Must be mad.Thinking of getting DD a pet, something along the lines of a Hamster

[TheGreatChristmasEvie]

...or a Gerbil.What is best to get and where do I start?
DD1 is 3 and I am well aware I will be doing all the feeding/cleaning out.But she loves animals and is obsessed by the CM's Guinea Pig.I dont want anything that lives outside.So whats best to get, what equipment will I need for it, (cage and what not), what to feed it and where do I get it?

i think if she loves animals then a hamster or gerbil may be pointless. they tend to sleep a lot in the day, would probably not be able to be handled by a 3 yr old, and (imo) are quite boring! lol

i have no alternative suggestions though

How about an indoor rabbit?

Gerbils are much better than hamsters as they are awake during the day. However, 3 is too young - we have 2 gerbils (you have to get at least 2 as they are sociable creatures) for our dds (8 and 4). They both love them to bits but dd4 can't do much top help.

I would wait a couple of years and get her a lovely cuddly toy instead.

Rabbit a bit bigger than what I was thinking of TBH
Am not expecting her to help much really but do think she would get quite a bit out of having an animal in the house.(She is very good with the chickens and the cat but this would be something more for her, in terms of ownership rather than actual physical work obv)

Hamsters are nocturnal are they?

I know you might squeal and jump on a chair but may I suggest a rat, or more ideally two (same sex!). We have just lost ours and they were the best pets we ever had. Lively, affectionate, intelligent. They actually enjoy interacting with humans which isn't always the case IME with hamsters, gerbils etc.

Although a lifelong hammie lover,I agree they're not great for small dc. My ds has one and he never gets to see it really, as they are nocturnal

Seconding Ormirian's endorsement of rats too

rats are a good idea - much easier to find than gerbils when they escape

lol kitten

being a long time hammie lover as well, i would say get one

yes they do sleep during the day, but mine are also very socailable and will wake up during the day if rustling/promted

Rats, rats, rats, rats, rats

(I WANNA PAIR OF RATS!)

You can keep guinea pigs inside if you want to (you can get indoor cages for them). They are probably the most "cuddly" pet for a small child...

We had a hamster (inherited from a friend)and it was a nightmare of guilt. They are nocturnal so I used to sit up much too late entertaining it, and then there is the horror of its being in a really boring poxy cage, no matter how many toys and climbing things you put in. Would you want that life? I fear the same goes for guinea pigs, rabbits etc. I would NEVER have a caged animal again, or a fish, or a poor bird whose entire raison d'etre is to fly. You have to think about them, not just what your dcs want, they can have tons of other stuff. So there, rant over...

ikiboo

Me too! I am getting some more after Christmas. DCs weren't keen to start with (DH never was!) but I've nagged persuaded them by showing them lots of pictures of lovely ratties on the fancy rats website . But have found out that pet shops usually get their rats from dubious places so I am not looking into getting some from a reputable breeder.

We had to give our 4 girls away when I had DS (the week after I came home with him and was all hormonal - I was in bloody bits) cos we wouldn't have time to play with them and it wasn't fair on them.
Think DS is still a bit too young (3) not to terrorise/squish them, we don't have a smuch room as we used to cos of all DS's stuff and time is still an issue.
Sigh - maybe when DS is 5 we'll get some more. Maybe a pais of Dumbo males [wistful emoticon]

yep, get rats. I loved my rat. No way I'd every persuade my dp to let me get any though.

what about a cat? no cage although it will have a litter tray. If you get a kitten it and dd will essentially grow up together. Not too skittish to be handled or squashed.

Cat already.But is my cat really and wont go near anyone else except to hiss.(secretly quite proud emoticon)
Rats you say?Dont mind em myself but DH would have a blue fit.All the more reason
Thanks all..will have a think..

I personally wouldn't get rats.

I wouldn't have them anyway, but even if I were that way inclined I wouldn't get them for a 3 year old as rats are incontinent and wee everywhere they go (even microscopically) so somewhat unhygienic for a 3 year old imo.

And rats want to be out and about doing ratty things, not kept in cages.

hmmmmmmmmm if you have a cat already then i wouldnt advise a hammy

we let ours run along the soaf and sit and play have a wash etc

couldnt do that with a pussy cat

you could shut the cat out when hamster is out though.

I have both cats and birds and when my birds are out the cats are shut out of that part of the house.

I wouldn't get a hamster for a 3 year old though as they can be skittish and agressive.

Skittish & aggressive - are you talking about the 3 yr old or the hammie?

PMSl @ bella comment

must be the child - many hammies dont make 3

Mine usually get to 3 or 3 and a half