I think we should be able to let them run around, or hold them and show them off to people, and stuff. Just having them be in a cage is so dull. IIRC didn't Sims 3 let you hold your pets and carry them around?
But other than that, I'm not worried from an animal abuse level. At the end of the day, entertainment trumps being realistic, so I'd gladly keep a flamingo or peacock or sea turtle as a pet in the Sims, even if it's not good for them in real life. (Seriously Sims, exotic pets pack when?) I get how you feel, though.
