The recession hasn’t helped matters, and a staggering number of pet owners can no longer cope with the cost of keeping an animal. Thankfully, not all of these individuals will leave their poor pooch or cute kitten on the side of the road and they will do the right thing and take them to the RSPCA, but there is still the problem of finding them new homes.

The common misconception is that animals that have been left with the RSPCA have behavioural problems that make them aggressive and unpredictable, but this is not true. Many larger pets like cats and dogs find themselves in the hands of the RSPCA simply because their owner couldn’t afford to keep them any longer, or worse, because they have been mistreated and abused. It’s not just cats and dogs that find themselves in need of new homes, though. Various pet shops around the country provide a specific area that is exclusively for pets that have had previous owners and are in dire need of a new one. Rats, rabbits, hamsters and other small animals are often overlooked because they’ve grown up and no longer have the more appealing appearance of a baby. These animals are the ones that need a home more than any of the others. A life spent in a small cage in a pet shop without anyone to give them the attention they deserve is no life at all, so think twice before you decide to buy a baby. The chances are, a puppy, a kitten or any other young animal is destined to find a home very easily, but an older animal needs one more. Have a heart. They can’t take care of themselves…

The most obvious way to alleviate some of the aggression is to have your rabbit spayed or neutered. Doing this may solve the problem of an angry rabbit straight away, though sometimes, it doesn’t happen quite that easily. It might not just be hormones causing erratic behaviour and even if hormones are the primary reason, there is no guarantee that your rabbit will suddenly want to be stroked and held. Gaining the trust of your rabbit will still require a little more effort on your part.

When you pin down precisely what action triggers aggressive behaviour in your rabbit, you can successfully attempt to deal with it. There is a good possibility that, when your rabbit bites you when you move to stroke her, or when she lunges at you every time you walk into the room, she is simply exhibiting fear or annoyance. This is something that can take time to overcome, but the important thing to note is that it can be. Many experts suggest you simply ignore the aggressive behaviour and treat your rabbit like the best thing in the world. Always use a confident, excited tone and – wearing a glove that amply protects your fleshy fingers – continue to pat her head, even if she tries to bite you. If you do this every day, your rabbit will eventually realise you have no intention of hurting her and you can move on to gently and carefully stroking her head instead. When bun-buns is used to this, stroke her ears too, and on and on until she’s happy with the attention and even craves it.

Believe it or not, there is a big difference between a rabbit that bites and a rabbit that nips. Most often, the former is a show of aggression, whereas the latter may simply be a way of communicating something to you. Some rabbits will nip when they want attention, and some will nip when they want you to put them down. It isn’t necessarily an act of aggression. It’s likely that, when your rabbit bites you, she’s merely being defensive, maybe over food or over territory. Remember to always move slowly and cautiously. Fast, jerky movements may be a sign of aggression towards bun-buns and she may mistake your actions as threatening. Whenever you have to clean out the cage, give bun-buns the opportunity to leave before you drag her out. When you have to feed her, distract her by gently petting her while placing the food bowl in the cage.

Your rabbit may never end up the cuddle-monster you so desperately want her to be, but you can definitely take steps to encourage her to be loving and affection. Though it’s rare, unfortunately some rabbits never manage to overcome incredibly aggressive behaviour and though it may seem cruel, the best thing to do is to have your rabbit put to sleep. Rabbits have the ability to cause some very serious injuries and if she is so stressed and unhappy in her environment that she resorts to viciously biting and scratching , it is sometimes for the best.

Sonic the Hedgehog

Believe it or not, the waiting list for one of these cuties can be up to a year! On the plus side, they are 100% domesticated and completely free from diseases, tics and fleas. Much like their rodent friends the rats, pygmy hedgehogs love to be handled and providing they are given enough care, love and attention from a young age, will grow up to be very cuddly, affectionate little prickle-puffs. They are also relatively easy pets to keep. They need a decent sized enclosure to run around in (something around the size of a rabbit hutch) as these spiky little critters are fond of exercise. You also need to provide them with plenty of toys and ensure you give them a wheel to run in – they can run up to 8 miles in a single night! Maybe they’re speedier than we first thought…

Their diet is simple and easy, too. They are carnivorous creatures and so need to be fed a delicious variety of meat; cat food, chicken, turkey and mince. Beware, though! Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant, so never give them fatty cows milk. Pygmy hedgehogs also need to be kept in a warm environment, otherwise they are likely to start hibernating!

Unfortunately, the African pygmy hedgehog is likely to set you back anywhere between £100 to £200 pounds, but as far as we’re concerned, they’re worth every penny.

• You probably weren’t aware you can get prozac for your pooch to help perk them up if they spend a long time alone while owners are out or at work. The drug, called Reconcile, apparently works the same way as the human version, increasing the level or serotonin produced in the brain to improve mood. If you ask us, this is taking things a little too far. If your dog is suffering from some kind of mental disorder caused by separation from their beloved owner, you have to wonder if they should have gotten a dog in the first place. Not everything should be solved with pills, least of all where animals are concerned.

• This next product is actually a pretty nifty little gadget. The Litter Robot is for those people who squirm at the thought of cleaning up after their moggy. This handy, spacecraft-esq machine does the job for you. Not only does it quickly hide away the cat’s undesirables, it also prevents odours. The inventors also claim it will save you 50% of the cost of buying litter and the only other thing you need is a regular old binbag to line the tray. You will, however, have to get off your lazy backside to empty that.

• So, this isn’t exactly a product for your pet. This is, in fact, a product made out of your pet – no animal cruelty here, of course. Or at least, we hope not. The Fur-Ever Keepsake can be anything from a glove to a coat made entirely out of – you guessed it – the fur of your pet. So if being apart from your darling little chihuahua Tootsie is just too much for you to handle, have a pair of gloves knitted from her fur and take her with you everywhere you go. You can even get that fresh, wet dog smell when you get caught in the rain.

• One of the most pointless inventions out of all of these products is probably the Goldfish Walker. Basically a fish tank on wheels that allows you to show your marine critters the sights. Like we said, pointless.

• Now, despite being yet another utterly useless item, if you’re a big beer drinker it is actually kind of quaint. Beer….for your dog. Happy Tail Ale, it’s called. Luckily it contains no alcohol, is non-carbonated and, unlike beer for human consumption, is actually pretty healthy. It’s also flavoured with drippings to make it taste like a dog’s favourite food, given the choice. Beef. Mmm…yum…

• So, we’ve saved the best for last. This is also the most risque of our featured products and it goes by the name of the Hotdoll, a doggy shaped doll that keeps your rather affectionate dog away from your leg. We’re sure you have vivid imaginations. You can work out the rest for yourselves.