Keeping a pet in a top floor flat with a 2 year old?

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Is this just a terrible idea? The question is more aimed at cat/dog, but if you think that is a terrible idea, is there any you'd recommend?
I grew up with pets and it's been too long without them since I moved out!

We're on the 5th floor with no lift, a 7yo child and 3 year old dog. It is fine. Do you have a partner? DH Andi take turns to take Woofs out for her walks: when we walk DS school, around midday, 4.30 when we get DS, 9pm when I get home I'll take her out again. Other than that, she"s a lazy schmoo who passes the day sleeping on the balcony with the wind in her fur. She doesn't bark, no complaints from the neighbours. She's a bit smaller than afghan-size, 120m flat with tiled floors.

My old neighbour when I lived in a flat had a dog (we lived on the 3rd floor)

I've never been bitten by a guinea pig either, ours will tug our clothes when they want to go back but they don't bite us.

I’d wait.
Have you got a partner? Even if you have, DC is entering into the clumsiest period of his life with poor impulse control. Keeping both him and the pet safe from each other without additional helping hands could be wearing.
I wouldn’t even consider a dog, my DD2 is older but disabled, so can’t be left alone at all, when we used to stay in a holiday flat with her and the dog, it was a total PITA if DH wasn’t there. Bundling DD2 out in the dark getting tangled in the dog lead and wrangling both of them outside whatever the weather wasn’t fun.

I think you'd probably be ok with a breed cat, they're that much further removed from being wild and don't seem to pine for the outside world like normal cats do. Normal cats that's is except my agoraphobic baby of a cat! He's allowed out, but chooses not to go!

I have Guinea pigs. They love going outside on the grass, I think it would be sad to keep them indoors all the time. They also smell,

Cats are fine in flats; seems a very British thing to believe they need to go outside (too dangerous imo) our baby is fine with our pair of cats in a 1BDR flat, just have to watch them together once LO is mobile

The last thing you need in a small-ish top floor flat with a 2 year old - is a house cat or dog.

our pair of cats in a 1BDR flat

God that is so depressing. Worse than animals in a zoo.

Two cats in a 1 bed flat? Super selfish. As if you have enough space to give them their own territory and enough space for them to fun and play properly.

Unless your one bed flat is unusually large at over 1000sq ft

So much hysteria over indoor cats, we have 2 in a small 3 bedroom house. We had 1 in a 1 bedroom flat. Both were assessed by the rescues they came from and decided that the environments were fine.
So long as you provide things for them to do and play with and play with them when you're in they will be absolutely fine.
My girls don't like the outside, it's noisy and we live on a busy street.
My mum got our first cat when I was 5 and my sister was born the following year. There were no serious issues. I once was silly and wound the cat up and got a bad scratch. Quite my fault and I never did it again.

Two cats in a 1 bed flat? Super selfish.

I have to agree, cats need space to play, climb, explore and also retreat when they want to be alone. I can't see how that would be possible for one cat in such a small space, let alone two.

Weird, when my sister tried to rehome a cat they wouldnt let her because she lived in a flat.

I got 2 kittens when I lived in a top floor flat (1 bedroom, no 2 year old though) that had never been outside before. I spent a fortune on cat trees, toys, climbing points etc. You need a litter tray for each cat, plus an extra. Their water and food should be in separate places and there should be space for them both to have a quiet area. With the toddler being in the mix you'd need to have LOTS of high places for a cat to escape to and they'd really need to be able to go anywhere. The only door I ever left closed was the bathroom door so they basically had the run of the place (which also meant I spent a fortune on cleaning wipes for the kitchen surfaces etc). The windows could never be left open, and the place had to be kept spotless (i.e. No clutter) as they would chew on plastic bags etc.

I moved to a house/garden when they were nearly 3 and it was a good job because they had outgrown the space in my opinion and after introducing them to the outside I think they are probably happier than in the flat. I don't think they were unhappy in the flat as I worked really hard to make it as cat friendly as possible but the option to go outside is better.

I personally wouldn't. Especially a dog. We have dogs and cats and I honestly would not reccommend for a flat. We've had inside cats too in the past and again I still wouldn't reccommend in your scenario. If you really want a pet, then a bearded dragon or a rat would be a better call. One of my rats used to run mazes. Another used to just be with me ALL the time on my shoulder or up a sleeve. Used to come when called and slept in my bed! (I was a teenager at the time).

Please don't get a rabbit unless you are really 100% on their needs. They need a LOT of attention. After having rabbits for several years with a massive part of the garden fenced off for them, to see them dig tunnels (or just a lot of holes!), do massive bunny flips, chase each other, sunbathe etc. It's hard to think they'd ever be ok in a cage.

