Birds
Birds are popular with the elderly. Cockatiels, Love Birds, Budgies and Canaries and any of the other small parrots will most likely suit the above mentioned accommodation. Cockatiels and Budgies are known to be good conversationalists too, and, with some practice, over time, you could train your feathered friend to venture outside its cage and fly around your unit.Allowing your bird some freedom each day, outside its cage is vital. Keep in mind to keep the windows closed and make sure the kitchen stove is not being used.Aquarium Fish A good alternative to a bird, are aquarium fish. The graceful movements of a school of marine or tropical fish can have a relaxing, calming effect and is very pacifying. Once your aquarium tank is established and the water has stabilized, they are quite low maintenance and fairly inexpensive. Buy a good quality filter and other equipment though, as you get what you pay for. You can get quite creative with your aquarium, from selecting your own plants and rocks, to placement of the plants and rocks in your aquarium. You can also get creative by selecting from the many different attractive colours of fish. Have a good chat to your local Pet Shop for advice on what will suit. Owning fish can become a great hobby or pastime.
If you don’t require a “cuddly” pet or one that requires any commands, then Fish are great. Keep in mind, fish can only thrive in a well managed aquarium.
Rats & Mice
A lot of people think that mice and rats are not appropriate pets for elderly people but this is simply not true. I think rats make more entertaining pets that mice. They are more cuddly than mice and they have more character.
Rats are inexpensive and quite easy to keep. Their housing is cheap too. A rat’s enclosure must be kept clean and well maintained, as it will smell if left unattended. Good luck in trying to convince a nursing home that you’d like to keep one!
Having A Pet without really having a Pet!
Even if you are in a home or a hospice that does not allow pets, you can easily get around this. There’s nothing to stop Native animals that are living freely around you from visiting.
Try planting a garden and then enjoy watching native birds flying in for a nibble and a natter.
Planting native trees and shrubs will help but you can also install a bird bath and a feeding table – just remember to keep fresh water abundant and keep it clean. Establish a feeding routine for the birds, by providing (appropriate) food early in the morning or late in the afternoon. By doing this, you can train the native birds to get use to getting a snack or two.
Eucalypts and acacias will encourage all types of native birds but if you want to encourage seed eating birds, plant casuarinas, native conifers and ornamental grasses as well.
Tea-trees, and melaleucas will encourage insect eaters; and grevilleas, banksias, callistemons, kangaroo paws and hakeas will attract nectar feeding birds.
To encourage kookaburras and magpies, soak some dry dog food and mix with some hard-boiled eggs and cheese. They also love minced steak or finely cut pieces of red meat. If you do this, you should add some calcium carbonate powder.
Go easy on feeding native birds though. They must be able to hunt for their natural foods and should not become dependent on human handouts that areusually not their balanced natural diet.
Possums can be encouraged to visit too. You can make them a ‘possum palace’ by using a adequate sized box in trees around where you live. Feed the possums small quantities of bread and soft ripe fruit. Please remember, don’t go overboard.
Last but not least are lizards. Provide a few hollow logs or terra cotta pipes and fill with some dry grass to provide safe hidey-holes for them. You could feed them a little lizard lunch from sweet juicy fruits and some hard-boiled egg in small quantities. This may lure the lizard to lazily hang about on your lawn.
Leah & Angela OMeara
Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding Brisbane, Dog Walking Brisbane, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)
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