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Original poster

Rabbits v Guinea Pigs. Which to get for a 6 year old?

52 replies

cece · 03/03/2007 11:45

DD wants a pet for her birthday. I think we should get either a rabbit or a GP. We already have a cat.

Which is easiest to look after?

Which is more suitable for her and her db aged 3?

Opinions required please

OP posts:
Muminfife · 05/03/2007 14:26

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Polgara2 · 05/03/2007 14:30

Well feel have to point out that I had a guinea pig as a child (older than 6 I think) and it was a vicious little blighter!! Always went for you - never again. Have never had a rabbit though. We've just got a hamster for dds 9 and 6.

aquasea · 05/03/2007 14:31

Enid, I am curious as to why your vet friend said rabbits aren't good pets for children. I had rabbits when I was a kid and I loved them!

fennel · 05/03/2007 14:35

My 6yo dd1 has had a hamster for a year, and she's maintained the interest, she takes her out every day at least once, and feeds and cleans her with a bit of reminding.

it's a very nice pet, very gentle and tolerant of small children.

We are also pondering rabbit v guinea pig for dd2 (6 this year). The woman in the pet shop said 1 male rabbit would be the friendliest option, more than 2 females (who'd be friends with each other and not with their owner), and more than guinea pigs.

Enid · 05/03/2007 14:36

he says they are aggressive and unsuitable pets

oops · 05/03/2007 14:40

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geekgrrl · 05/03/2007 14:40

we have the same experience as fennel with a hamster - great pet for dd1 who is 7 and a bit scatty, of course I did the majority of cleaning & feeding, but dd1 really loved her hamster and the hamster was very tame and sweet-natured.
Sadly 'Tinkerbell' (I know... ) had to be put down during half-term as it had got very sick but we'll be getting another hamster at the weekend.

bambi06 · 05/03/2007 14:40

we always had both as they preferred company and always got on brillliantly,plus if i remember right we couldnt have two boy guinea pigs /or rabbits as they fight!!and obviously not a boy and girl[um unless you want to breed them] we also had a dwarf rabbit and they always seemed calmer and more docile than the other normal sized rabbits ...and one of them grew huge !!
we are debating about getting some for dds birthday but are worried about the foxes as everyone round here in last two years have lost their dear pets to foxes..youd be surprised what foxes are capable of when they see dinnner...bu tthis is in london where foxes are very bold!! we used to live in the country and foxes would nt dare come near you there but here!!!they stand their ground when you try to shoo them away and one night i couldnt get to my front door as it was in my garden adn flatly refused to budge out of my way and i was scared it would bit eme if i got to close... and no i`m not a wimp !!!!please make sure you padlock cage and dont leave them out in garden duringthe day if your not around as they will come and take them..sorry

PuppyDogsTails · 05/03/2007 16:18

As a child we had guina pigs, two are no more work than one and they keep each other company, and I loved them.
My gp lasted six years, which is pretty exeptional, and I was devastated when he died, but I guess it was my first experiance of death, and I'd rather do death with a pet than a loved grandparent or somehing; my parents attitude was that that was one of the reasons to have pets.
The cat didnt bother them, they got used to having him sitting on the cage.
These days I have rats and I can let them run in the house around the cats, thugh the kittens are getting bigger and I dont think this will last much longer.
I second that rabbits have a powerful, painful kick.

Original poster
cece · 05/03/2007 16:29

Well thanks for all this info and opinions. I was going to get a hamster as had many over the years and know what I am doing... Also have still got the cage etc.

However, I have now got a hutch off of freecycle so this has expanded the search a bit...

mmmm a lot to think about...

I am expecting to do the majority of clenaing out cage etc anyway so not too much of a problem.

The death thing - agree that is part of haveing a pet so I am not too worried about that.

Maybe she could have a hamster this year and maybe when she is 7 a rabiit or guinea pig????

OP posts:
Original poster
cece · 05/03/2007 16:29

Oh and would definitley get a rescue one as well

OP posts:
aquasea · 05/03/2007 16:35

I bread rabbits when I was a kid and never heard of anyone being kicked. Perhaps I was lucky with my rabbits but I never had a vicious or aggressive one! I loved them because they had a lot more personality/intelligence than guinea pigs, mice or hamsters and they were definitely mine (rather than the family dog and cat!).

Original poster
cece · 05/03/2007 16:36

Oh I can't decide

OP posts:
Blu · 05/03/2007 16:42

Having resisted rabbits, I am now very fond of ours - they are much more entertaining than gps - but don't make that lovely squaking sound that gps do.

Ours are very small (dwarf rabbits), hop and scamper about in a very agile way, are clearly very intelligent, and not at all agressive!

I always took it for granted that I would be doing all the care, but DS has been very reliable about giving them pellets and hay.

Having been too terrified to touch animals at all he now sits in the rabbits shed talking to them and having them on his lap to stroke.

Blu · 05/03/2007 16:43

I think Dutch Rabbits are renowned for being easy going and enjoying affection.

But yours truly thought that 'Netherland dwarf rabbits' WERE Dutch rabbits so we got small but slightly skittish neurotic ones.

Muminfife · 05/03/2007 16:50

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penelopecruz · 05/03/2007 17:10

We have rescue rabbits and they are great. I do the bulk of poo cleaning but the kids do help. I do work at home though, so they can scamper about in the garden all day. They can't be cooped up.

JoLou74 · 05/03/2007 19:06

We have 2 lovely GPs but their food and hay attracts the mice.

gingermonkey · 05/03/2007 19:48

I had 2 GPs and they were cute to look at but one of them was very, very vicious and would bite all the time. The other one was quite nice, but my cat ate him...

...cats are much nicer, get another cat

NotanOtter · 05/03/2007 20:00

DP IS vet
he says guinae pig - less vets bills - more fun

Original poster
cece · 05/03/2007 20:02

well I am definite about that they do have to be fun!

OP posts:
ruth2007 · 05/03/2007 20:19

Hi cece If you get a rabbit I would consider a rescue house-rabbit (like having a cat, look for house rabbit society on google) or if living outside a big cage and run and lots of time as they are very sociable animals and depending on the breed are inteligent (Dutch especially) and soon learn routine eg feeding and bedtime etc.
My Dutch lived to 7.5 but cost a fortune in Vets bills (a couple of grand over his life ) as they can have lots of health issues as well as needing regular dental care and vaccinations.
A GP is less likely to cost as much and can be kept in smaller spaces. Mine lived to 3. But again they need lots of handling and a female would be better. It is difficult to sex a young GP so a rescue one would be better. They are also better in same sex neutered pairs as they love company.
HTH

gingermonkey · 05/03/2007 20:44

At my vets there's a horrible photo of a rabbit with maggots eating its bum. Not nice. It made me decide I never wanted a rabbit!

Cazziej · 05/03/2007 22:09

Hiya im new to this site and this is the first place i jumped into,,,,,,,,,My daughter who is now 4 has had rabbits and guinie pigs since she was 3,and its the rabbits that has been alot more easier for her than the guinie pigs, we got them all as babies,and she hold them on a daily basis and she hands feeds them she also trys to help with the mucking out,,,,,,,,,,,,, so my vote goes to Rabbits in mmy experiance they have been better for my daughter as the guinie pigs tend to be a lot more scatty.

Hope that helps

BexieID · 05/03/2007 23:42

Get a 'Winnie Wig' as a girl I used to babysit for called them! They are cute. Ahh, that sound they make! Gerbils are good too .