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Original poster

Pet for 5 yr old

17 replies

pigsispigs · 01/06/2018 12:16

My DS is desperate for a sibling pet and it's something I've considered throughout the years but never committed to. He's very gentle with other animals and I think some responsibility would do him good.

We live in a smallish ground floor flat with a reasonable front garden and shed, I work FT so wouldn't have time/space for a dog and I wouldn't want a house cat - we had my old cat until he died 3 years ago and tbh he stunk the place out and I hated the hair everywhere.

First thought would be some goldfish, but I'm not opposed to something bigger like a hamster or guinea pig/rabbit. Hamster would be the easiest to look after but DS would almost definitely let it escape, guinea pig/rabbit has more upkeep but could stay inside and then have the run of the garden in the summer. I've had hamsters and rabbits growing up but no pigs (I imagine very similar?)

We're going to have a window-shop around pet shops at the weekend, any insight would be appreciated! I could also do with some cost estimates for their care?

OP posts:
bunnygeek · 04/06/2018 12:12

Have you had any more thoughts about a pet?

Rabbits - I would say no, better for children over 10 years. My girl absolutely hates small children, adults are fine, but children get bitten! They're expensive and long living too (my girl is 12 now). Need masses and masses of space too.

Guineas - work better for small children but must be supervised for handling, if they get dropped they can be seriously injured, should be in pairs or groups and need more space than you may think. Lots of guinea pigs in rescues these days.

Goldfish - should live 15-20 years and get absolutely huge, rarely get to live that long and often die stunted and not even old enough to be sexually mature yet. I would never recommend Goldfish for beginner fishkeepers! Fish could be an option but it's quite the science exam to get a tank set up properly.

Hamsters - can be good pets, but Syrian not the smaller Russian type who don't like being handled. Find a good breeder though, have a google, as pet shop ones are bred in factory farm type situations and have a very poor lifespan. Also need a larger cage than many stores would recommend.

Rats - can also be fab pets for children as they are quite intelligent. Sadly only live 2-3 years (you get very attached) and can be a bit stinky. Need a very very large cage, be kept in at least a pair, and again you need to find a reputable breeder due to pet shop ones being sickly and research housing as they are prone particularly to respiratory infections.

Original poster
pigsispigs · 04/06/2018 15:12

Thank you! We went and had a look over the weekend. DS is sold on a rabbit or pig, but we've made some sort of deal that he has a hamster first and in a few years we will progress to something bigger once we are in a proper house.

Definitely a big syrian, more so because they're harder to lose!

OP posts:
EscapistTendencies · 04/06/2018 15:15

Rabbits and g pigs really need to be kept in pairs, as do rats so a Syrian hamster is probably your best bet in the circumstances. There's lots of good advice on how to care for various pets on the PDSA website.

Beamur · 04/06/2018 15:15

I think a Syrian hamster is not a bad choice. Handled gently and frequently they can be very sweet pets, they can make a lot of noise at night though, so generally not suitable for keeping in bedrooms.
I have guinea pigs, they take up more space, but are quiet at night...

PurplePimplePin · 04/06/2018 16:21

We have a hamster and it was quite hard work getting him used to being handled tbh. The main problem is him waking up so late - at around my DD's bedtime! 🙄 Have a look on Pinterest at hamster homes if you're sold on a hamster though!

bunnygeek · 04/06/2018 16:34

My first pets as a kid were Syrian hammies, although the first one lived a whole 2 days - that is the peril of pet shops stock unfortunately. It may have been the 1980s but I still remember dear little Pinky!

Beamur is right that a Hammie is NOT a pet for a bedroom, wouldn't recommend any pets in bedrooms to be honest. I had gerbils as a kid as well in my bedroom and they would always wake me up in the night.

If you're near one, Wood Green and Blue Cross often have rescue hamsters in.

m0therofdragons · 04/06/2018 16:39

Rats are much better than hamsters. Females don't smell and they rarely bite. All my hamsters were biters!

Original poster
pigsispigs · 04/06/2018 16:40

The pairing is what put me off the guinea pigs, one would take more than enough room. The garden is big enough but it's quite accessible so I don't know how comfortable I would be with them being outside all the time.

Hadn't thought about looking pinterest - his birthday is in a few months so we have some time to gander.

OP posts:
bigsighall · 04/06/2018 16:59

Chickens / bantams are a nice easy pets and at least they are useful if he loses interest!

Wolfiefan · 04/06/2018 17:02

Hamsters aren't very active during the day. They can bite and are too small to be safely handled by small children.
Rabbits wouldn't want to be handled and aren't an easy pet. Most runs and hutches on the market are far too small.
TBH pet for a 5 year old? Rock?
They won't look after it. Can't handle it without very close supervision.
If you want a pet then get it.

Racecardriver · 04/06/2018 17:09

Have you looked at things like birds/hermit crabs etc.? In all honesty I think that all pets are a big responsibility and need supervision when around children under eight. You could always start with plants first to teach him responsibility. Waitrise garden online is selling venus flytaps at the moment. It is not like a pet, certainly more interesting than non moving plants.

EmmaSwann · 04/06/2018 17:14

Whatever you decide to get remember this. Are YOU prepared to commit to PROPERLY caring for a pet for the whole of its life? At 5 your DC will not be able to do the looking after so it'll all be down to you.

So that means daily food and water and handling plus weekly cleaning out.

Beamur · 04/06/2018 18:12

My DD pleaded with me for a pet. We've had good temporary pets - a snail in a plastic box for a week is a good one! A goldfish which outgrew every tank...it's now happily living in a large garden pond.
We finally got the guinea pigs when she was 8, but the reality was much less cute than she had anticipated! Basically DH and I look after them.
But we're a fairly pet friendly house, we also have cats and a dog.
Kids often yearn for pets, but it is the adults who look after them.
We did the carnivorous plant thing too - they are good fun (briefly).

Confusedbeetle · 04/06/2018 18:16

I think 5 is just too young. They think a pet is a toy

Original poster
pigsispigs · 05/06/2018 11:28

Yep, I am totally aware it would come down to me to look after after the novelty has worn off. I'm also aware that 5 yr olds cannot look after animals unsupervised Hmm
FYI I partly grew up on a farm and always had several pets at any one time, I'm not going into this completely blind, I'm just not sure on the details that my parents would have took care of such as cost and their upkeep beyond what I was allowed to help with.

Chickens are a big no no, definitely could not have them in our garden and I'm not a fan (chicken related trauma as a child Grin)

OP posts:
Mol1628 · 05/06/2018 11:31

African land snail?

Novelty will wear off though as with any other pet for a 5 year old.

Original poster
pigsispigs · 05/06/2018 11:40

@Mol1628 can't say they appeal! He currently has an improvised snail 'farm' in our shed I'm waiting to get rid off...

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