What Pet Should You Get? (Quiz)

How this pet quiz works

This quiz asks 10 practical questions about your daily time, your space, how often you travel, how you feel about cleaning and what kind of bond you’re hoping for. Each answer points toward one of six common pets: a dog, a cat, a rabbit, fish, a bird or a pair of guinea pigs. Your result is the pet that came up most often in your answers.

It takes about a minute, there’s no sign-up, and your answers are scored in your browser. Answer for the life you have right now, not the one you hope to have someday. A pet has to fit your real schedule, your real budget and the space you actually have today. If two answers feel equally true, pick the one that describes a normal weekday rather than a vacation week.

An honest note before you choose

This is a fun starting point, not professional advice. Every result page covers the realities that matter most: daily time, ongoing costs, space and how many years that pet may live. Animals are individuals, and a calm adult dog or a shy cat may suit you better than any general rule. Before you commit, talk to people who keep that pet, check your lease and think about allergies in your household. If you are unsure, fostering an animal for a few weeks through a local rescue is a great way to test the routine before you adopt.

What to do with your result

• Read the care notes on your result page and make a simple budget for setup, food and vet visits.
• Living in a smaller place? Our guide to the best pets for apartments compares pets for small spaces in more detail.
• If you got a dog, browse our list of dog breeds for first-time owners before you visit a shelter.
• Visit local shelters and rescues. Many have adult animals, bonded pairs and small pets whose personalities are already known, which makes finding a good match easier.
• Once you’ve found your new friend, our big list of pet names can help you pick the perfect one.

Just for fun, you can also find out which cat personality you are.

All possible results