Pet
Pet
A pet is an animal kept primarily for a person's company or entertainment rather than as a working animal, livestock, or laboratory animal. Popular pets are often considered to have attractive appearances, intelligence and relatable personalities, but some pets may be taken in on an altruistic basis and accepted by the owner regardless of these characteristics.
History[edit | edit source]
The keeping of pets has been practiced from prehistoric times to the present day. The earliest evidence of pet keeping dates back to the Neolithic era. Dogs were the first pets, followed by cats and then birds and other small mammals. In the 19th and 20th centuries, pets were considered a status symbol.
Types of pets[edit | edit source]
Pets can be classified by the type of animal:
- Dogs - Dogs are often called "man's best friend" because they are kept as domestic pets and are usually loyal and friendly to humans.
- Cats - Cats are often kept as pets for their companionship and their ability to hunt vermin.
- Birds - Birds are often kept as pets for their beauty and the complexity of their songs.
- Fish - Fish are often kept as pets for their beauty and the tranquility they provide.
- Reptiles - Reptiles are often kept as pets for their unique appearance and behavior.
- Small mammals - Small mammals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters are often kept as pets for their cute appearances and playful personalities.
Benefits of keeping pets[edit | edit source]
Pets can provide their owners with several health benefits. Pets can provide companionship to people who are living alone or elderly adults who do not have adequate social interaction with other people. Having a pet may help people achieve health goals, such as lowered blood pressure, or mental goals, such as decreased stress.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
- ASPCA - American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
- Humane Society of the United States
| Pet Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
