A British vet shared the five animals that he would not have as pets – and the internet is split.
Ben, who is known as @ben.the.vet, often shares his opinion about certain species online and his most recent clip saw him warning people about keeping certain animals.
In the video, which has gained more than 45,000 likes, he claimed that his job exposes him to the “pitfalls” of owning certain animals as well as the good things.
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Kicking off his list, he named parrots as his first big no. While he told fans he could see why having apet that can talk to you would “be cool”, he couldn’t get past not being able to own a non-stick pan.
He said: “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 also claimed that it is “extremely difficult to provide enough space and stimulation for a species that would normally have the freedom to fly and explore a very rainforest habitat. A bored parrot easily becomes a stressed parrot manifesting in destructive behaviours being very vocal and abnormal behaviours…they’re just not for me.”
The second was a mouse which “only live for one to two years”. Developing a bond with a pet only to lose them in a year is too short a timeframe for him. Meanwhile, Ben shocked more users with the third as he claims they aren’t suitable pets for children – despite being a popular choice.
He said: “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. 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.” He added that they have strict needs in terms of their diet, cleaning out schedule, and socialisation.
“They’re also quite vulnerable to gut stasis and dental problems, which can lead to some unexpected vet bills,” he continued. “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.”
Monkeys was the fourth pet on his list which unsurprisingly left people confused as it’s not a common pet. However, Ben explained: “You may be thinking ‘why is he talking about monkeys? Nobody has a monkey as a pet’. Actually, it’s estimated [there are] 5,000 primates kept as pets in the UK.
“I talked in another video about how a few years ago, I volunteered at a wildlife charity in Ecuador. Many of the monkeys that were there were baby monkeys whose mothers had been shot and the baby snatched with the intention to be sold as pets to people who just want monkeys as a pet because they’re cute.
“A monkey is an extremely intelligent, wild animal, not a domesticated species, like dogs or cats… [it] is extremely difficult to meet their complexities in your home. Don’t do it.”
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Finally, he claimed ferrets were also on his list of ‘no’s’. He 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. They are highly intelligent…[and] need lots of interaction and a lot of space. That is really not for everyone.”
TikTok users were left divided over the video and took to the comments to give their opinions. One user said: “I wish people would think long and hard before getting any kind of pet. Too many are neglected and not properly cared for,” while another argued: “I don’t agree with caging anything.” A third commented: “I don’t agree with the ferrets, they are so rewarding.”
