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Original poster

Pets for kids - am I'm missing something...

52 replies

Littlelunch · 30/10/2024 21:42

Or is there really nothing suitable for our families need?

DD10 and 5 would love a pet. We have a family dog (an elderly lurcher) but they as desperate for pet guinea pigs.

We are doing to visit a rescue next week but already having done so research, it's not going to work. The space they'd need would take over our smallish house and finding a suitable location for them that wouldn't disrupt everyone's sleep is impossible (I've kept guinea pigs before so I know how noisy they can be).

Rabbits are a no go due to our garden set up (astro turf) and the fact that they don't really make great pets (I've also kept rabbits over the years).

Cats are a no because of the dog, my hubby's hatred of cats and the fact that I don't really want my furniture destroyed.

Hamsters - meh, have kept those too and they weren't great pets and don't last.

Rats sound good but smelly, same issue with space and probably need more interaction than we can guarantee what with work/school/clubs etc

Fish - also meh.

Is there anything I'm missing that might offer a good solution? I believe gerbils and chinchillas pose the same issue as hamsters and guinea pigs sadly.

OP posts:
Mouldyoldtart · 30/10/2024 21:45

Stick insects! Prickly sticks in particular. Really interesting, very low maintenance. We've had loads over the years.

Killingoffmyflowersonebyone · 30/10/2024 21:45

I always say this but: children do not get a vote on pets. Just because a child wants a pet doesn’t mean they should get one.

Too often pets are bought for kids who lose interest in them. They don’t need a pet and quite frankly with a lurcher you’d be bonkers to go for any small furry - just asking for trouble, no matter how old your dog is!

Why isn’t your dog enough for them? A dog is far more engaging and satisfying as a pet than a small furry…

Singleandproud · 30/10/2024 21:45

My childhood guinea pig was eaten / bitten by my neighbours dog, they aren't good to have with a dog either.

Sea monkeys are a good option.

MammaKel · 30/10/2024 21:46

I don't really like the idea of getting kids a pet and with what you've said there's not really any that would work out except maybe a tamagotchi.

If you DDog is elderly, would it be an option to wait until he's passed and look at getting a puppy or older dog seeing as you know a dog works for your household? Or revisiting other animals when the time comes and the children are older?

OchAyeTheN00 · 30/10/2024 21:47

I have an indoor rabbit. They make great pets! Ours free roams, but they can also have an x pen (dog pen) too.

no noise, litter trained. He loves to chew a wire but is otherwise well behaved. He’s super friendly, loves a cuddle.

try your local rescue or rabbitrehome.org

Newsenmum · 30/10/2024 21:48

But.. you have a dog! Isn’t that your pet?

peonypiglet · 30/10/2024 21:48

Bearded dragon?

bakewellbride · 30/10/2024 21:56

You already have a pet, I don't understand.

Crumpleton · 30/10/2024 21:57

Cant help you decide what pet to get your DC but my DC had many many pets growing up from gerbils to dogs, but never were they allowed a pet I wasn't prepared to look after if/once they grew bored of doing the work themselves.

minipie · 30/10/2024 21:58

You have a dog.

Nobody should get a pet “for the kids” IMO. Only adults are responsible enough to have pets.

Original poster
Littlelunch · 30/10/2024 21:58

Newsenmum · 30/10/2024 21:48

But.. you have a dog! Isn’t that your pet?

She is very much my pet. She's not interested in the kids or hubby, very bonded to me and too old to really interest the kids (she just wants to sleep or cuddle with me).

Indoor rabbit is a possible option but I found their temperament to be less suitable to kids.

I think longer term another dog (once my old girl passes) is probably a better option.

OP posts:
EmpressaurusDelleGatte · 30/10/2024 22:00

Wouldn’t the indoor rabbit be a non-starter anyway because the dog would want to chase it?

Tooffless · 30/10/2024 22:00

Just stick with the dog. Get the DC a bitzee each.

Original poster
Littlelunch · 30/10/2024 22:00

Just to be clear, when I say pet for kids, I don't mean that they will be left to care for it, I just mean something that is suitable for them to handle ie friendly that they can interact with although I think you've all reinforced what I was already thinking.

OP posts:
SpikeyHousePlant · 30/10/2024 22:01

I’ve got GP’s. They are mine really and I love them. They aren’t noisy at all!! Except when I open the fridge

They do take up about 70cm x 210cm
They are indoors and don’t smell. Just the smell of the fresh hay. But they do need a bit of a clean out everyday and a proper one weekly. They have bath mats and large low trays of hay.
They are so cute. But obviously a bit of a responsibility to get them tame etc.

Original poster
Littlelunch · 30/10/2024 22:02

EmpressaurusDelleGatte · 30/10/2024 22:00

Wouldn’t the indoor rabbit be a non-starter anyway because the dog would want to chase it?

