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Original poster

Best small pet for children

43 replies

susan198130 · 13/01/2019 11:45

My children have been going on for a while about getting a hamster.

I'm not sure hamsters will be the right choice for my children. They're 5 and 6, and from what I've read, hamsters are nocturnal and can bite. I know all animals can bite, but I'm thinking a rat or a mouse might be better. Does anyone have any experience of owning a pet like this and what would be best, as they'll want to hold it as well.

We have cats, so we're going to have to keep them away from whatever animal we decide to get, which shouldn't be a problem. I don't want to get a rabbit or a guinea pig as I don't have enough time to give it the attention it will need (should the kids end up getting bored with it). Plus, I don't want an animal that needs to go in the garden as we have too many foxes here. So it has to be something small that can live inside.

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 13/01/2019 19:46

At 5 or 6 children are too small to handle hamsters or other little animals safely. You have the cats. They can wait for something else.
And you have to be prepared that anything they ask for they may well lose interest in. Never get a pet unless you want one and don’t mind looking after it.

Heyha · 13/01/2019 19:53

I agree they are probbably too small at the moment. When they are older I always think guinea pigs are the best pet for kids, very interactive. Mice are underrated but can be hard to get hold of. Girls don't smell if cleaned regularly and in a tank style home plus they won't really care if they aren't handled all the time. They go a LOT slower than dwarf hamsters and gerbils too. Rats are fantastic also but it really bloody hurts if they bite you!

Mumblers · 13/01/2019 20:03

Rats make great pets, mice can be quite skittish for children at that age.

Rats are clean, intelligent and friendly if handled daily from a young age.
I had many rats over the years when my eldest was younger (i always kept them in pairs, so when 1 died I'd get another so it just went on & on) I loved them more than my daughter did!
Had one very friendly one who would sit on my shoulder & stay there as I got in with my jobs.
Easy maintenance as long as you don't mind cleaning out big rat cages.
I once housed mine in an old parrot cage - till they learned that they could push the seed trays out & escape through the holes. They did this just before I was going out for the night, then ran behind the kitchen units....I couldn't cancel my plans so...I patched up the cage, put it in the middle of the kitchen floor & put chocolate biscuits in their food bowl, left the cage door open....and went out for the night. Returned next day and there they were curled up asleep in the cage

They live for about 2 years, females don't smell as much as males, but females are very prone to breast cancer and quite a few of mine got visible tumours. Also need to get appropriate bedding as also prone to respiratory problems.

LadyDeadpool · 13/01/2019 20:05

You'll need at least a pair of rats preferably three in case one dies young so you're not left with a lone rat.
They'll need a very large cage (£80 is about the average cost)
They can be litter trained, they're highly intelligent and learn to love their humans but they also need at least an hour outside of their cage per day and lots of fun things in their cage.

KaliforniaDreamz · 14/01/2019 09:37

LOl at this bossy thread!! sorry! i just speak from bitter experience of cleaning out the stinky guinea pig cage!! we have 2 girls and they smell more than the boys.

personally i would get a kitten!!! we have a wonderful cat who is the easiest pet ever.

good luck x

FamilyOfAliens · 14/01/2019 16:13

I just speak from bitter experience of cleaning out the stinky guinea pig cage!! we have 2 girls and they smell more than the boys.

Guinea pigs are herbivores. If their cage smells, you’re not cleaning them out frequently enough.

KaliforniaDreamz · 14/01/2019 20:29

i clean it weekly but the urine smells very strong. they live inside.

Doghorsechicken · 14/01/2019 20:45

If you get rats please get a minimum of 2 because otherwise they will be really lonely. They are very intelligent so will need regular mental stimulation and handling. But they are lovely!
Guinea pigs are wonderful too (also social and need company) but live for quite a long time, you could always rescue older ones from RSPCA or another rescue centre? So once the kids get bored you’re not lumbered with caring for them for years.

NoIAmSpartacus · 15/01/2019 20:26

@KaliforniaDreamz I used to clean mine every 2-3 days, once a week is the minimum you should do so try doing it more often or spot clean every few days and hopefully the smell will stop?

Bathbombs · 15/01/2019 20:34

Mine (6& 9)have hamsters. They can feed and water them and handle them carefully (6 year old has to ask us to be in the room if he wants to get his out)
Need help to clean them out as we got the enormous cages recommended!
Guinea pigs seem like good pets

KaliforniaDreamz · 15/01/2019 22:20

It takes me hours to do it properly, it is not feasible to do that every 2/3 days. but i take your point about spot cleaning

FamilyOfAliens · 17/01/2019 14:44

It takes me hours to do it properly, it is not feasible to do that every 2/3 days. but i take your point about spot cleaning

How does it take you hours? Has it got an upstairs or something? You have two choices then. Clean it out as often as it clearly needs, or put up with the smell from only cleaning out once a week.

KaliforniaDreamz · 17/01/2019 15:48

You're quite invested in this Aliens but yes it is massive with an upstairts and downstairs because they need lots of space. I dismantle the whole lot and scrub the floors and wash all the houses etc etc it while they run around. It really is quite an epic job when done properly.

strawberrypenguin · 17/01/2019 15:56

Hamsters are rubbish pets for small kids. If you want a couple of small furry pets then rats are the way to go. Much more robust, friendlier and much less likely to bite. You will have to be involved in their care as well though.

Other wise my DS got a Giant African Land Snail when he was 6. It's easy to care for, low maintenance and fascinating.

Heyha · 17/01/2019 17:09

@kaliforniadreamz they sound like lucky piggies! What you could do is find their weeing spots and just remove the wet bedding mid-week, that will make a huge difference to the smell without taking ages like the full clean you're doing weekly. Guinea pig poo is so inoffensive it's almost certainly just their wet corners that are ponging.

KaliforniaDreamz · 17/01/2019 17:29

Thanks Heyha i will keep my rubber gloves handy!

FamilyOfAliens · 17/01/2019 17:37

You're quite invested in this Aliens

Or, I’m replying to your posts in the same way you’re replying to mine

StroppyWoman · 20/01/2019 17:21

Hamsters are awful pets for small children. Too fragile, nocturnal, frequently bitey little bastards. It only takes one deep bite to put the kids off it for life (says voice of bitter experience) and then you're stuck caring for the darned thing for 2 years. Least successful, most angry beast we had.
Guinea pigs are great, need company and a good sized indoor cage, plus outside time in good weather.
Rats are fantastic but need a BIG time commitment because they need masses of stimulation. They are wonderful animals but perhaps when the kids are older.
Hens are obviously the best pets because they lay your breakfast for you.
Cats will also bring you breakfast, but dead rodent/songbird isn't really my thing

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