It’s no secret that the UK is a nation of pet lovers. In fact, according to the RSPCA, an estimated 44% of households have a pet. For perspective, there are 66 million people living in the UK, and collectively we own roughly 51 million pets. That’s a lot of animal companions!
Of all the pets owned, the most popular are:
Dogs - nine million owned
Cats - eight million owned
Rabbits - 900,000 owned
Indoor birds - 500,000 owned
There are, of course, many other pets that we cherish and look after, including fish, guinea pigs, hamsters, tortoises, lizards and rats. Some of these pets require more space than others, and this leads to many thinking of moving into a residential park home to believe that they need to give up their pets in order to give them the best life possible.
Here at Allens Caravans, we have a number of residential parks which are home to thousands of residents, many of whom have pets. If you’re thinking of selling your brick and mortar home and moving into a static caravan, you may not have to give up your pet companion. We’ve put together a list of five of the most caravan-friendly pets that can make the move into a slower pace of life with you.
As the most loved and common pet in the UK, it’s only natural that a lot of people will want to bring their dogs with them to their static caravan, or even adopt one after moving. Caravans make great homes for small and medium-sized dogs because they offer a similar amount of space to a bungalow or an apartment. Static caravans are situated on a plot of land which means there is outdoor space for a dog to do their business.
Our residential parks are all set within acres of beautiful countryside, making them perfect for long walks to give dogs the adequate exercise they need on a daily basis, as well as their owners!
Big dogs may not be suitable for living in a caravan because whilst there is outdoor space, it is somewhat limited and therefore could restrict larger dogs from burning off all their energy. Walks are an option, but big dogs need more space than smaller ones and so would fare better in a location where they have ample space to roam.
Cats are the second most popular pet in the UK, with 18% of households having at least one. Cats are relatively small animals and are low maintenance, making them perfect for caravan living. You can keep your cat as an indoor cat in a caravan as there is plenty of room for them to roam around inside a park home, or, if your cat is well trained, you could let it out to roam.
It’s worth noting that you will need to beware of cars and other people’s property if you do let your cat roam free, as well as other pets that may be living in the park. Nevertheless, indoor cats do exceptionally well, especially when taken out for regular walks in the stunning countryside.
Domestic rabbits are not outdoor animals and should be treated the same way as cats and dogs, i.e. living indoors with plenty of space to stretch out. Rabbits can easily be litter trained and provided you bunny proof your static caravan (cover cables etc.), they make the perfect caravan companion.
You can take your rabbit out on walks like you would a cat or dog, but do beware that they are prey animals and are easily spooked by larger animals. Cats and dogs frequently go for rabbits, so if it’s unsafe outdoors for walks, avoid it. A free-roaming bunny will get all the exercise they need inside the caravan.
4. Indoor Birds
From parrots and cockatiels to budgies and lovebirds, the UK has a penchant for birds. There are more than 500,000 pet birds across the country, and for good reason. Birds are intelligent and make great companions, and what’s more, they’re perfectly suited to caravans. Birds commonly have a home base in a cage, but of course, they need to stretch their wings and fly free, and caravans allow them plenty of space to do that.
The open plan nature of most park homes means there are limited obstacles for birds to navigate, perfect for free-flying and getting up a good wingspan and flight speed. As long as your bird is trained not to fly out of doors/windows and not to use the whole house as a toilet, you both can live in perfect harmony together in a caravan.
Often seen as a first pet, fish are extremely common for teaching responsibility, but the more exotic breeds take more looking after and can often rival a cat or dog in terms of maintenance. Once you’ve mastered looking after fish, they can offer so much in the way of relaxation and serenity. They are both beautiful to look at and listen to. After all, is there anything more relaxing than the sound of water?
Fish are perfect caravan pets and can really add life to your living room, so if none of the other pets on this list suit you, a fish might just be what you’re looking for.