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Original poster

Vegetarian pets

22 replies

mateykatie · 09/12/2009 17:10

Hi all,

We're a veggie household, and thinking of getting a pet.

Have never had a pet before, so will probably start with a hamster - but are there other pets which are vegetarian?

What about guinea pigs? We live on a second floor flat so can't have rabbits.

OP posts:
BellasSparklyBaubles · 09/12/2009 17:15

Hammies are omnivores - they love a bit of meat.

elven99 · 09/12/2009 17:23

Iguana but I would not recommend getting one without lots of research. There is another vegi lizard who does not get as big and is much easier to care for but I can't remember his name. Also bunnies are vegi I think.

EccentricaGallumbits · 09/12/2009 17:24

Giraffe?

sweetnitanitro · 09/12/2009 17:29

I think tortoises are veggie, I'm no expert though.

I can tell you that all fish are either omnivores or predators and that fish food contains fish and fish derivatives (whatever they are) so they are no good for you.

GrimmaTheNome · 09/12/2009 17:32

What about birds....I'm no expert but surely many are seed eaters?

mistlethrush · 09/12/2009 17:32

Chinchillas. Live a lot longer than hamsters too.

elven99 · 09/12/2009 17:45

Don't birds eat worms so would their food not contain a meat protein.

Tortoises are veggie I am pretty sure about that anyway.

Original poster
mateykatie · 09/12/2009 18:47

A tortoise sounds ideal - but they are quite expensive... I will ruminate on the idea!

Thanks for all the replies.

OP posts:
EccentricaGallumbits · 09/12/2009 21:50

tortoises like meat.

what about a cow?

CountryGirl2007 · 10/12/2009 01:07

Guinea pigs make great pets, make sure you get a pair though so they have company. (ideally a neutered male and spayed female) and that you have a guinea pig proof room you can let them out in during the day so they aren't cooped up in a cage all the time. On the continent where a lot of people live in flats, they still keeps dogs, just make sure they get plenty of exersize and of course cats make great indoor pets too...they aren't veggie but don't really see what difference that makes unless your a vegan.

Original poster
mateykatie · 10/12/2009 01:14

CountryGirl2007, I do like guinea pigs, they are great fun.

Of course I will investigate more before making any final decision, but I just wanted ideas for now.

I've been looking at some tortoise websites; apparently there are different species, and many are herbivores.

www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/webdiet.htm

A pet being veggie is important to me and my family; I love cats to bits but simply can't bear the thought of having to feed them meat.

OP posts:
giraffespullthesleigh · 10/12/2009 05:09

I have an indoor rabbit - I chose a rabbit because they don't eat meat as I just couldn't feed them meat/have meat in my house.

giraffespullthesleigh · 10/12/2009 05:12

My rabbit is perfectly house trained he loves lying on the rug watching the TV and sitting beside me on the sofa getting his head stroked...and nudges me if I stop for a minute. ANd when I come in from work he runs round my feet grunting! He has free access to the whole of the front room when I am out, and to the front room, hall, kitchen and bathroom when I am in.

Original poster
mateykatie · 10/12/2009 12:46

Aww giraffespullthesleigh, he sounds gorgeous... but don't rabbits need to run around outdoors?

OP posts:
slushy06 · 10/12/2009 13:55

Not a cat I am not veggie but although I love cats and I really do I wont get one because I cant handle the animals being brought in and played with and it is not fare or even possible to make them stop as they are hunters.

giraffespullthesleigh · 10/12/2009 18:24

Nope, its actually reccomended by some sites to keep them indoors as they get more company and theres less dangers eg escaping, eating poisonous plants and foxes.

Most outdoors rabbits are in a fairly small hutch but indoors he always has at least the run of the whole front room, if not the hall etc as well. The front room is where he feels safest though, anywhere else he goes for a wee explore/play but wont lye down there. He also has his cage where his toilet, food and water are and where he goes if hes frightened/wants peace. Also useful for shutting him in if I am mopping.

But seeing how much he moves about in a day its hard to imagine how a rabbit in a small outdoor cage feels. Idealy I would love to have an outdoor run for him too, but its communal ardens and people let their dogs pee there so wouldnt want him to eat grass with pee on. As long as they get all the veg etc that they would get from outdoors they are very healthy.

info

For the first year the chewing was a problem - but I guess thats like a puppy. And he was kept in cage when I wasnt in (he was tiny then so was ok in it) But used chew stop spray and now he is fine, I have wires all over the place and he marks them with his scent glands on chin and sometimes picks them up and gently moves them but doesnt bite them.

I think guinea pigs are nice too - althouh they are a bit more...thick However they do like to be handled more. Rabbits it very much depends on each one. Mind prefers to sit beside me and be stroked rather than be held. Hes very tolerant of children stoking him, but will retreat to his cage when hes fed up.

I could reccomed getting them neutered...this morning mine was grunting at and trying to shag my singing/dancing fluffy xmas tree

giraffespullthesleigh · 10/12/2009 18:26

Oh when I say wee I mean the Scottish word for small not pee!

Original poster
mateykatie · 11/12/2009 01:34

giraffespullthesleigh

That's good to know. Rabbits are definitely very cute, if you can safely keep them indoors then they are a definite possibility.

OP posts:
RockinSockBunnies · 11/12/2009 01:46

We have lovely vegetarian guinea pig sisters. We also have a cat that spends her time salivating by their cage .

Apparently dogs are omnivores, so can have a vegetarian diet, but cats cannot.

I'm veggie and feel bad when buying cat food but not sure what I can really do to solve the problem. Our cat is an indoor cat, though, so at least she doesn't eat the wildlife.

Original poster
mateykatie · 12/12/2009 22:07

I think one type of pet is enough, for now...

I think it's going to be guinea pigs, although giraffespugh's rabbits are definitely growing on me!

Which poops more? Can either rabbits or guinea pigs be trained to poop in one place?

OP posts:
magnolia74 · 12/12/2009 22:11

A rabbit can be trained to poop in a litter tray

Katymac · 12/12/2009 22:15

DH says our chickens are veggie.....I am not so sure

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