Best Pets, Worst Pets, and One Very Expensive Misunderstanding

What animals make the best/worst pets?

Sometimes the real adventure of pet ownership is in the humans.

When the pandemic hit and we all stayed home, our pets had thoughts.

Dogs? Overjoyed.
“I knew he loved me so much he quit his job just to stay home with me!”

Cats? Suspicious.
“I knew that lazy bum would lose his job. Now how are we supposed to eat?”

It’s funny how different animals respond to us—and how we respond to them. But if we’re asking what animals make the best and worst pets, maybe the answer isn’t just about the animal. Maybe it’s about the human.

Best pets?
Dogs top the list for loyalty, affection, and tail-wagging joy. They’re needy, yes—but so are most of us.
Cats? Independent, clean, and low-maintenance (unless they’re plotting your demise).
Fish? They don’t cuddle, but they do invite calm. Just watching them glide through water can quiet your soul.

I once had a neighbor getting siding work done, and I asked the guy if he might help me frame out a window using some leftover vinyl scraps. He was accommodating, did a great job, and I paid him with a generous tip. He was grateful.

“Now I can finally try that Arowana fish I’ve been wanting,” he said.

Trying to connect, and thinking of my father-in-law—who traveled all over the U.S. and Canada fishing incredible rivers and lakes—I nodded and said, “Cool! I’ve never had that before. Must be pretty tasty.”

His eyebrows went up.

“I wouldn’t know,” he said. “It’s for my tropical fish tank. They run about $400.”

Not for eating. For admiring.

Which brings me back to the original question: what animals make the best and worst pets?

Worst pets?
Ferrets—furry chaos in a tube.
Snakes—if you like being looked at like lunch.
Tarantulas? I respect you. From over there.
And maybe the Arowana—if you’re on a budget.

There’s a cost to pets. Emotional and otherwise. They bring joy, yes. But also messes, vet bills, heartbreak, and hair on your black clothes. Maybe that’s why pet rocks had a moment. No feeding. No barking. No judgment.

The truth? The best pet is the one that fits your life—your pace, your space, your season.
And the worst? The one you weren’t ready for.

So whether it’s a slobbery retriever, a moody tabby, a hypnotic goldfish, or a $400 Arowana you’d never dream of eating… pets have a way of reminding us that connection matters. Even if it’s through a glass tank.