You can't guarantee a cat will be happy inside. You can try and choose a breed that would be more suitable (Ragdolls / Persians etc.) But they are all different at the end of the day and you won't know until you have one what personality you've got....so why risk it not working out and having to rehome? One of our cats is LOUD and I'm sure if we lived in flats we would have had complaints. One of our current cats hates the outside. She'll only come out with us.

On another note your pet needs to be able to have space without being invaded by your 2 year old. Have a good think if that's possible. One of my cats actively disappears when we have visiting children under 5 (although likes our children, 3 under 6!) The other LOVES children of any age. Again really my point is you don't know what your cat (or dog) will be like. Our 2 dogs are also very differnet. My retriever is pretty uninterested in our children (unless they have food...), whilst our terrier loves a cuddle. They both have their own space and I NEVER leave them unsupervised with the children. Ever. I put them behind a gate, giving them 1/2 the house we have visiting children under 8.

Also re: dog...our elderly dog needs letting out for a wee all the time. More than 3 hours and she's desperate. Think if you could manage this with your lifestyle. Our dogs are never left for more than 3 hours (4, 5 at a push when they were younger), is this something you can commit to? Again you'll have people say you can leave dogs all day etc. But that's not my experience, especially with an older fur baby.

Sorry OP. Good luck with bringing an animal into your life. It's a wonderful addition to a family, but please choose carefully. You'll get a variety of views and some cats / dogs may well be fine in a flat but I personally think you're running the risk of heartbreak. Good luck and best wishes :)

Flats can be cat-friendly; plenty of resources online on how to accomplish that. Particularly American sites, since that’s the tradition there.

I won’t ever have my cats outdoors, even when I move into a home with a proper garden. Had a beloved cat unnecessarily killed by a car, won’t go through it again. Others turned up missing/never came home.

We had two cats and a toddler in a top-floor flat. The cats were fine - one was old and had no interest in going out, the other gallumphed over the rooftops - and we had two bathrooms, so the litter tray lived in the one we used less.

And there were plenty of nooks and crannies for the cats to escape into if necessary.

But it wasn’t ideal - I’d had the cats for years before DD came along, but once she became mobile, keeping her out of their food and litter tray was a bit of a pain.

I’d say that it can work but I probably wouldn’t choose it.

I deliberately moved to a more rural area and chose a house away from main roads and tucked away in a cul-de-sac with woodland/fields surrounding for that very reason pineapple. Very low risk of either being hit by a car.

Please don't get any animals. Definitely not a Guinea pig with a two year old. Guinea pigs are timid, temperamental animals who like the quiet and hate being pulled about which a two year old will no doubt do. At the very least, a bird (if you're at home alot) or a cat as they are independent mostly

We leave windows and the balcony door open all the time. Our cat will often sit by them or on the balcony, but she hasn’t ever tried to jump out.

Many cats are very happy to stay indoors. You just need to do a bit of work to find the right one before bringing them home.

I had a dog and a cat when I lived in a 3rd floor flat and it was no bother BUT i did not also have a 2 year old so for that reason I’d say no because I can’t imagine having to drag a kid with me to take the dog down to pee several times a day especially first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Sorry OP but I can’t see that as doable. However I have also had rats and they make great pets (just don’t buy from a pet store! Seek out a reputable breeder). I also currently have a bearded dragon and she’s a great pet too—very easy to care for once you have researched what they need, cute, not smelly and very chill to handle.

It's really selfish to have an animal with no fresh air or outdoor space available. Short of hamsters or snakes I just can't see why you would put your needs above theirs. Unless it needs to be indoors for specific health related reasons.

@Noeuf I agree. Can you imagine never getting to go outside. It would be awful.

If you like dogs, get rats! They're actually cleaner than people think, and they're affectionate and intelligent. You need at least 2 though, and a decently big cage, and they require an hour + of out-of-cage time per day. Mine used to scamper around our flat happily, although if you have a 2-year-old that might mess around with them, you can also get a playpen/run :)

Oh and yes, go to a breeder for rats. Pet stores are notoriously shitty - they don't handle their animals properly, and mis-sex them surprisingly often.

Possibly a bit boring for you, but how about fish? They are very soothing to watch. Or a budgie? Or a fancy rat or 2?
Not a dog though, really. Apart from the fact you would have to take it out quite a few times each day, including last thing at night, (and what would you do with your 2 year old while you are out?), dogs are a terrible tie. You can't leave them alone for hours on end, so kiss goodbye to days out, long shopping trips, etc, unless of course you take the dog with you or arrange alternative care. And then there are holidays to think about, and the expense of vet bills, insurance etc.
I don't know about cats. I've only ever had out door ones. I would be worried about it falling out of the windows in a flat.
Some flats don't allow pets. Have any of your neighbours got them?