Discover the Best 12 Pets for Seniors

Keeping a pet as a senior has many benefits: companionship, entertainment, and reduced stress, to name a few. It has also been shown that keeping pets has several health-related benefits for the elderly, such as reduced heart disease, improved cardiovascular health, and lower blood pressure. When choosing the right pet for seniors, it is important to consider the conditions of the home they will be living in. These include the space that is available to them, the physical requirements of the animal, and even the health of the senior who is looking to take on the responsibility of taking care of them.

While there are many pets to choose from, here are the 12 best pets for seniors to get. But ultimately, what you get will be entirely up to you, your personality, your needs, and your abilities.

Dogs

Dogs can make great pets for seniors as dogs are affectionate, loyal, and fantastic companion animals. The best breeds for seniors are low-maintenance and have low exercise needs. Size is also important as large dogs may become a fall risk for seniors. Lastly, you should highly consider dog breeds that do well in small spaces. Here are some of the best dog breeds for seniors.

Shih Tzu

Shih tzus are a small dog breed known for their gentle and affectionate nature. These adorable dogs are very outgoing and are great with children and other pets. Surprisingly enough, compared to other small breeds, the shih tzu breed also does not bark much, which is great in tight living spaces. This makes it perfect for seniors who do not have large living spaces. The best thing about these little dogs is that they bond quickly with humans, which leads them to be amazing companion animals. 

The shih tzu is a toy dog breed that weighs between 9 and 16 pounds. This small size is great for seniors as they can be easily picked up without strain and do not have the strength to pull a person over. And as a plus, shih tzus have adorable smushed faces with floppy ears. Furthermore, they have beautiful long coats that can come in a variety of colors. 

In terms of caring for this breed, the shih tzu does require regular grooming because of its long coat. They need to be brushed daily and their faces wiped. However, this shouldn’t be too strenuous of a job. Moreover, although these pooches require daily walks, short walks will suffice, making them perfect dogs for seniors.

Pug

Pugs are small dogs with silly personalities. They are perfect for seniors because of their size and their low energy levels. Despite their small size, their personalities are extremely charming. They are great with families and children. They can be very playful and are very affectionate dogs. These dogs are often called “shadows” because they like to follow their owners around. Pugs will make amazing pets for seniors and ensure their owners never feel alone. 

Pugs are easily identifiable dogs due to their distinctive features. These dogs have wrinkly, short-muzzled faces and curled tails. Furthermore, their coats are short and glossy and come in a range of colors; fawn or black is the most common coloration found in pugs. They are compact dogs and weigh between 14 and 18 pounds.

Because of their nice short coat, pugs do not require much grooming maintenance. Pugs also do not require much physical activity, making them perfect low-maintenance dogs! In fact, they should only engage in physical activity for short periods due to their brachycephalic faces. If you do take this tiny dog out on an outdoor adventure, make sure you do not take these little guys swimming; they are not the best swimmers!

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

The Pembroke Welsh corgi is the perfect dog breed for seniors who do not want a tiny dog. These gorgeous dogs are great for seniors as they love to please and are friendly with other pets, adults, and children. But it’s worth noting that these dogs have quite a bit of energy, so they do require more exercise than pugs. However, they still make excellent pets for seniors due to their intelligence and trainability. 

Pembroke Welsh corgis have large erect ears with a head that is “fox-like”. They have long bodies with characteristically short stubby legs. They are a small to medium-sized breed weighing between 22 and 30 pounds. The coats of these dogs are medium-length and thick. They also come in a range of colors with white markings, including fawn, black, tan, red, and sable.

These pooches have minimal grooming needs, which is great if you do not want to groom your dog often. Although they do need daily exercise, daily walks are enough for these cuties.

Bichon Frisé

The bichon frisé is an adorable dog breed that looks like a furry snowball. These dogs are incredibly happy and affectionate, making them excellent companions for people of all ages. They are especially great for seniors due to their size, temperament, and low maintenance needs. 

The bichon frisé only weighs between 10 and 20 pounds, so they are very easy to handle. In terms of appearance, the coat of this pooch is curly and white, the nose is black in color, and the eyes are dark and round. A great advantage of the bichon frisé is that it sheds very little, which is perfect for those who do not want dog fur everywhere.

Although these dogs do need to be groomed periodically, they are otherwise low-maintenance dogs. Furthermore, their exercise needs are not high, so moderate daily exercise is enough for these dogs to be healthy and happy. In fact, in most cases, bichon frisés take care of their own exercise needs by buzzing around your house!

Cats

Cats are another perfect pet for the elderly. They sleep a lot and don’t require as much direct attention as dogs do. Cats are happy to do as they please throughout the day and make for excellent lap pets who love to snuggle (when they want!). Although they may be technically low maintenance, all cat breeds still need to be fed a well-balanced diet, and fresh, clean water should always be available.

Siamese

Siamese cats have unique characteristics that make them perfectly suited to seniors. These cats are loyal and affectionate and will form strong bonds with their owners. They can be very playful, providing a lot of entertainment, and they can be very vocal, providing much-needed companionship. Siamese cats are medium-sized, weigh between 8 and 14 pounds, and grow up to 14 inches long. They have slim cream-colored bodies and stunning blue eyes, with a distinctive black face, ears, legs, and tail.

