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

[admylin]

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.

i have just put a couple of pic on my profile for you of my lizard he eats crickets locusts and milworms and green salad/veg you need to have a uv light and you need to give vitimin suplements i dont know what area you are in but there is a fab reptile shop in essex i can give you thrir phone number if you want and they will be able to help you more

Honestly, rats make lovely pets. They are intelligent, affectionate and easier to handle for little people than gerbils or hamsters which are a bit little and fragile, and often never get really tame. Rats get as tame and cuddly as rabbits, will ride round on shoulders, sit on laps..go for a rat!

If you have a balcony get some bird feeders. This keeps my dd1 happy.

If a cat is what she really really wants,why not?
Reasons for a cat:

Can happily stay in doors
Clean
Don't need walking
Independent
Affectionate
High cuddleability factor
Can choose a shorthair if you don't want too much fur around
etc etc etc

Get an indoor tortiose!

Admylin: hamsters are rubbish pets. They hate being in captivity, and they bite incredibly hard (everyone who's ever owned one has at least one scar on their finger). Guinea pigs are much more adaptable, and can be house-trained.

I like Wall Lizards personally. They need a UV light in their cage to get their vitamins, and you feed them live crickets. They're quite fascinating for children. (Not cuddly, though, as someone pointed out already).

nutty i love your lizard! when we lived in a flat we got through about 4 hamsters. although they sleep alot they do still come out during the day and are easy to look after.

A friend of mine has a house cat and it works well,especially as the cat has a social phobia

I had a house cat - it had a social phobia and ADHD.

Thinking back, he probably had a miserable life really. he was a siamese, probably not the best for a house cat.

Our hamster is lively morning and evening - and makes an excellent pet, she puts up with a lot of handling and cuddling and "assault courses".

I stand corrected. I am clearly crap with hamsters .

Mine was the most miserable little bugger...

Yes, you are right she really wants a cat so probably all my suggestions will be of no use as she usually knows exactly what she wants! Have thought of trying the animal refuge place, she could have a trial cuddle maybe and if we're lucky she might change her mind as a cat lives for years we would have the hassle of transport if we move abroad. I think a good talk about it being sad for her and the animal if we can't take it might be my best bet!
Thanks for all the advice, my fave would have to be the lizard though!

Ratties ratties ratties!