Small Animals

Buying a pet rabbit, guinea pig, ferret, bird, rat or mouse means that you are prepared to take on a serious daily commitment for two to ten years, depending on the type of pet you choose.

Children will learn about caring for others, the responsibilities involved in having a pet in the household, and the unconditional love that a pet will give. Parents, however, must at all times guide children in their choice of a pet and the husbandry of the animal, and be prepared to supervise the day-to-day care so that the animal is not neglected through ignorance or loss of interest.

When available, all of our small pets also feature on our adopt a pet site.

Adoption prices and inclusions:

Guinea Pigs (Cavies)

Guinea Pigs are interesting and fun little characters and are generally hardy. Given the right facilities, they are easy to care for and with good handling, they can become quite tame and will enjoy sitting with you for some companionship. Their size and shape allow them to be easily handled by children. Because they are social animals, it is necessary that more than one pet guinea pig be kept for companionship.

Adoption price - $30

Rabbits

Domestic rabbits are inquisitive, fun-loving and make very appealing pets. They are social animals which, with a little time and patience, can be house and toilet trained and make great companions.

Rabbits from RSPCA ACT are vaccinated and desexed. We recommend that you keep your rabbits vaccinations up to date each year.

Adoption price - $80

Ferrets

Ferrets make interesting and amusing pets. They are inquisitive, friendly and can be quite mischievous animals who love to investigate. Ferrets aren't cage animals; they need about the same living area as a small dog. Ferrets are sociable creatures and will enjoy spending time indoors with you.

Ferrets from RSPCA ACT are vaccinated, microchipped and desexed. You will need to obtain a licence from Territory and Municipal Services to keep a ferret in the ACT. People wishing to adopt a ferret from RSPCA ACT must show evidence of holding the current relevant licence. Please click here for more information on licencing.

Adoption price - $125

Mice & Rats

Mice and rats can make excellent little pets and are very popular with children but usually only live for about two years. They are inquisitive and generally gentle little pets provided they are handled often and appropriately. Pet mice and rats do not require large or expensive facilities but do need daily attention to keep enclosures clean and odour-free.

Mice make great pets, especially when seeking to teach your kids about responsible pet ownership. Responsive to attention, a mouse will become a great friend if you are prepared to make the effort to get to know one another. People often say that mice smell bad, but this is easily managed through regular cleaning of bedding and litter. Mice don't need much room and are very cheap to feed. Mice make fascinating companions and their small size means they can be easily managed as part of the household.

Rats are intelligent, affectionate creatures. They like to spend a lot of time resting and grooming themselves, and their personalities will thrive with lots of physical and mental stimulation. Rats love company, so keeping a same-sex pair is ideal. With regular handling, rats will happily curl up on your lap for a snooze and enjoy exploring the world perched upon your shoulder. Like mice, rats are cheap to feed, easy to care for and require little space in your household.

Adoption price - Mice - $10, Rats - $20

Birds

Domesticated birds are attractive and easy to care for. Birds are a great first pet, and they can help to teach children about the responsibilities of pet ownership.

Adoption price - Variable according to species