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Original poster

Tell me what the ideal pet is, dd desperately wants a pet...

38 replies

admylin · 14/03/2007 10:11

Please tell me what sort of pets you all have? Dd has one wish, and that is to have a cat. We live on the 3rd floor in a flat, city center and it wouldn't be possible to let the cat in and out. A dog is also a no.
Our problem is that we might be moving within 2 years - abroad, so not easy to take a pet into account but also not impossible. Any ideas? Just can't deside. Not allowed a bird either as we had 2 budgies but they made so much noise when dh was working they drove him crazy. Would maybe consider it again though. Ds says a lizard would be great ...interested to know what you all have and how easy they are to look after.

OP posts:
Piffle · 14/03/2007 10:12

fish

Nbg · 14/03/2007 10:14

Lizards need quite alot of looking after. Certain temperatures in its tank and they eat weird food.

What about a Chinchilla? Its a bit different but they are gorgeous.
Or a hamster?

SSShakeTheChi · 14/03/2007 10:15

A family I know have two guinea pigs and a rabbit (in separate hutches) on the balcony. Don't know what you do in winter though if it reaches -15. I was considering guinea pigs too but you need to get 2 it seems.

Original poster
admylin · 14/03/2007 10:15

Suggested that to dd but she reckons that is the most boring pet there is! Might still take her to look at some though.

OP posts:
Nbg · 14/03/2007 10:16

I bet if she saw a chinchilla she'd change her mind!

Enid · 14/03/2007 10:16

tamagotchi

Kelly1978 · 14/03/2007 10:17

a rat. They don't bite like hamsters, and are bigger so easier for young children to handle. They are a lot easier to tame too, and very intelligent. They can also be quite affectionate in their own way, mine used to cuddle up in my top and go to sleep. You cna bath them so taht they don't smell, and since they are bigger you can let them run around without worrying they will dissapear into a crack in the skirting. You can even toilet train them to only go in a jar or something so they can be very clean.

Original poster
admylin · 14/03/2007 10:17

Guinea pigs and rabbits would be great but we don't have a balcony. Maybe a hamster? Don't they sleep all day?

OP posts:
Original poster
admylin · 14/03/2007 10:18

No, fish are boring so she says, chinchillas are gorgeous, friends have 2 but they are also night active I think.

OP posts:
SSShakeTheChi · 14/03/2007 10:18

No idea what a chincilla looks like actually

inanidealworld · 14/03/2007 10:19

A cat.
cats can quite happily be 'house cats'. Have had many over the years and in my childhood (house and outdoor) and they were great. Not too difficult to look after either.

Original poster
admylin · 14/03/2007 10:20

tamagotchi!
She already has 3 puppies on her nintendo ds so she isn't as deprived as she thinks!

OP posts:
NotanOtter · 14/03/2007 10:20

a rat is the ideal pet according to dp

fun
clean
loves being played with
clever

Kelly1978 · 14/03/2007 10:20

you can keep gunea pigs and rabbits indoors. They tend to smell a lot though.

Nbg · 14/03/2007 10:22

RATS!
[shudder]

Yep, hamsters and Chincillas are nocturnal.

SSShakeTheChi · 14/03/2007 10:23

I know people who own rats always seem to speak well of them but I really wouldn't fancy a rat in the house myself

GameGirly · 14/03/2007 10:26

We've had 2 guinea pigs for 3 years now. They live in the garden, regardless of the weather, although they have plenty of straw to keep them warm. The kids love them: they're sociable, friendly, responsive and low maintenance. They like to snuggle up the DDs'jumpers when they're watching tv. They chirrup and they're dead cute!

Original poster
admylin · 14/03/2007 10:28

Also heard of house cats before. Have to go on a trip round a good pet shop at the weekend (SSShake, you can maybe reccomend where I will find a big one in Berlin?)

OP posts:
pindy · 14/03/2007 10:29

stick insects!!!

Actually rats are very good.

nuttymum1 · 14/03/2007 10:34

i have a bearded dragon they are easier than my cat or dog they only need cleaning once a month the are the tamest lizards there is and will sit on you for ages

GameGirly · 14/03/2007 10:36

Sorry, Nutty, but I just couldn't love a lizard (although I'm sure yours is fab ! Just not cuddly though, are they??

Original poster
admylin · 14/03/2007 10:37

What does a bearded dragon need to live in? A cage or aquarium? Do you have to buy grasshoppers to feed it? Does it need a special light/heating?

OP posts:
wannaBeWhateverIWannaBe · 14/03/2007 10:46

how old is your dd? tbh I wouldn't have reptiles as in reality they need special care, right heat, right light etc and without the right conditions they can become sick, eg have brittle bones etc which aren't always apparent to the owner.

hamsters are nocturnal, but on the plus side they only live for about two years so that could tie in nicely with you moving .

how about a bird, budgie/cockatiel. if you get one bird it will bond with you whereas two birds together are less likely to be tame and will make more noise. We have a budgie atm - have had him for nearly two weeks and he's just about tame now, although budgies can be quite skittish. cockatiels are lovely, and they love to be held/cuddled/have their heads scratched, I had cockatiels when younger and they spent hardly any time in their cage as spent most of it on my shoulder/with run of the house, and if you get a female they're less likely to screach as much, although males are more likely to learn to talk/whistle tunes etc.

SSShakeTheChi · 14/03/2007 10:50

have to pass I'm afraid admylin, can't remember ever having seen any petshops here anywhere.

Bucketsofdynomite · 14/03/2007 10:59

Reptiles get fleas more than small rodents funnily enough.
Gerbils are noisy at night, they thump their big back legs like rabbits.
I'd probably go for a rat but if you're not totally organised about housework I'd avoid pets alltogether in a flat. Pets smell.