What small furry might be suitable?

[FairyBarr]

I'm just in the initial stages of thinking of getting a pet; I will do my research but wondered if anyone could give me a steer on what type to look at?

I have two kids aged 11 and 8; we currently have tropical fish - I had rabbits before I have kids but looking for something smaller, that needs less space, this time.

We've got room for a reasonable sized cage and got time for feeding/cleaning/playing daily. We aren't in a rush so can take our time finding the right cage, right place to buy a pet etc.

The big BUT: we go away several times a year and would like to find something that could happily be left for a long weekend say every other month with just a neighbour popping in once to feed and then a couple of times a year we would be away for a week and ?would take the cage round to a family member to care for?? It this is ridiculously impossible got any small furry then I'd like to know now before i spend ages researching

We have pet rats and they are wonderful pets They can take a while to get fully used to you and need a lots of enrichment in their environment but they're so worth it. They're very clean and don't smell much, although we have female, I understand that males have a tendency to smell more

Another vote for rats. They're like little puppies, you can train them, they're affectionate and funny. They would be fine being left for a long weekend with someone dropping into feed them and check their water then lots of cuddles when you come home.
Rats from a good breeder will come to you well handled, friendly and with excellent genetics. You would have to go on a waiting list for them but it would be so worth it.
PAH Rats are bred in tiny cages and never handled they also have a tendancy to missex their animals leading to accidental litters.

Yes don't worry everyone I will absolutely not be buying a tiny PAH type cage whatever we go for. Rats in a tall cage might suit us really well 👍

@70isaLimitNotaTarget Yes! So much space, so much mess and such a lot of effort. And when we had ours we never seemed to have any fresh veg for us cos it all seemed to end up being fed to the gps! Im not a fan of the ramps either - I think they are appreciated by owners but not so much by gps.

I'd suggest a couple of gerbils. They're easy to look after, and if you give them lots of attention are very friendly. You'll see more of them as they're not nocturnal like hamsters. They'll sleep during the day if you ignore them, but quickly wake up if you give them some attention. We've had around 20 over the past couple of decades in various groups of 2,4 or 6 and never had any trouble with them. Usually live 2-3 years.

I personally would say rats if they want something they can pet and you don't have the space for GPs.

Problem is all animals really need space, even something small like hamsters/gerbils. I have gerbils and they are great, but they are flighty, you need to be gentle with them. And actually they have pretty much taken over my living room! Their cage isn't massive but they have a playpen that's quite big and whilst you can put it away I've given up.

Before you go looking make sure your DC aren't allergic.
Fur is a big allergenic , hay too ( but I don't know if rats eat any hay products in their diet ? )

If you find a good breeder you can get the advice and your DC can handle some rats .
I really like the idea of rats but I prefer my rodents on floor level and not that intelligent
Rats have got the most amazing little paws too.....

@StoatofDisarray Guineapigs should never be kept as a solo gp - always with at least one friend. Human company is no substitute, they absolutely must have another gp to buddy up with.

Gerbils are fascinating and v adorable but don't really love being handled and are real escape artists.
Hamsters are also fantastic, real little characters but they need a lot more space than you realise, big cages and ideally a lot of running around time in the evening, they are also buggers for escaping...
Rats are what you want - intelligent, very easy to tame, won't run away so you can let them out lots. They die much too soon but they're worth the heartache.

I love rats. Hamsters are generally asleep when kids want to interact with them and then keep everyone awake at night!

You’ve asked for a furry but what about a snake? My DS has a corn snake (he is 6) they can live 15+ years. He handles her most days except for 2 days after feeding which is just once a week. Cleans her out once a week or so plus when she sheds takes the snake skin in for show and tell. We have had her since she was very small and she has a lovely little personality and comes out to see you when you come in the room. I was not keen on the idea at first but it is a good pet for him.

Ds got a snake when he was 2. Had it 12 years. Once you get used to dead mice it the freezer they are reasonably easy to keep!

Not a hamster! As PP have said they are nocturnal so awake when youngsters have gone to bed. My sister had one and it drove me nuts running around it's wheel at night as i could hear it.... It had a huge rotastack cage thing (lots of areas all connected by tubes, up, down, sideways etc) and the hamster worked out how to escape. Mum was not best pleased to find it had chewed through plants, wires and had a good go at the skirting boards!!! Needless to say my own children didn't have a hamster (we've had cats for decades!)

Guinea pig fan here. Get two girls and they will make the perfect pets if you handle them daily at first so they become tame. I love them and think they make the best pets.

Get a cat?

They are fun for children, and don’t live in a cage so actually sit with you, play games, sleep on children’s bed if allowed.
With a microchip cat flat they just go in and out as they please. We have an auto feeder so can easily leave 24hrs if needed or neighbour just pops in evening to give wet food and company.

we use trusted house sitters when away, so sitter stays at house. and cats are favourite to sit for as easy enough, just food and strokes.

Go to a rehoming place and get an older than kitten cat. Age 1-3 would be perfect.

Rats are great, but... they really do have short lives.

Tbh, easiest pet I’ve ever had are cats.

Gerbils are lush. I ended up buying a tank for them as they need space and no plastic! But they are so sociable. The second I call them they are there. I assume it’s to see me and not for treats!

We have rats. They are awesome pets. The only note of caution from your description would be moving the cage to a relative's house when you go on holiday. We can (and have) done that, but it's only possible because the cage comes apart and we have a big car. It's also a right faff. Do check how your cage and car might interact before you buy a cage!

Ive had guinea pigs and now have 2 cats . Cats are so much easier!

Rats are fantastic but as pp have said cats are definitely the easiest pet I’ve ever had. No walks, no cleaning out the cage (scooping a litter tray is much quicker!), no special diet. Like being played with when they’re small but honestly mine are 9 now and just want to sleep and be cuddled

Much as it pains me , I have to agree

DH and I have this dialogue when The Cats have Done Something .

Me : "The guinea-pigs never did that"
DH:"The guinea-pigs never did anything "

The cats have clawed my hall carpet to death. They sleep all day and night
They throw up grassy spit on the carpet
They attack the sofa walking past 2 huge scratch post towers
They sometimes wee on the carpet (they have huge litterboxes)
The boy went out a couple of weeks ago , it was below zero . He didn't roll in till gone midnight , I was calling him and rattling Deamies thinking he was stuck or injured, DH went off with a torch round the roads .MaleCat Rolls in with no shits given .

The guinea pigs grazed the lawn and fertilised it . In rectangles the size of the run, it looked like locusts had been on it . But they tried ,

Ah now this is wise because DS is allergic to some animals

Neither DH nor I like cats (please don't hate us!). We love dogs but don't have the time/energy.

We don't lack for space that badly and could manage a 1m by 0.5m cage (which I've heard quoted for hamsters) comtortably; and larger with some rearrangements but I'd rather have an animal in a cage well above its 'minimum requirements'. Rats, Degus and Gerbils are on my list to investigate further. I'll also consider lizards and snakes though live food is a bit off putting. I'll maybe consider birds as a pp suggested but it doesn't immediately grab me!!

My DD was fine with our first two pigs then when we got the 3rd she was allergic to his fur ( Coarse coat Rex) fine wuth 4th and 5th and very allergic to the 6th (Teddy coat) ok with 7 and 8 .
She had skin rashes nothing too serious but they go up to your neck to snuggle .

I offered to have him but DD refused . !

We have pet mice, they are very clever, take treats, easy to handle and the kids love watching them play