Best for kids

[AtLastEarwax]

Hi all

Looking for recommendations really, this is a few points about what we need to consider though

Want something that the children can play with and can live indoors but also we have a garden that we are happy for the animal to go out in

I work from home

I suppose an 'easy' pet would be nice but anything has an element of work anyway doesn't it? So o expect that

Indoor trained Guinea pig?

@AtLastEarwax

I can handle honesty, I just think you are very negative and don't think an animals life can be enriched by children. You seem to constantly imply children will be a nuisance to a small animal like a guinea pig. What if the guinea pig loved the interaction with the children?

Our guinea pigs seem to love interacting with the children - they jump out of the cage onto their laps for cuddles, snuggle down happily in their arms, follow them around the kitchen when out and about, sit in the duplo houses they make for them. They don't seem scared, shy, keen to get away.

They squeak with excitement when the here them coming downstairs.

Very characterful and happy creatures

Why not a cat?? They seem the perfect balance of homeiness and independence and given the kids’ enthusiasm will most likely ebb and flow, that seems appropriate. I’m desperate for a cat but DH is ‘allergic’ apparently.

But how are you going to know the personality of a guinea pig in advance 😂

I have not been totally negative and I’ve suggested rats actually. I’ve just seen first hand how many animals end up unwanted in a rescue as a result of being bought for children.

I'm happy for free roam guinea pigs - downstairs, outside in the summer when we are and sleep wherever it wants.

Before anyone says in summer we literally move outside we have a kitchen out there and everything so it wouldn't be at the mercy of a over head golden eagle

I don't want to be this dictator of an animal bloody hell

@SmidgenofaPigeon

But how are you going to know the personality of a guinea pig in advance 😂

I have not been totally negative and I’ve suggested rats actually. I’ve just seen first hand how many animals end up unwanted in a rescue as a result of being bought for children.

Nature/Nurture debate there

Big pyjamas what about the wee and poo can I quickly ask??

Not really.

Snakes and rats make the best most interesting pets but there's a lot of discrimination surrounding them. A cat? kittens are cute and grow with the family. They're independent (if you let them be) so not time consuming. And they last longer than guinea pigs

Sorry OP I mean explain why the fact that so many animals end up in rescues are a nature nurture debate?

@AtLastEarwax

Big pyjamas what about the wee and poo can I quickly ask??

Ours don't free roam all day, they come out a few times a day (when we open the cage) and usually hop back in when they've had enough. Our house is old and rambling, and we have a cat, so they have a cage.

We change the cage twice a week. Takes 5 mins. Wee and poo doesn't smell at all.

When out and about they tend to wee and poo in the same place. The kids pick up the poo and wipe the wee up. I obviously wash the floor regularly!

Because how are they treated? From what age have they been brought home?

An animal I have would be from young and handled and loved from the start.

Nature is important but nurture is so much much

However, you'll find me in sociology class

Well, good luck with the sociology class....

We have gerbils. They're really cute and lovely to watch but a bit fast and scampering for small children to handle much. They are my pets and I love them.

I had hamsters when I was a kid and thought they were ace. I would've been 9ish tho so old enough to be sensible with the risk of biting etc.

We have a cat who loves the kids.

My advice would be a cat from a rescue who is known to be very chill or a kitten from a very friendly breed. We've had plenty of cats who didn't tolerate my kids attentions. Personality is hard to account for in moggy kitten.

@SmidgenofaPigeon

Well, good luck with the sociology class....

I passed 2 A* A Levels but I don't think it would mean much to you

Well done you OP that’s great! But we’re getting quite off topic here!

We have had loads of pets, the absolute biggest hit is the rats! They are so friendly and fun and clever, they love interacting with everyone and are cheerful to sit on a shoulder, or lap. They have never bitten anyone. Only draw backs are they might like to chew, one of ours chewed whenever it got on the sofa, and they need to be cleaned out properly at least once a week, ours have a litter tray which they use so we clear that more often. They are also adorable when they snuggle up together you need to get 2/3 or they get lonely.