Nah not now, when the dog was younger it would absolutely have been a no go but she's so old now she can't be bothered - she will literally ignore the rabbits and squirrels running around our village even if they are under her nose - she retains her hatred for cats and foxes though!

OP posts:
Original poster
Littlelunch · 30/10/2024 22:04

SpikeyHousePlant · 30/10/2024 22:01

I’ve got GP’s. They are mine really and I love them. They aren’t noisy at all!! Except when I open the fridge

They do take up about 70cm x 210cm
They are indoors and don’t smell. Just the smell of the fresh hay. But they do need a bit of a clean out everyday and a proper one weekly. They have bath mats and large low trays of hay.
They are so cute. But obviously a bit of a responsibility to get them tame etc.

I've had 5 piggies over the heads, 1 boar, 4 sows.

Tbh back then there wasn't access to all the information there is now and I can honestly say I didn't provide them the space or interaction they needed although they had a good diet.

They are definitely more work than people think.

OP posts:
setmestraightplease · 30/10/2024 22:18

DD at 10 is definitely old enough to learn about responsibility and caring for a pet, so

Hamsters - meh, have kept those too and they weren't great pets and don't last.
Fish - also meh......
is this more about your 'meh' and less about your kids?

My kids had hamsters, fish, stick insects, kittens .............. they've 'helped' (however clumsily ) look after them all.

I'm not sure what you're looking for when you say Just to be clear, when I say pet for kids, I don't mean that they will be left to care for it, I just mean something that is suitable for them to handle ie friendly that they can interact with .

Are you just looking for another 'thing' to distract your children, or looking for something that is meaningful to them?

Noseybookworm · 30/10/2024 22:22

We had gerbils and they are cute and a lot of fun to play with! Bit noisy at night and a bit smelly too. Having to clean out cages and feed and water and get them out of their cage to play teaches kids about being responsible for their wellbeing so I think it's a good thing. I haven't had reptiles but I've heard that corn snakes and bearded dragons make good pets 😊

Original poster
Littlelunch · 30/10/2024 22:24

setmestraightplease · 30/10/2024 22:18

DD at 10 is definitely old enough to learn about responsibility and caring for a pet, so

Hamsters - meh, have kept those too and they weren't great pets and don't last.
Fish - also meh......
is this more about your 'meh' and less about your kids?

My kids had hamsters, fish, stick insects, kittens .............. they've 'helped' (however clumsily ) look after them all.

I'm not sure what you're looking for when you say Just to be clear, when I say pet for kids, I don't mean that they will be left to care for it, I just mean something that is suitable for them to handle ie friendly that they can interact with .

Are you just looking for another 'thing' to distract your children, or looking for something that is meaningful to them?

Another 'thing' to distract them? Why, what 'thing' am I already trying to distract them with exactly?

Clearly, you're just here to make uninformed but judgemental statements about my parenting - so please do jog on. I'm not interested.

OP posts:
bluedelphiniums · 30/10/2024 22:26

OchAyeTheN00 · 30/10/2024 21:47

I have an indoor rabbit. They make great pets! Ours free roams, but they can also have an x pen (dog pen) too.

no noise, litter trained. He loves to chew a wire but is otherwise well behaved. He’s super friendly, loves a cuddle.

try your local rescue or rabbitrehome.org

A rabbit with a lurcher?!! Possibly not…

Original poster
Littlelunch · 30/10/2024 22:28

Noseybookworm · 30/10/2024 22:22

We had gerbils and they are cute and a lot of fun to play with! Bit noisy at night and a bit smelly too. Having to clean out cages and feed and water and get them out of their cage to play teaches kids about being responsible for their wellbeing so I think it's a good thing. I haven't had reptiles but I've heard that corn snakes and bearded dragons make good pets 😊

Thanks. I have zero experience with gerbils - I always assumed they were akin to a hamster and none of the hamster I ever had cared much to be handles.

Is the smell manageable with regular cleaning? I always cleaned my guinea pigs out daily - would use newspaper to line the cage the sawdust and I meant I could just lift and roll the whole thing meaning it never got smelly whereas I believe rodents like rats are a bit stinky over and about just their soiled bedding.

OP posts:
Chicklette · 30/10/2024 22:29

Guinea pigs can live outdoors too, especially if they are in a shed too. They are quite nice pets for kids as they are much less feisty than rabbits and harder to loose than a hamster. They do pee a lot so need cleaning out but if you have a large hutch in a shed, it’s not too much work. And they can come inside daily to watch tv or whatever. Although cats and dogs are the best as you don’t need to clean out a cage or tank

Scutterbug · 30/10/2024 22:30

We had geckos when my kids were younger, they are fab pets!

Crumpleton · 30/10/2024 22:31

We kept our gerbils in a large glass fish tank rather than a cage with a good few inches of sawdust shavings and lots of cardboard tube tunnels so they could burrow.
They weren't overly smelly.

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