AIBU to refuse to keep a pet in a flat?

[GrilledCheeseTomatoSoup]

DD thinks I am. She says all her friends have pets. She is desperate for a cute, cuddly pet like a kitten or a puppy. We live in a top floor, open plan flat and I don't believe it's really fair to have a pet.

YABU - get her a pet (what?)
YANBU - it's unfair to keep a pet when you've only a balcony as outdoor space and essentially one room.

You love and care for animals by not wanting one in a flat.

Your DD is probably incorrect to say all her friends have pets.

How old is DD
Is she old enough to walk the dog - take it out on roads/wood by herself - otherwise it's all up to you.

i think a hamster is idea and you can get silent wheels

@ChiefWiggumsBoy

You're the grown up here. You can just say no, no pets. When you're a grown up you can have as many as you like, but while we live here, no pets.

^^ this

There are plenty of indoor cats at rescues. You need to catproof your balcony with netting as cats do fall and get injured if allowed on balconies otherwise.

Cats do very well indoors.
At least they won't be destroying local wildlife.

I love sprocker spaniel 😂

@TrinnySmith 11, with activities every day after school.
@LlynTegid Of the girls in her class 2/3 definitely have pets, including one who has a cat in a flat. This is causing the most issues as we told her it was unfair on and unkind to a cat to keep it indoors etc before we knew this friend had an indoor cat.
@octoberafternoons Our balcony would be very hard to catproof as it's the top of the building. I imagine we'd also need building permission and all the residents to agree. Although it might solve my sunshade issues!

Too many references to house rabbit (singular) here. Rabbits should always have a companion (unless they are one of the rare ones who prefer to be alone which a rescue would know from previous attempts to bond).

They need a lot of space. They can be kept indoors (you can provide a digging box; it will be messy). Generally they don't like to be picked up or cuddled but do like to be stroked. They purr.

You can't get a guinea pig. They're incredibly sociable animals and one on its own will literally die from loneliness. My two hate each other and are in separate cages but get really distressed if they can't see one another. Contrary fucks.

You can't get a guinea pig.
yes, I know it's illegal to keep a single guinea pig.

Floor space is something we don't have.
MIL sees nothing wrong with an indoor car and would cat sit for us if required but nothing else 😂

Interrupting but we’re getting a beardie this weekend, I’m so excited, I wanted one for years.

It’s up to you but I know quite a few people who have indoor cats
My Dcats have always been outdoor animals but try a rescue who will probably have older cats who are happy to stay in a flat

Definitely not a dog as they really need space to run around. I'm not keen on indoor cats but if a rescue has an indoor cat needing a home that's an option. Personally I'd stick to the no pets rule or opt for a hamster (bonus they don't have long lives so when she inevitably gets fed up you aren't stuck with a pet for 15+ years

Is it only me who thinks it’s cruel to buy/adopt any pet just for the sole purpose for a kid to ‘cuddle’ e.g. pull about!?

We have a dog and a cat in a flat, our neighbour has three dogs, its fine. What isn’t fine is buying any animal for a child, it should be the adults who want the animals.

What about signing up for ‘borrow my dog’ unsure how they match you to someone local but you get to walk their dog for them.

Get her a cuddly toy pet instead. Don't get any animals unless you yourself want one.

I don't know why they insist on 2 kittens, we have had 2 from the same litter from kittens and they absolutely hate each other. They have a floor each and the middle floor is truce ground, but is rare you will see them both there at the same time.

Op, I personally wouldn't get any animals, I won't be getting any more after these two. Dd will get over it. Ultimately you will be looking after it when she goes off to uni etc so really it is a pet for you.

Also, everyone saying don't get an animal for a child, it should be the adults who want it. Listen to them! I did not want cats. My partner (who orherwise is lovely, been together 12 years, is a bloody amazing father to our children - just reminding myself 🤣) agreed to take them whilst I was not there.

I wouldn't be without them now, and obviously, I love them to bits, but god I wouldn't have another animal if you paid me.

It's absolute bollocks about keeping rabbits inside. They are fantastic indoor pets. Please read the house rabbit society website for advice that is more up to date!

Also my rabbits love a cuddle, one is a lap bun and will happily sit on your knee. The other doesn't but will 'bow' which in rabbit behaviour is where they want to be petted, he will sit to be stroked for bloody hours. He even gets annoyed if I don't pet him enough!

Such misinformation.

Rats make fantastic pets no outdoor space needed. They need to be in same sex pairs. Ime males are more affectionate than females. Every female rat I had was a bit of a cowbag and every male rat I had was a lovebug. 😁