Alternative to guinea pig for dd11

[KATE3003]

Please help! All my dd11 wants for christmas are two guinea pigs; she literally goes on and on and on about it.... It is a bad idea for lots of reasons, not least because we have a mouse killer cat who I think would stalk the cage... I also can't cope with the thought of having them inside through the winter..... I have been trying to suggest some other (non - living ideas) as an alternative...She has a phone, not interested in ipad etc... Has anyone got any wow suggestions please that might make her forget about her guinea pig plan. She has just written me a four page letter trying to persuade me using lots of persuasive techniques (I'm an English teacher..) and I really need to think of something to distract her....

You wanted non pet ideas:

• animal encounter at local zoo
• farmer for a day at local activity farm
• junior keeper experience at local wildlife place
• walking with llamas
• husky ride
• pony trekking experience

DD2 has done 4 of the above and is getting a 5th one for Christmas. (We have a hamster, it doesn't smell, it lives in our dining room.)

Yes, a Keeper day is a great idea. Be warned though that when DD did it, she had to feed chopped-up chicks and mice to the hawks... which might not go down well with an 11 year old.

You say you have a cat? Could you perhaps tell her that she is in charge of cleaning the cat litter, feeding cat etc and if she does for a month then it will be considered? Likely hood is she will get sick of it or forget etc. Children often don't understand the work side of owning an animal!

Just to throw you a curve ball what about an insect my DD has a preying mantis, all right so you can't hold it and stroke it but it does make an interesting pet especially watching it grow very quickly, eventually they get wings, they take up a small space, don't need much care and have short lives.

I'll second the rats comments they are brilliant pets to, we'll be getting some when we move house and have more room.

@LuckyKitty13 fab advice! I don’t recommend anyone get a rabbit for their child. The amount I see for sale as the child has lost interest ... well duh! Also they are expensive and hutches are too small.

Op how about a teddy guinea pig that moves like one of the animagic pets?

They're lovely pets but it's you that will put in all the hard work. I'm just coming up to 10 years of piggies after giving in to my dd who was 8 at the time! I do love them but I've really had enough. Chopping veg & salad every morning for 10 years, hay everywhere for 10 years. One dies so you need a replacement for the bereaved lonely survivor. It's an endless cycle! We've only got one now & she's getting on a bit so definitely no more.
Certainly stick to your guns if it's not what YOU want.

Thanks so much for all the suggestions - I really think guinea pigs will end up being a job for me and I do worry about the life they would lead! I hadn't thought about some of the other pets suggested so will have a think about them! I'll def suggest fish, but maybe she would go for a zookeeper experience. She is very committed to guinea pigs now but I can see that waning as she gets older...

I think if you’re clear it’s a no and explain why, her interest might wane. Seems as though she was sensing you were a bit undecided. Maybe she can think of an alternative that would work either with cats or be suited to being housed in her bedroom. Most rodents and small furries are a bit pongy to be honest. Hamsters are nocturnal and bitey when small. A non nocturnal reptile such as bearded dragon might be a possibility if you can face the live feeding. They are friendly and easily handled and like to be ‘worn’.

I would personally give up the cats and get the guinea pigs! Maybe I'm just immune to them now but I don't smell them except when actually cleaning out their (indoor) run. My friend's cat tray thing smells much worse. But I wouldn't risk your cat having a guinea pig sandwich.

We’re on our second male Syrian hamster for dd, who is nearly 13. Eldest dd who is 22 also has one, they make lovely pets with the right care and it’s been a really positive experience for us. 😀

Female hamsters can give off an odour. Males don’t smell at all, and if you use good hygienic bedding available now, e.g., carefresh or similar, clean out regularly and spot clean their loo corner in between they never smell. Dd had a bit of help with cleaning at first but does this all herself now.

None of ours have been ‘bitey’. After a couple of days to settle, spend (supervised at first) time with them on a daily basis, learning to hold them and feed treats and with the right gentle handling, which an 11 year old is easily capable of, they can become extremely tame. We had gerbils with ds1 and 2, and Syrian hamsters are much easier to handle.

A proper large size cage is a must, natural housing within that and lots of natural chew toys etc mean they don’t gnaw the cage bars out of boredom, which would be noisy at night, and get a separate low noise wheel, not one attached to a cage. Make them a nicer environment and they’re a lot happier and they make a tame and very sweet pet.

We have seven cats by the way and it’s not been a problem at all.

