Bring Some Life into Your Office With An Easy Care Office Pet
Welcoming an office pet can be a fun and uplifting way to improve your office morale, and add a new animal colleague to your team! Caring for a pet can give us a sense of satisfaction and connection with the animal world on an individual level at home - but we can often forget about the additional boost to stress reduction and improved well-being that a pet in the office can bring.
That said, the logistics of caring for a pet to the right standards can be difficult in an office environment. Finding an easy care pet that fits your office environment with low maintenance care might feel like an impossible task, but as keen pet owners at FlexiSpot, we've curated a list of our favorite easy to care for office pets for you to consider. Let's take a deeper look at some of the benefits of an office pet, and our favorite easy care recommendations.
The Benefits of An Easy Care Office Pet
First things first, stress reduction. Pets have been shown to lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone while increasing the production of serotonin, which helps regulate mood. This can lead to a more relaxed and positive work environment, helping you stay productive and creative, whilst also supporting your physical and mental wellbeing.
Morale benefits don't stop there - the sense of workplace community developed from co-caring for an office pet is hard to find elsewhere, offering a unique opportunity to get to know your colleagues and work closely together - on something other than spreadsheets!
A shared office can also feel a lot more welcoming and less sterile with pets to care for, boosting the general atmosphere and improving everyone's work-life balance.
Ideal Easy Care Office Pets
When choosing your perfect office pet, it's essential to consider factors such as space, noise level, allergies, and the amount of care the pet requires. Here are some of our favorite low-maintenance pets suitable for an office environment:
Fish
With bright colors and calming behavior, fish are among the most popular low-maintenance pets for offices. Whilst you can scale up to a huge aquarium if you like, broadly, fish don't require a lot of space, and a fish bowl or tank can be set up relatively easily in any office space. Feeding and water changes are quick and easy and can be picked up without too much trouble by colleagues.
For any of us who have watched fish swim for even a short period, we know they have an incredibly soothing effect, which is a great hack for reducing stress and anxiety or helping you work out a new project.
If you think fish might be the easy care office pet for you, take some time to research the different kinds of fish available to you and their specific care needs. We'd recommend ensuring your fish tank is placed away from direct sunlight to prevent algae growth, with regular checks on water quality and a feeding rota to keep your fish happy and healthy.
Hermit Crabs
Hermit crabs are incredible creatures, fun to watch, and a great choice for an easy care yet unusual office pet. They are quiet, require minimal space, and have low care needs, with minimal space requirements and infrequent feeding patterns.
If you'd like to consider hermit crabs as an office pet, you'll need to provide them with a shallow dish of fresh water, fruits, and vegetables, alongside their standard food. You'll also need to ensure their tank has a secure lid to prevent escapes!
Snails
If you're looking for a slow-moving office pet, then snails might be for you! Needing a small amount of space and minimal care, they are a quiet but fascinating easy-care office pet. A small terrarium or tank is a cozy home for a snail and needs infrequent feeding and tank cleaning. They also make no noise and are incredibly unobtrusive, so you'll have no worries about distractions with snails as an office pet.
To ensure your snails are off to the best start in your office, ensure their tank is kept moist and with a consistent temperature. They'll enjoy a diet of leafy greens and high calcium to maintain healthy shells.
Hamsters
Small, quiet, and fluffy little office friends, hamsters are a great choice for an easy cafe office pet. They require a little more care than the other pet options on our list, so these are great for teams happy to work together for pet care.
Cage cleanouts and feeding will need a little organization, but with charming hamster behaviors to enjoy, it's a small price to pay! You should consider that hamsters are nocturnal and will be less active during office hours and that they will need a decent level of enrichment within their cage to keep them stimulated.
Find your Perfect Easy Care Office Pet
An easy-care office pet with low maintenance care requirements can bring so much to your office environment, from reduced stress to enhanced morale and greater cohesion and working relationships with your colleagues. When choosing a pet, consider factors such as space, care requirements, and the time available in the office to care for them.
Welcoming low-maintenance pets into your office can create a more enjoyable and productive workspace with a little animal fun!