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Original poster

Pet advice for upset DD

78 replies

Doza · 10/09/2018 22:26

My DD13 has always wanted a dog. It's not going to happen as we are out of the house too much working full time. She has just had a bit of a breakdown:she really really wants a pet but she wants one that she can play with. Gerbils/ hamsters won't do as they aren't responsive enough according to her.
I would be fine with a cat but DH strongly objects as, in his words, "they shed everywhere and we'd never keep them off the kitchen surfaces".
Any ideas for a suitable pet that DD can interact with?
Or ways of persuading DH that cats can be trained?
DD is really upset this time Sad

OP posts:
Ginkypig · 10/09/2018 22:53

Fish!

There are responsibilities like water changes etc but some just have the most brilliant personalities like pleco for example and they really are nice to watch and to see them grow or to give them everything they need to make them happy.

Some can be trained to eat from your fingers

Pet advice for upset DD
Pet advice for upset DD
lastqueenofscotland · 10/09/2018 22:55

Guinea pig?
My friend has a very tame house rabbit

Ginkypig · 10/09/2018 22:55

I know Iv ignored 99% of what you've asked Blush

They could become a much loved lifelong hobby for her though!

Floralnomad · 10/09/2018 22:58

Rats , perfect pets for children ( and adults ) , trainable and real people pleasers .

Largepiecesofcrookedwood · 10/09/2018 22:58

Rats?
Or ferrets?
I've had great fun with both and after the day I've had today with DDog2 I rather wish I'd stuck with them

Wolfiefan · 10/09/2018 22:58

How about volunteering with the cinnamon trust or a local charity? She can have some time with pets but no massive commitment?
My short haired cats don't shed much and don't go on the kitchen surfaces. Can you not just shut the kitchen door?
Seriously though I wouldn't get any pet for a child. If you want one fine. But a cat could
Live for 20 plus years. Your DD won't be living at home then I bet. And she won't do the "donkey work" of looking after a pet either. Feeding and poo picking and vet visits and medicating? That'll be you.

pickles184 · 10/09/2018 22:59

Rats and guinea pigs are very responsive pets that if properly handled very much enjoy interactions and trainable etc..
There are a number of birds that may be worth looking at if she would consider them?

m0therofdragons · 10/09/2018 23:00

My cats don't go on the kitchen surface. They do shed but comb them and vacuum regularly and it's fine.

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 10/09/2018 23:00

I've never had a cat jump on kitchen work surfaces, and I've had cats all my life!

If they do - line up empty cans along the edge, just out of the cats view. Cat jumps up, cans go flying, cat goes flying... and never does it again.

Shedding? Decent hoover and make it your DD's job on a daily basis.

Patchworksack · 10/09/2018 23:01

Also would suggest charity volunteering or 'borrow my doggy' type arrangement? I suspect due to her age you'd have to be willing to supervise.

Singlenotsingle · 10/09/2018 23:03

You could get an older rescue dog, one that's been trained and just needs a home. There's doggy daycare, or people who will come and walk the dog for you.

Hedgehogblues · 10/09/2018 23:03

Another vote for guinea pigs they are adorable social little creatures who will eat from your hands and love a cuddle

Badcat666 · 10/09/2018 23:08

Oh def rats! They make lovely pets, I had them when I was 16 and they were amazing. trained them to come out and play and they would respond to whistles and their names. Spent many a happy hour watching telly with them sitting on my lap and shoulder having cuddles and eating snacks with me. (one would even ride the dog). They even went back into their HUGE cage to use their "bathroom".

steppingout · 10/09/2018 23:09

I had pet rats, they were brilliant. Very sociable and intelligent, and really not smelly. You can toilet train them!

LucheroTena · 10/09/2018 23:12

Lots of cats dont shed much.
Agree rats are super.
A friendly reptile like a bearded dragon or uromastyx.

LucheroTena · 10/09/2018 23:13

Or a bird. Budgie or cockatiel

one2three4five · 10/09/2018 23:14

PERFECT PET! Sphynx cat! They are an acquired taste I'll admit, but we have one, and he is GORGEOUS! Oh my goodness, a bundle of furless affection. You don't need to worry about the shedding, because they are bald, but honestly so lovely to stroke, they are so warm and a bit like stroking a peach. The downsize is that they have a hefty price tag if you want a healthy one from a reputable place, although they do sometimes come up as rescues if you look in the right places. They have to be indoors, as they get cold in the winter and sunburned in the summer, but they are such people oriented homebodies that this isn't usually a problem.

We adore ours, he's so precious!

TheHobbitMum · 10/09/2018 23:17

I have Guinea pigs and to get them to a very friendly responsive stage where they will happily cuddle does take an awful lot of work. They aren't an easy pet at all really. I'd suggest rats as they love company and she'd be able to play with them and interact a lot. Volunteering with an animal charity is also a great idea, I work at a wildlife rescue in my teens and absolutely loved it!

jigsawpiece · 10/09/2018 23:21

Gecko?

LardLizard · 10/09/2018 23:25

I’d say a cat

Davros · 11/09/2018 00:43

Get a cat. Ours does jump on the kitchen surfaces and we clean them. I put a tea towel over the chopping board to keep it cat's arse free. She's a bit naughty but the best thing we ever did for DD

Original poster
Doza · 11/09/2018 23:14

Thank you all for your replies: had a wifi outage there for a bit. I'll have a look at the practicalities of rats and may try and have another talk about cats with DH. Thats a good idea about an older rescue dog as well, although DH hates dogs so maybe not.
Thanks again lots to consider!

OP posts:
NC4Now · 11/09/2018 23:20

My cat’s a British Shorthair. He doesn’t shed much at all - only really at the height of summer, and he doesn’t really jump on the worktop. The odd time he does he’s after something I’m making (eg tuna) so I just put him down with a bit of whatever it is in his bowl, wipe the side and carry on. He’s happy then.
He’s never brought anything he’s hunted home either.
Maybe research breeds a bit more. You might find one that works for you.

GinIsIn · 11/09/2018 23:24

Rats are extremely intelligent so she will need to put in quite a bit of time to play with them and keep them entertained, but they are brilliant pets.

SnailMailFan · 11/09/2018 23:37

We have a cat, a rabbit, a mouse, two gerbils and three guinea pigs. Theyre all brilliant pets, although as yet the mouse isn’t very interactive, and its taken me over 7 years to tame our rabbit. (All pets are rescues, and the rabbit had been badly abused).

In my opinion Guinea Pigs would be perfect for your daughter. Theyre so greedy, and therefore easy to tame, they don’t bite, and if you buy (or hopefully rescue) smooth coated ones you won’t have problems with shedding. Ours are all very chatty and friendly. Rescues around here have loads of guinea pigs looking for homes, although most are male.

Just as an aside, our very ordinary short haired cat doesn’t shed much, apart from at the beginning of summer, he also doesn’t go on the work surfaces.