<http://schema.org/articleBody>
" A guinea pig? Maybe so. If you&amp;#039;re thinking of adopting a family pet, a dog or cat isn&amp;#039;t your only option, says Betsy Banks Saul, founder of PetFinder.com. Many nontraditional animals make great companions too\u2014like these popular picks. Rabbits  Why: Furry and fun to watch, rabbits can be quite sociable. Care Basics: Rabbits are fragile, so they&amp;#039;re best for adult-only families or those with older kids. T heir cages should have a solid floor (if not, lay down cardboard to safeguard their feet), and should be at least five times their size. They need several hours of out-of-cage exercise, but they like to chew, so bunny-proof your home (cover outlets, secure cords). Rabbits can learn to use a newspaper-lined litter box filled with hay. Keep it in a corner of the cage and clean it daily.    Parakeets Why: These cheery birds love your company and can be trained to speak. Care Basics: Make sure the cage is at least 36&amp;quot;h x 24&amp;quot;w x 24&amp;quot;d, with bars and perches for climbing and plenty of toys. And provide filtered chlorine-free water for bathing. Change the paper lining daily, wash the cage weekly and disinfect it monthly. Take your bird out of his cage at least once a day to run and fly around (with all windows and doors closed). Parakeets do best when adopted in pairs. If getting two birds isn&amp;#039;t an option, put a mirror in the cage.  Guinea Pigs  Why: Great for kids, cute and cuddly guinea pigs will lie in your lap while you watch television and let you pet them. Care Basics: The cage should be 24&amp;quot;h x 18&amp;quot;w x 25&amp;quot;d to allow ample room for exercise, nesting, going to the bathroom, and keeping food and water. Provide plenty of lining material, such as shredded ink-free paper and hay. Scrub and disinfect the cage and line it with fresh bedding every few days. And keep the room temperature at 65\u00B0 to 75\u00B0F to reduce their risk of respiratory disease.  Photos by Shutterstock "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/life/pet-care/a1754/3-non-traditional-family-pets-108644/?src=shelter_footer>