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Original poster

Want a pet, no idea what though, any ideas?

61 replies

eefs · 07/10/2005 15:02

DS1 has been asking for a pet for a while now and I'd love to get him one, I'd love something for myself too. Here's the situation:

The house is empty for most of the day every weekday so not an animal that needs supervision. I can get two pets for company if necessary.

Have a small enclosed back garden so nothing that needs a lot of space.

Have two DS's - 5 and almost 2 so it would have to be a tough little animal - DS1 is gentle but ds2 is a little terror("it's just a phase, it's just a phase").
I don't have a lot of spare time for exercising, maybe half an hour a day.

House still not finished decor wise so there are a lot of exposed wires and hiding places for something very small.

So is there any pet that would be suitable for us or should I give up on the idea?

OP posts:
madmarchscare · 07/10/2005 15:04

goldfish?

Frizbe · 07/10/2005 15:10

Rabbit, lives in a hutch, stick a run on the front for exercise, eats not very much just change water once a day/every few days and fill bowl with food, pick leaves to feed it, won't bite or scrath either child (or would be very hard provoked to!) hardly any vets bills.

Original poster
eefs · 07/10/2005 15:10

should add something that will interact somewhat with us. I want to try and teach DS2 some gentleness (I would supervise him at all times of course).

I think they'd be bored by a goldfish

OP posts:
Original poster
eefs · 07/10/2005 15:11

was thinking maybe rabbit - would have to get two though for company and the hutches are expensive I think?

OP posts:
madmarchscare · 07/10/2005 15:17

Sorry, I was being a tad facetious, given that you had giddy kipper DS, not much time and exposed wires.

So, you cant have a dog. A cat would play with the wires. Something small kept in the house could be let out/smell/and are not so tough.

Rabbit or gineapig (sp?)sounds like the only option (only thing is that you will end up having to do all the 'mucking out' even though you have promises of help at the moment )

Original poster
eefs · 07/10/2005 15:22

sorry, was out last night - not picking up on subtleties.

what about a couple of pet mice? they could be in a cage during the day and I could set up a safe-room for them to run around in during the evening? Anyone got any experience?

OP posts:
madmarchscare · 07/10/2005 15:23

Had a quick look and this type seem to be about £100.

here

madmarchscare · 07/10/2005 15:24

Rabbit hutches that is, not mice.

Original poster
eefs · 07/10/2005 15:25

that's really cute! hmm, maybe a rabbit.

anything more exotic? Are pet lizards very inactive?

OP posts:
SPARKLER1 · 07/10/2005 15:27

I started a thread similar to this one about a week ago. Something I never really thought about now but have definitely taken into consideration is the negative side about getting a hamster/guinea pig. They sound like a perfect ideal pet for a child as they can hold/stroke them but they are nocternal animals and kids will get fed up when they don't get to see them.
We have a cat at the moment and dds love her. She has a cat flap so she can come and go as she pleases when we are out in the daytime. You mention wires to maybe a kitten wouldn't be such a good idea.
Try the cat protection league or RSCPA they have loads of cats wanting re-homing. They will also tell you which ones are suitable for a home with children.

Original poster
eefs · 07/10/2005 15:35

I'm going to visit a sanctary tomorrow to have a look, I might drop into a few pet stores as well.

I'd love a cat, I don't think the wires would be too much of a problem, I can't get a catflap installed though.

OP posts:
madmarchscare · 07/10/2005 15:39

Oh if your going to a sanctuary, thats it, you'll come home with one (or two!).

Our cats are very good and they dont have a flap or littler (since DS born) and they do go to the door when they want to go out.

SPARKLER1 · 07/10/2005 15:40

Whatever you get - don't forget to start your "What shall I call my pet?" thread

tamum · 07/10/2005 15:43

Guinea pigs aren't actually nocturnal, don't really smell, and are more handleable. They might not take to a rough 2 year old but will sit on laps and eat carrots and stuff. They like to be in pairs, and the indoor cages are around £40. I would recommend them

MassacreOHara · 07/10/2005 15:46

EEFS, where abouts are you? long shot I know but my rabbit ran away so have a hutch and run doing nothing in my back garden! also have a bag of shavings and a bag of hay in my shed (assuming mice hazven't got into it)

Original poster
eefs · 07/10/2005 15:58

thanks for the offer, am not in the UK now though. Would you not get another rabbit? how did you find it as a pet?

OP posts:
SPARKLER1 · 07/10/2005 16:08

re: nocturnal guinea pigs. PMSL

tamum · 07/10/2005 17:53

Do't worry Sparkler, I had to check Google before I posted just in case it was just ours that weren't nocturnal

bev1e · 07/10/2005 18:41

Ours aren't nocturnal either and are fab - they're such hardy creatures and no trouble to look after (aside from the cleaning out bit.)

One word of warning tho' they last for years - ours are still going strong and are 6 years old!

fishie · 07/10/2005 18:48

rabbits can bite and scratch, esp if not well tamed. guinea pigs are much gentler and make little chirruping noises when happy. i had gp, brother had rabbit, my pet far more successful

MassacreOHara · 07/10/2005 19:33

He was lovely eefs brill with dd who's 3. Didn't have to have him 'done' or anything!

I'm not overly keen on rabbits but really liked him, would definitely recommend as apet for young children but I may just have been lucky. He was a Norweigen Dwarf so small and cute.

MadameMorticiaMills · 07/10/2005 19:39

See Monkeytrousers, I believe she has 2 pets in need of a good home

jacobsmummy · 07/10/2005 20:26

we have two chickens, our garden is quite small but plenty big enough for them (though they scratch constantly at the dirt and do make a mess) but the eggs are wonderful.

we can pick them up, they peck on the back door in the morning for their toast and follow you round the garden chatting away like two old ladies, really funny!

Lara2 · 08/10/2005 14:29

Rats!! They're the most affectionate gorgeous animals. Best to do your research, try www.fancy-rats.co.uk
You need 2 at least, they are colony animals. Does are quite fast, bucks are more laid back. They're better than other rodents for young children because they're not are easily crunched (if you see what I mean!!)by little hands squeezing when the animal moves. I find that gerbils, hamsters etc are more nocturnal and not always very friendly. Guinea pigs and rabbits (which should also be kept with a companion) are outside animals and with the short days of winter coming up, are you going to feel like going out to feed,clean,and play with your animals in the cold, rain dismal type days coming up? Rats will need cleaning out once a week, I spot clean once a day, and they adjust their routine to us. During the week they sleep alot during the day, at weekends they're up and about much more as we're at home. I can't reccommend the website I mentioned highly enough - it gives you all the information you'd need for happy rats and happy confident owners.
Pet shops and most books give dreadful advice (like it's OK to keep rats on wood shavings/sawdust. It isn't - it causes big respiratory problems. I keep mine on paper based cat litter - Bob Martins, which I buy at ASDA)so even if you've never considered rats, have a look.
By the way - their tial aren't scaley - they have a fine covering of fur!

Lara2 · 08/10/2005 14:30

That should be tails in the last sentence! lol.

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