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Original poster

How to let child know Santa can't bring a gift

55 replies

88Pandora88 · 29/10/2022 18:10

So my 8 year old DD has been asking for pet rats, it's £200 for the cage alone, never mind accessories etc. Then she wants 2 female rats as well.. We've been putting it off due to cost and nowhere really to have the cage as we have pet cats already who obviously wouldn't be impressed by rats.
Any way DD has now said she's going to ask Santa for a cage and 2 rats!
We've always said santa brings one gift and mummy and daddy etc buy the rest, but especially this year, santa can't afford that! How can Santa let her know this won't be possible!

I'm pretty sure a cage won't fit down the chimney either lol

OP posts:
sanityisamyth · 29/10/2022 19:11

Luredbyapomegranate · 29/10/2022 19:10

the cage wouldn’t fit in his sack

and he doesn’t bring pets because if they fell off the slay they’d hurt themselves,, 🙁

Let's hope he doesn't slay them!

BobbyBobbyBobby · 29/10/2022 19:12

£11.99

How to let child know Santa can't bring a gift

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thepurplewhisperer · 29/10/2022 19:12

My rat cage was £20 on Facebook selling pages. Once I'd finished with it I passed it on again free for collection.

You might be able to get a large rat cage for free. All they need is a good scrub with hot water and disinfectant. You'll need to replace wooden parts which is fairly easy to do with untreated wood (just ask at the hardware).

I could be as cheap as £40 all in if you source pre-used things.

BattenburgDonkey · 29/10/2022 19:13

Even if you had plenty of money, Santa shouldn’t bring pets, they are an expensive commitment as a family not a Santa gift. So just nip it in the bud and explain it’s a family purchase that you can’t afford right now

whattodo2019 · 29/10/2022 19:13

We have always said FC doesn't
bring pets or live stock....
I've also gone as far as setting limits on prices, but saying to the children
that they didn't want to come
across greedy... Bloody tough though

StridTheKiller · 29/10/2022 19:13

Obviously Santa doesn't bring live animals (nor hopefully dead ones).

Greeneyegirl · 29/10/2022 19:18

Ooo this is an unusual way of doing things. Father Christmas always bought us a stocking if little gifts. Books, small toys, CDs and DVDs when people had them! Big gift came from parents. I now see why my parents did that!

PortiasBiscuit · 29/10/2022 19:18

I have rats, they are a huge commitment. They need let out of their cage into a safe, free run area at least three times a week, spot cleaning to keep the cage clean, full clean once a fortnight. They also are very prone to tumours and other diseases so die frequently.
I am obsessed with mine but I am a 58 year old woman, they are not suitable pets for a child unless that child has full adult support.
Get her a hamster if you must but be prepared to do most of the work looking after it.
Tell her Santa says that she is too young for rats, because she is.

Luredbyapomegranate · 29/10/2022 19:21

sanityisamyth · 29/10/2022 19:11

Let's hope he doesn't slay them!

Show quote history

😁 Evil Santa and his pet gobbling reindeer.

stargirl1701 · 29/10/2022 19:23

No pets from FC! It's against UK law!

PortiasBiscuit · 29/10/2022 19:25

YellowRoseNoon · 29/10/2022 18:42

£200 for a rat cage. Where are you pricing that up from, Harrods?
Flipping heck, I would not be paying that much.
You can keep rats in a vivarium, quite cheap by comparison. They're rats. They aren't that fussy. Looks better and keeps the mess and smells down. We had rats, very boring pet. If you do give in and get them, make sure they're both the same sex so they don't breed. Nothing quite like the experience of having to pick the dead bodies of their babie's, that the parents have chewed the heads off of, out of the nest. Yes, that happened and I was the only one willing to do it. Gross.

Other family members has various small rodents when I was a kid. They always got bored of them very quickly. I am not a fan of these types of pet.

Tell your child that Santa doesn't have a livestock handling licence and you wouldn't want him to get arrested while he still has everyone else's presents left to deliver.

Just seen this, rats are NOT boring, you are not stimulating them enough. You should not keep them in a vivarium EVER as they do not get a good airflow and are prone to respiratory diseases. If they eat their babies it is because they are extremely stressed.. Shame on You!

if you must have rats, at least learn first how to look after them, they are not easy pets, they cannot be left in a cage for months and ignored. I suggest you Google some of the rat ladies on YouTube and then you will understand what a large commitment you are taking on if you actually want happy healthy rats.

Original poster
88Pandora88 · 29/10/2022 20:00

CakeCrumbs44 · 29/10/2022 18:17

Santa doesn't bring pets.

