every day with your pet hamster will be full of love and fun.

Cleaning For Your Low Maintenance Pet

As we have mentioned, all of the pets on this list require minimal cleaning. The most important task is to ensure that your pet has a clean living space and bed. All that is required from you is to briefly take the pet out of its home, and let it roam in the house or put it in a smaller cage.

Remove any soiled bedding and either wash or replace it.  Make sure that you also clean out any food bowls and water bottles, where bacteria could easily grow.

When cleaning, be sure to avoid the use of toxic chemicals, given the sensitivity of smaller animals. Any quality pet store will sell a range of cleaning products that are safe for animals.

When cuddling pets you will find that you get a lot of hair on the furniture and your clothing, so try to be on the front foot with cleaning it up. Investing in a pet hair lint roller is a smart idea here. Lint rollers are convenient, low-cost, and can be used to pick up loose hair once cuddle time is over.

SHOP PET HAIR LINT ROLLERS

Summary

These low maintenance cuddly pets are an ideal solution for those looking to bring a little warmth into the home. The beauty of owning such a pet is that you don’t have to invest a lot of time in taking care of these fun little animals. For minimal effort, owners can still count on the love and cuddles that pets can provide, as well as a little entertainment.