Getting a pet?

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Ds11 would love a pet as would dh and I. Problem is we can't agree on what pet! Dh would love a cat as he grew up with cats. I grew up wing fish and a budgie but not keen on either. Ds would like a hamster rabbit cat or dog.
I'm coming around to the cat idea as we travel a bit so need Pet who can be left for short periods

Any advice or experiences appreciated

You could get away with leaving a cat for about 24hrs. No more than that. Do you have a neighbour who could pop in to feed it? If not cat needs a cattery or a paid pet visitor to feed him/her.

It’s really important for kids to grow up with a pet. It teaches them so much about responsibility and kindness. Pros and cons for all really. I adore rabbits but they are hard work to keep clean and despite what people think, they need a huge area, definitely not a small hutch and they’re not always keen on being picked up. Cats are great but they do often shred your soft furnishings. Hamsters often bite and don’t live terribly long.,Have you considered a tortoise? They are lovely and easy to care for. Personally I’d opt for a dog but if you’re away lots I get that’s tricky.

I'd say cat - pretty independent and happy with a sitter popping in to feed them when you are away.

I love our dog but he is a huge tie - can't leave him for more than 4 hours so a daytrip to a zoo or museum means calling in a favour from friends/organising paid cover. We usually holiday in the UK but have to be mindful of beach bans and the heat, it's not as simple taking him with us as I envisaged.

Hamsters - I had a couple as a kid. They are nocturnal so awake (& noisy!) at night, and asleep/ grumpy at being woken in the day.

Rabbits are not easy pets - check out the RWAF website - you need at least two, a 60ft² enclosure, annual vaccinations and they can live over a decade.

Have you considered guinea pigs? You still need 2 (or more), but they need less space than rabbits & make delightful noises whenever you open the fridge. Very unlikely to bite & awake during the day so much easier to interact with than hamsters.

I'd say a cat or a pair of guinea pigs! As long as you have a plan for when you're away then either are very rewarding without being a massive tie.

A cat will come and go, especially if you get a rescue you can match one to your let up.

Piggies do need more space than you'd think and they poo loads, but they're very sweet characters. Easy to handle, awake in the day, a delight to watch and chat to.

Thanks for all the advice

Going to look at rescue websites

Please don't get a cat because you think they are easier to "leave" when you go away. You might get away with an overnight stay if you have a reliable neighbour but otherwise you are still looking at a cattery or a proper pet sitter. That's assuming you will be a caring, responsible owner.

Not true. It teaches them that we can dominate other species. And that we can pick and choose which animals live or die, if we get a carnivorous pet.

If childhood pet ownership made people kind, we'd see far more vegans around. Sadly, we do not. We mostly just have people who like pets.

Whatever pet you get make sure it's one that you as the adults are most comfortable and happy with. Ultimately animals have lots of needs and the child is very likely to loose interest after a while, so it will fall on the parents to make sure the animal has all of its needs catered to and is not neglected. So pick one you'll see as "your pet" rather than DC's pet, if that makes sense!