Santa also doesn't bring "big" presents in most houses. He brings a stocking/sack of small gifts and big gifts are from parents/grandparents/auntie whoever. Probably too late to implement that now though.

We've always said santa only brings one or two presents, last year he got both dd a personalised reindeer Teddy and another small gift, we've always said we get most of it 😊 I'll defo use the no pets rule though 😊

OP posts:
Original poster
88Pandora88 · 29/10/2022 20:01

Ellmau · 29/10/2022 18:22

If budget is a concern, don't forget about vet care.

All practicalities have been taken into consideration, hence why she hasn't got pet rats already

OP posts:
Original poster
88Pandora88 · 29/10/2022 20:04

YellowRoseNoon · 29/10/2022 18:42

£200 for a rat cage. Where are you pricing that up from, Harrods?
Flipping heck, I would not be paying that much.
You can keep rats in a vivarium, quite cheap by comparison. They're rats. They aren't that fussy. Looks better and keeps the mess and smells down. We had rats, very boring pet. If you do give in and get them, make sure they're both the same sex so they don't breed. Nothing quite like the experience of having to pick the dead bodies of their babie's, that the parents have chewed the heads off of, out of the nest. Yes, that happened and I was the only one willing to do it. Gross.

Other family members has various small rodents when I was a kid. They always got bored of them very quickly. I am not a fan of these types of pet.

Tell your child that Santa doesn't have a livestock handling licence and you wouldn't want him to get arrested while he still has everyone else's presents left to deliver.

OH had pet rats as a teen, he loved his and they were super tame and trained. This is probably half the reason DD wants them.
As for the cage, it's on amazon, there are cheaper ones yes but they're not big enough and don't allow enough room for the rats to live.

OP posts:
PostAndGhost · 29/10/2022 20:04

Santa has a toy factory , he doesn't bring animals or electronics

whenimakeithome · 29/10/2022 20:07

YellowRoseNoon · 29/10/2022 18:42

£200 for a rat cage. Where are you pricing that up from, Harrods?
Flipping heck, I would not be paying that much.
You can keep rats in a vivarium, quite cheap by comparison. They're rats. They aren't that fussy. Looks better and keeps the mess and smells down. We had rats, very boring pet. If you do give in and get them, make sure they're both the same sex so they don't breed. Nothing quite like the experience of having to pick the dead bodies of their babie's, that the parents have chewed the heads off of, out of the nest. Yes, that happened and I was the only one willing to do it. Gross.

Other family members has various small rodents when I was a kid. They always got bored of them very quickly. I am not a fan of these types of pet.

Tell your child that Santa doesn't have a livestock handling licence and you wouldn't want him to get arrested while he still has everyone else's presents left to deliver.

it would have been quicker for you to type ‘I’m a shit pet owner and shouldn’t be allowed to own animals’

been and done it. · 29/10/2022 20:14

barelyfunctional · 29/10/2022 18:18

Santa doesn’t bring pets! But if it’s something you want to think about in future you should be able to get a cage second hand much cheaper than that, just clean thoroughly with a rat friendly cleaner. Accessories aren’t too expensive and you can diy a lot of them, eg make hammocks with fleece or jersey fabric from old t shirts.

Also there are a few ratty rescues about.

Snugglemonkey · 29/10/2022 20:22

TheChosenTwo · 29/10/2022 18:31

Ooh no, everyone knows Santa doesn’t bring pets of baby siblings!
it’s not safe and they’re too much of a big commitment to just dump on someone. Santa is very responsible in this way…
(and very irresponsible in others, flying while under the influence 🫣)

This! We have had requests for siblings and pets but they are both beyond Santa's remit. He does not deliver living beings.

eddiemairswife · 29/10/2022 20:28

Does she still believe at 8 years old?

SeemingOKToday · 29/10/2022 20:32

FC doesn't have time to look after animals on his busiest night of the year, plus they wouldn't be safe in the sleigh obviously.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 29/10/2022 20:57

Santa is not allowed by law to bring any animals, because he can’t possibly be sure that people will look after them properly. Plus, it’s too cold for them on the sleigh.

Same applies to babies - a 3 yo Gdd did once ask for a real one, boy or girl, she wasn’t fussy.

ODFOx · 29/10/2022 21:00

Lovely scroll explaining impossibility of living gifts.
Alternative of your choice with staying power (new hobby etc) or experience (zoo visit or animal experience if some sort).

Inasec24 · 29/10/2022 21:09

When my DD asked FC for a real fairy, he told her he can never bring living beings - only toys. There's your answer!

Coconutcream123 · 29/10/2022 21:13

I think saying Santa doesn't bring live presents aka. Pets is the best option.
I always asked for a piglet or a pony and he never brought me one 🤣