i just realized i never threw in my two cents on what i like lol. (very unlike me) im a dog and cat guy myself their various qualities are each so beautiful that it i have a choice ill always have one of each in my life. but i also have a special place in my heart for rats. the only reason i dont have any now is that their short life span becomes depressing to me quickly.
over the years ive had all of the above, plus fish, a scorpion, a spider (rosy tarantula) an iguana, hamsters, a mouse, a guinea pig (on loan sort of, but fun!) and several insects. we used to keep the spiders around the house well fed so they were sort of "pets" if you have a cricket budget for the orb weavers on your porch i guess you can call them pets lol. same with the black widows under the house and any random mantids that hung around for more than an hour