Another one saying rats - we've had several over the years. In my experience, the females poo inside the cage, and the males outside it (for clarification, we had females initially; they all died in time, and we got males - we've never had both at the same time).

They're one of very few small pets that actually want to be with you; they'll come and find you and climb you. They're very cute and entertaining. You would need at least 2, ideally 3, from a reputable breeder so that they've been socialised with humans from birth - I've been nibbled, but never properly bitten.

You might be able to tell I like rats!

When I think of rats I think of big grey things though?? Is that the stigma?

Pigeon a sociologist is a nature vs nurture person that's all

we went down the path of getting pets for the children to teach them how to look after a living being. Started with fish, then guinea pigs, the children quickly lost interest and it was mainly DH looking after them. The only pet that really satisfied our need to share our lives with an animal was a dog and once the children were older, they walked and looked after her. She has enriched our lives in so many ways it is totally worth it.

I get that but I don’t think it applies here! We will have to agree to disagree.

People have a huge stigma about rats. Just google fancy rats! It just means domesticated rat. They come in lots of lovely colours.

A cat. If you get a kitten it will always be used to children handling it. Cat will run away from kids when it has had enough if them for day.

Don’t be put off by a lot of the responses here! Looking after pets enhances our lives and it’s perfectly possible to ensure you give your chosen pet a good life.

I agree with many PP that parents have to be committed to taking ultimate responsibility for the pet, but I also think a lot of people underestimate children. You will have to remind/help them with some things and educate them about how best to interact with the pet (e.g. now we know that it’s best not to pick up prey species like rabbits and guinea pigs all the time, but to play with them on the floor and wait for them to come to you) - but it sounds like you are aware of this and prepared to do it.

For young kids I’d recommend a cat. Ideally a ginger tomcat. If you consider a rescue, you can have an adult whose temperament is ‘known’ to a certain extent. The kids will feel like they have a pet, but really the cat will be yours to snuggle after the kids have gone to bed. They’re pretty low maintenance especially if they go outside.

If your kids are old enough to be gentle, guinea pigs all the way. If they’re indoors, you will want to clean the area every couple of days.

If your kids are older (10ish plus) then rats (inside) or ferrets (outside) are lots of fun and really interactive.

Growing up we had lots of small animals - fish, hamsters, rabbits. All a flash in the pan; brother and I quickly lost interest (after weeks of campaigning to get them), none of them much enjoyed being handled and my parents didn’t do enough research into what each animal really needed. Most of them ended up being rehomed because they’d bitten us, escaped too many times etc.

When I was about 9 we got a cat, then another one a few years later. Totally different experience - they were properly part of the family, we were that bit older so more capable and involved and we still have many fond memories of cuddling them, their funny habits etc. Both lived to almost 20, so a long term fixture in our childhoods!

DD is only 3, but we’ve always said that we’ll completely skip the small animal stage. I’d love a cat but DP is horribly allergic, so we’ll wait until she’s a fair bit older then get a dog that can be a proper companion for all of us. In the meantime, she’s happy playing with a learning to look after my parents’ two dogs.

I personally would go with a cat. They are straightforward to look after, don't need 'cleaning out' or walking, if handled sensitively will enjoy interacting with older children, don't need people around in the day, but happy if there are.

I had cats growing up and whilst my parents did all the food/litter they spend most of their time in our rooms by choice being 'loved'

We now have two cats- one adores ds1, cries to be let in his bedroom and is a lovely companion to him. The other spends most of his time asleep on ds2s bed.

We have had rabbits, hamsters and a dog and I would definitely go for cats!!!

Having said all of the above, my best friend has a animal mad 9 year old and they have lots of small pets - have had most of the common ones at some point. Most successful by far has been a rat - much keener on human interaction than the others. Probably not typical, but her son is genuinely involved with all of them (wants to be a vet when he’s older) and does help with a lot of a practical stuff - so it is possible!