Guinea pigs are not the easy pets pet stores would have you believe! They cages they sell are often far too small for them as well. They need stimulation, space to run around in, company, warmth, hay, dried food, greens, water changes and lots of attention. I have 2 guineas and a big 4x2 candc cage with a ramp up to a 1x4 loft for mine with fleece bedding and absorbent liners and they live indoors. They do smell if you don't change them every couple of days but in the UK unless it's warm summer it's not good welfare to leave them outside so at v least you'd need warm cage covers and preferably a shed/hut to protect them and lots of hay to huddle in. Too often they're just left when the novelty wears off down the bottom of the garden cold and unsocialised... Definately not a starter pet for little ones. My friend has one that's 11 as well so they can be a looong commitment!!

If you're not ready to take this on when little one inevitably loses interest then don't do it as you'll really regret caving and the tie if you decide to go on holiday as well as they're a lot less portable than eg a hamster cage or a dog too!

No ideas here but my dd (10) is also pleasing for a guinea pig. She's written a long article about how to care for them etc. 3 years ago she begged for rabbits and got them (we'd been thinking of pets and they suited, and are loved by everyone), she does nothing for them so she's not having any more. I'm just riding this phase out.

I would say Guinea pigs make great pets, but as others have mentioned they can be very messy . They are affectionate and believe it or not have a great sense of fun! They are far more interactive and have less health problems than rabbits. However, don't be fooled by their low purchase costs, while they are pretty hardy compared to rabbits, a trip to the vets if they get poorly will cost as much as a cat or small dog in terms of a consultation fee and medicine - anywhere between £30 and £60 depending on where you live. Also you must always keep guineas in groups of 2 (preferably 3) or more as they are social animals. My advice would also be for her to spend time with guineas owned by others to make sure she is not allergic.
And PLEASE don't buy them for Christmas, it is the worst time to get a new pet and is very stressful for the pet with all the comings and goings at that time of year. Wait a couple of months after Christmas - if she really wants them it won't matter when 🙂

What about a tortoise?

We used to have a guinea pig as kids; Mum had a Siamese cat who was very interested. He only stuck his paw through the bars once though-the short-sighted GP thought it was a treat, and bit it!

We have guinea pigs- currently with me in the conservatory where I work! Plus a cat who is a mouser and a dog bred to hunt hares. Yet somehow its fine! The cat and dog just ignore them, I guess because they know they cant get in the cage. I literally sit right next to them all day I the winter when they are inside and they dont smell. However I knew my kids wouldn't do the cleaning etc so went into it knowing they were in effect my pets and I love them!

Before you decide anything, ask yourself if you yourself want guinea pigs. You will be the one doing the majority of the work. I got my ds 11, 3 guinea pigs in June. They started off outside but have been in since September as I couldn't bear them to be cold. They require constant care, feeding and cleaning. They need a particular diet, their nails cutting and enough space so they don't fight. If you want them and are happy to do the additional work, then get them. They're ace and I wouldn't be without them. They do however eat and poop constantly and you'll forever be cleaning them and there'll be hay all over the place. My ds loves them but is yet to clean them out himself. My cats have accepted them and leave them alone. They understand that they are family not prey. If you are in any doubt, don't get them. They are a huge undertaking and there are too many unwanted or neglected pets. If you think you can love them unconditionally, then you're in for a treat.

Gerbils? Don't smell or need a lof of cleaning out and kept in a glass rank they'll be safe.

Honestly, could you not make the guinea pigs work? Your dd is well old enough to look after them herself so your responsibility would be reminding her rather than having to clean the cage yourself.

We have 3 preditary cats but my 8yo is well able to chase them out of the room and shut the door before getting the pigs out.

I probably wouldn't get them for Christmas though. It's too busy a time for them to settle in.

I think the line, we don't give animals for presents because they are living things is due a repeat.

I had chinchillas, lovely to look at, non smelly but boy do they poo and they can live 20 years.

I'm just waiting for the Gumtree Adverts after Christmas

We have two female guinea-pigs Anna and Elsa . Kids got bored / grew out of them/have allergies (after going all out to search a ginger and a white piggie)

There's the new Frozen 2 film . The last one was 6 yeas ago. So there will be Annas/Elsas/Svens and Olafs a-plenty

Gerbils! Not smelly and very easy to look after.

I would also suggest gerbils.
We have had most small animals, rats are by far my favorite but gerbils don't smell, can live in a fish tank with a metal top cage.
They aren't that cuddly, mice are better but super stinky.
Fish were a lot of work.

Just wondering if you could rehome some older guinea pigs, so you don't have as long with them just in case you end up looking after them... They live 4-8 years according to google so maybe you can find a pair of say 3 year olds?

How about contacting a local rabbit/guinea rescue? Ours never have enough cages so we fostered some baby bunnies until they found homes. It may be hard to let them go for your daughter but maybe she could be a longish term foster so that if the novelty wears off you can return the guinea.

Research the physical and psychological health benefits of a child having pets. For an hour a week cleaning I think guineas are ideal.