Which pet is the least work? ( not fish)

[TickledOnion]

DDs 8 & 10 desperately want a pet. They claim they will loo after it, feed it, clean it etc. I suspect I will end up doing it all. I’ve said no to a dog as it’s too much work and no to a cat as I’m allergic.
Are guinea pigs hard work? Is there anything else I could consider? Or shall I just say no?

[Spidey66]

Cats, especially if you have access to a garden and a cat flap. On a daily level all you need to do with them is feed them.

[Spidey66]

Sorry, see you've said no t a cat. Ignore.

[AriettyHomily]

Please say no.

Even small rodents are a pain, if you don't want them it's not fair. The kids WILL NOT be looking after them.

[tabulahrasa]

Oh, I was going to say cat as well...

[TeeBee]

Terrapin.

[Recruit2020]

Shame about the cat allergy. Easiest pet ever and great for kids. I have had so many animals over the years (family of animal lovers) but I find the standard Rabbits Guinea Pigs Hamsters etc that parents go for actually require more care than they are often given and with children the novelty wears off quickly (not always though I know some are the exception)
I personally like Rats but with the cat not an option.
Pets for children are great! How exciting for them x

[Greentulips1]

Guinea pigs are high maintenance.

They need constant hay, regular cleaning, daily fresh food, vet check ups, floor/garden time to exercise etc. They live for approx 5-7 years and are prone to health issues which are expensive.

[IdblowJonSnow]

Watching with interest. I love dogs but my DD is allergic to cats and dogs.
We dont have much room either so wouldnt want to cram something in a smallish hutch.

[fairlygoodmother]

Guinea pigs are a lot of work and it’s largely cleaning up poo and trimming nails which your kids will not do.

A cat is the least troublesome pet but if you can’t have one, say no.

[NekoShiro]

Stick insects? Probably hard to find but used to have some as a class pet, minimum cleaning, attention or care, any kind of bug would be good really, sea monkeys could be a good start aswell

[LilaButterfly]

I would say go for rats or a hamster. They are easy to care for and they dont have a life expectancy of 10+ years in case the novelty wears off.
We have geckos atm. They are really easy to care for too, but they arent too cuddly and they live 25 years or so. The kids love taking them out to play though. Weve had them for 4 years now and kids still love sitting there watching them in the evening.

[Montybojangles]

If you want something furry, I’d say get a rat. I know people can get a bit freaked out at the idea, but they are incredibly clever and friendly, and very clean.

[WaxOnFeckOff]

A cat is definitely the easiest so it's a shame you are allergic. You can get hairless carts but it wouldn't be my choice. Cats do live a long time though so it's a big commitment. Something like a hamster you are looking about 2 years.

[Nookable]

I've heard corn snakes recommended as first pets. They don't eat or poo that often so the cleaning out required is minimal. They're cold blooded and very docile so they like being handled for the warmth of someone's hands but don't crave human contact so won't be stressed if you don't handle them. Unlike something like a rabbit that needs just the right amount of handling.

Got no experience myself as the food they eat puts me off but could be worth looking into?

[elaeocarpus]

Anything that lives in, or spends majority time in a cage/hatch/container requires quite a bit if daily (or more) work as you will need to clean, muck out waste, replace the ground covering/toileting material, so to speak.

I know you said no cats due to allergy, but might be worth investigating a bit. Some breeds/cats trigger more/less allergic response. And you can become tolerant of your own cat sometimes. my mild allergic response to cats is null to our own cat.

[Toilenstripes]

Don’t get a pet. You’re not a suitable family if you have allergies and an unwillingness to provide Anything more than basic care.

[Lockdownfatigue]

Hamster.

And it’s not true that dc won’t look after it. One of mine got one for 10th birthday and I have never had to do anything, even remind her, although I would if necessary. I made her put a lot of prep work in. Keeping her room clean for six months to prove we wouldn’t end up with smelly hamster bedding in there etc., learning to hover to sawdust, doing a project about how to look after them and what they need to be cared for optimally.

She cleans it out weekly. Changes it’s toilet littler and feeds it daily. Clean water daily. Handles it daily.

They are easy. They can even be left overnight.

Gheko is apparently also ok to leave for a couple of days.

[TheVeryHungryTortoise]

We have a pet tortoise. He's amazing, although rather bitey (I've heard girls aren't as aggressive!) You can to research how to responsibly care for them and they need a fair amount of stuff to begin with (i.e tortoise table, correct UV lamps and heat lamps, interesting enclosures) but overall they're a very fuss free pet. I have a two year old and he finds the tortoise fascinating.

Tortoises are also lots more fun than people give them credit for. They they have little personalities, and our's is actually incredibly social.

[FunnysInLaJardin]

Budgies are great pets and very easy to look after,

I much prefer our budgie to the numerous hamsters etc we have had over the years.

We have cats and chickens too, but they wouldn't be suitable from what you say.

[Notgoingonholiday]

I think guinea pigs are great pets, but it will need input from you. Once you get used to looking after them, it's hardly a massive burden. They need cleaning out everyday and handling/cuddling, which is great for DC. We've got cats and fish too. Had hamsters and I wouldn't recommend them as pets personally.

[TheVeryHungryTortoise]

That sentence doesn't read very well. Was trying to say that you need to initially put in lots of effort to research about care and conditions.

[ShouldWeChangeTheBulb]

Mice are probably the easiest. They need cleaning every week and feeding. That’s about it. If you get three females (males stink) and the kids ignore them they’ll still be happy with each other.
Rats need a lot of attention.

[ComicePear]

I'd go for a hamster. We have guinea pigs and they aren't too much bother (although def more than our cats) but as another poster says they live a lot longer than hamsters, which isn't necessarily a good thing if you think you're going to end up being the one to clean it out.

[VenusClapTrap]

Please don’t get a pet unless you actively want one. It’s not fair on any animal to be cared for grudgingly, either by a child who has got bored or a parent who dislikes it.

This is why so many rabbits and guinea pigs suffer appallingly.

[sunset900]

Are you allergic to all cats? I have a family member who is allergic but only to short haired cats.

Cats are definitely the least work out of all the pets we have had