These cats are considered to be low maintenance due to their short coats and very fine hair. However, if they are not given enough attention during the day, they can become very noisy and destructive.

Russian Blue

Russian blues are a great choice for seniors. They do well with other pets, as well as smaller children, which is perfect for when the family comes to visit!

These cats are medium-sized, weighing between 7 and 15 pounds and growing to be between 7 and 10 inches in length. The coat of the Russian blue is characteristic of the breed. It is dense, short, plush, and charcoal gray. They also have bright contrasting eyes, which are yellow in color.

The temperament of the Russian blue breed is well suited to senior owners. They are very affectionate and enjoy the comfort of a nap in their owner’s lap. They also tend to form a strong bond with a single person in the family and are usually shy around strangers.

British Shorthair

The British shorthair has a loving personality and is not as active as other cat breeds. This makes them the perfect companion for seniors due to their relaxed nature — a true family cat!

British shorthairs are medium to large and typically grow to be between 7 and 16 pounds and up to 25 inches long. They have a rounded and thick appearance and can come in a range of colors, including black, white, cream, red, blue, chocolate, and lilac. All British shorthairs have orange-copperish colored eyes, except for the white-colored cats, which can also have blue eyes.

British shorthairs are known for being kind and loyal to their owners, but they are independent at the same time. If these cats feel unhappy or need attention, they will let you know with their meows.

Persian

Persians make excellent pets for seniors as they are low-maintenance, loving, and adorable. These beautiful cats love to lounge and laze around, so they would make perfect companions. 

Persians generally grow to between 7 and 13 pounds in weight. They have round heads, small ears, and large eyes. Most Persians also have flat faces. These gorgeous cats have long, soft coats that require regular grooming. So, definitely keep in mind that Persians will require a bit more fur maintenance than your average cat.

Persians are relatively quiet and are sweet cats. Although affectionate, these cuties don’t demand constant affection. They can be kept as indoor cats and live a happy life.

Birds

If dogs and cats are not the pets for you, birds can be a great option. Birds can make excellent pets for seniors as they are small, relatively low-maintenance, and chatty. Birds can sing songs, talk, walk, and fly as well, so they’ll provide plenty of entertainment if you have a quiet house. They will keep you busy without requiring too much attention or maintenance.

Here are a couple of bird species that can make great pets for seniors.

Canary

Canaries are beautiful little birds that are known for their songs. These songbirds make great pets as they are small, stunning, and sweet-natured. These birds can grow between 3 and 4 inches in height. The color of the canary can vary, but yellow is the most common.

These birds make incredible companions for seniors without requiring a lot of maintenance. However, of course, like all other pets, they do require attention and care every day. But with that said, these birds do not take up much space and do not need constant attention.

Parakeet (Budgie)

Parakeets, or budgies, are another super pet for seniors and a very popular one! These birds are parrot species that are small and colorful with big personalities. Parakeets grow to be around 7 inches in length. They can come in a range of different colors, with the most common being green with a yellow head.

Parakeets are loving, affectionate, and playful in personality. Also, like all other pets, they require attention and need toys to keep them entertained. Parakeets are a great choice as companions as they are extremely intelligent and can even learn to talk!

Rabbits

Rabbits can also make excellent pets for those wanting a fluffy companion without the high maintenance requirements of a dog. These little hoppers are quite independent, quiet, and easy-going pets; many can even learn to use a litter tray! Of the many rabbit breeds, the one we would recommend for seniors is the mini lop.

Mini Lop Rabbit

Mini lop rabbits are a very popular choice for pet lovers. These rabbits are adorable, small, sweet, and playful. They weigh between 3 and 6 pounds, meaning they don’t need much space to be happy and healthy. Of course, the most distinguishing feature of this rabbit is its ears. The ears are long and droop down the sides of their faces.

In terms of maintenance for this rabbit, all the mini lop requires is daily cleaning, feeding, and love. The companionship these fuzzballs provide can be like that of a cat or dog, making them perfect little pets for seniors!

Fish

Possibly the easiest pet to care for, fish make excellent companions to seniors. They don’t require attention or stimulation and will happily do as they please. Fish can also be entertaining and therapeutic to watch, providing a pastime whenever one is needed. An important point to consider is the tank size in which the fish will be kept. Tank sizes over 10 gallons can be difficult to empty and clean, so make sure to pick a tank size that you will be able to handle and clean on a regular basis. On a similar note, you will also need to pick a fish that is small enough to put in a smaller tank, such as a betta fish.

Betta Fish

Betta fish are a perfect addition to the family. They are solitary by nature and take up only a small amount of space. Keeping a single fish makes things easier for seniors as the fish tank will need much less cleaning than a tank with multiple fish.

These fish are very colorful and beautiful to watch as they swim around. They can be between 1 and 5 inches in length when fully grown, but the average size for this fish is 2.5 inches. 

Betta fish are very intelligent and can even be trained. They have a fascination for humans and will often come to the front of the tank when someone is watching them or even follow a finger being moved around on the glass.

Summary of the Best 12 Pets for Seniors

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