# Common pets 100 years from now **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 11, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175 "2015-12-11T16:52:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/1 "2015-12-11T16:52:13Z")
What animals do you think we might be seeing as common houselhold pets 100 years from now? I can see different breeds of foxes as a possibility. Presently we have a wide variety of animals that are kept as pets but aside from dogs, cats, some birds, rabbits, hamsters, rats and mice what might be next? I don’t consider reptiles or fish as true pets. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/2 "2015-12-11T16:56:43Z")
Dogs, cats, birds, and various rodents have been common pets for thousands of years. I don’t see that changing much in just another 100. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/3 "2015-12-11T16:57:38Z")
I hear some people are starting to take in capybaras as pets. These are the large rodents from South America, I believe. Apparently they are fairly easy to care for and not too destructive, so that trend might take off. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/4 "2015-12-11T16:59:53Z")
I still miss my canary who loved rock and roll… ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/5 "2015-12-11T17:06:56Z")
Another possibility is the merecat, ferrets have kind of held their own for hundreds of years but never really became popular. If a toy sized bear were somehow bred I can see that also as having mass appeal. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/6 "2015-12-11T17:46:28Z")
[Dalmatian mice.](http://i.imgur.com/xD7GfMe.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/7 "2015-12-11T19:13:12Z")
[Electric sheep](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_Androids_Dream_of_Electric_Sheep%3F). ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/8 "2015-12-11T19:19:32Z")
I see animatronic pets as getting popular. They don’t shit on the floor and can probably be programmed to plug themselves in for “food”. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/9 "2015-12-11T19:19:38Z")
Some sort of hybrid with the loyalty of a cat and the cleanliness of a dog. Or maybe a goldfish that can survive a 10 year-old girl cleaning its aquarium. ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/10 "2015-12-11T19:25:59Z")
Humans. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/11 "2015-12-11T19:31:09Z")
Domesticated [foxes](http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-10/fyi-domesticated-foxes) appear to be the next big thing in pets. I think miniature [pigs](http://potbellypigs.com/wordpress1/) also have a chance. The problem with them is confusion over their niche. People are uncomfortable with the idea of an animal that can be both a pet and a food source. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/12 "2015-12-11T19:39:03Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Domesticated [foxes](http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-10/fyi-domesticated-foxes) appear to be the next big thing in pets. > > I think miniature [pigs](http://potbellypigs.com/wordpress1/) also have a chance. The problem with them is confusion over their niche. People are uncomfortable with the idea of an animal that can be both a pet and a food source. “Oh, little Wilbur, I promise I won’t make bacon out of you. Yet.” ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/13 "2015-12-11T19:39:14Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Domesticated [foxes](http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-10/fyi-domesticated-foxes) appear to be the next big thing in pets. > > I think miniature [pigs](http://potbellypigs.com/wordpress1/) also have a chance. The problem with them is confusion over their niche. People are uncomfortable with the idea of an animal that can be both a pet and a food source. “A great pig like that, you don’t eat him al at once!” ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/14 "2015-12-12T00:17:16Z")
Besides foxes, I think there’s potential in more members of the weasel family. Having had a lot of fun owning ferrets, I personally would love to have an American (“pine”) marten. Procyonids are another good possibility. Things like raccoons are smart and playful. I don’t know a lot about coatis, ringtails, or olinguitos but they’ve all got being fairly cute going for them. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/15 "2015-12-12T01:22:29Z")
The same as we have now, with a prefix to know it’s the future. Robo Dog. Space Cat. Cyber Parrot. Miniature Giant Space Hamster. Some reptiles make personable pets. ---
**Author:** ![Sputnikkk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Sputnikkk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sputnikkk)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/16 "2015-12-12T03:42:34Z")
Rabbits are competing with cats and dogs as popular household pet and rising in popularity. look at this photo of elaborate fun rabbit indoor play spaces— [https://www.pinterest.com/house1168/bunny-housing/](https://www.pinterest.com/house1168/bunny-housing/) Upside compared to cat and dogs is if they don’t work out as a pet it is more socially acceptable to eat them. I want one of these bat geckos. > **[Creepicute: Satanic Leaf Tailed Gecko | Weird animals, Animals wild, Animals](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/97882991873605400/)** > > Sep 21, 2012 - Creepicute: Satanic Leaf Tailed Gecko - Squee daily at these cute animals and the absolute cutest animal pics and gifs ever known to man. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/17 "2015-12-12T03:57:54Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > People are uncomfortable with the idea of an animal that can be both a pet and a food source. Not to mention, [genetically-modified grow-vat for transplant organs](http://www.nature.com/news/new-life-for-pig-to-human-transplants-1.18768). ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/18 "2015-12-12T04:08:02Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Dogs, cats, birds, and various rodents have been common pets for thousands of years. I don’t see that changing much in just another 100. If animal activists get their way all the cats and dogs will be spayed and neutered so they won’t survive the next 100 years. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/19 "2015-12-12T04:10:20Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > What animals do you think we might be seeing as common houselhold pets 100 years from now? I can see different breeds of foxes as a possibility. > > Presently we have a wide variety of animals that are kept as pets but aside from dogs, cats, some birds, rabbits, hamsters, rats and mice what might be next? > > I don’t consider reptiles or fish as true pets. Backyard chickens and ducks are growing in popularity due largely to the local/organic movement so I vote for animals that are small and provide food. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/20 "2015-12-12T04:36:52Z")
Wallabies! Get yours \*NOW \*and beat the rush! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175.md?page=2)