First Pet??

[ThreeMusketeers]

My dd will be 4 in April and we are thinking about getting her, her very first pet. But we are stumpted on what it should be. We don't have room for a dog...so thats out of the question. Anyone have any ideas that worked for them? Thanks!

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Beta fish are nice. They are cheap and easy to take care of. I'm sure it would make a wonderful first pet.

You might also consider hermit crabs (again, cheap and easy to take care of) or goldfish. But if you get goldfish, don't go for the fancyschmancy expensive ones. Go for the 25 cent 'feeder' goldfish. A lot of times they are hardier than the expensive ones.

TOV

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

Guinea Pigs are very kid-friendly - I've had them in my preschool classroom and they made wonderful kid pets.

They are a good size for kids to hold, easy to take care of, and they respond to attention. They are funny, and the kids can be involved in caring for them. They can live to be 5 or 6 years old, although some die early at about age 3 or 4. If you (or the kids) are worried about the guinea pig going to the bathroom on you, it's easy to just wrap the critter in an old towel and hold him that way. They are usually very docile and will sit quietly while being held. I've never had a guinnea pig bite anyone, although my friend had one that nipped him on the finger once. (we guessed that his hand smelled like carrots because he had been prepping the guinea pig's treat.)

 

[stevenscs]

One of you mentioned Beta fish. I've had several, and they do make interesting semi-pets. They tend to live a very long time.

If you are looking more for the mammal type, a cat would be good... you could go and adopt one that is young, that way you could raise it to know you better. Cats aren't as much of a hassle as dogs, so room-space shouldn't be a problem.

 

[gr8tpanther]

A kitten? Something that will grow with her and be her friend for years to come.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I'm more of a cat person, although I also have 2 dogs.

Whatever pet you get make sure you do a lot of research, visit with that type of pet, think about the average lifespan of that animal, consider the vet bills, and be prepared to care for that animal for it's whole life. Too many people look at pets as disposable, which is sad.

Also, realize that since your DD is only 4yo that you will be doing all of the care of the animal. Maybe there are some little things a 4yo can do to help, but you will be responsible for remembering everything. Never believe a child who tells you that they will take care of the pet (been there, done that and my parents reminded me for years ).

Be careful with a child as young as your DD--young and/or small animals are fragile and she will need to be supervised closely for awhile. My son was 5yo when we got our latest kittens and he was rough with them in the beginning. I really watched him closely for some time until I felt that he could be trusted. Even a child who is not trying to be rough can accidently hurt a fragile pet.

Have fun in your search!

 

[slo]

Hamsters are fun!!

There are so many cool things you can do with their houses now that your DD would have a blast picking things out for it. Plus, kids love to watch hamster run around in their little wheel

 

[dbarker]

Goldfish. Buy a few cheap ones. However, get your aquarium and water set up first.

 

[RangerPooh]

I would suggest fish. They can be entertaining, are fairly easy to take care of, and will be easy maintenance for you as your little one probably won't always be the one to feed or clean. I've had neon tetras and rosie barbs and they have lasted quite a while. Plus if you go on vacation you can place feeder tablets or a timer in the tank.

If you aren't too fond of fish what about a small bird like a finch or parakeet. But once again you'll probably be the one lceaning the cage, food, and water.

If you decide to go with a cat, consider adopting one for the animal shelter as these critters need homes.

 

[almacdonald]

Are you looking for a furry, we-can-play-with-it-pet or a just-sits-there-pet. If you just want ANY pet, a 10 gallon aquarium with some fish is a nice thought.... but young children sometimes get a little too curious for the fish's well being. If you want a furry pet but don't have room for a dog and don't want to make a 20 year commitment to a cat (no guarantees that you'll get a kid-friendly one either), then i second the motion to look into guinea pigs. They're slightly bigger than a hamster and thus not quite as "fragile" as another poster suggested. They can also be taken out to play, our friends even bring their outside when it's warm enough. Oh, and they don't look like rats either, that's a definite advantage! Whatever you decide on, do your research! And if you can, rescue an animal from the shelter instead of supporting petstores and puppy mills.

 

[tweety 12]

I love cats. How about a cute little kitten. Fish are another great 1st pet.

 

[Tiffann4k]

What about a kitten or a bunny ??

 

[golfgal]

You have to look at it like this, what are YOU willing to take care of? Rodents, gerbils, hamsters, etc. are nocturnal and NOISY at night, and they smell. Fish you have to keep on top of cleaning out the tank, etc. Cats are probably the easiest, scoop out the litter box on occasion and put out some food, they pretty much take care of themselves. You can also leave them for a few days without having to have someone come in and feed or water them.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

You have to look at it like this, what are YOU willing to take care of? Rodents, gerbils, hamsters, etc. are nocturnal and NOISY at night, and they smell. Fish you have to keep on top of cleaning out the tank, etc. Cats are probably the easiest, scoop out the litter box on occasion and put out some food, they pretty much take care of themselves. You can also leave them for a few days without having to have someone come in and feed or water them.

I agree about a kitten probably being the easiest. I know that I grew up with a dog and 2 cats. I have also had my fair share of fish and I have taken in a friends guinea pig before. While the guinea pig was cute, it was noisy and I would have to clean her cage quite often. Same with fish, their tanks need to be cleaned often and its a lot of work. Cats are pretty easy to take care of. You can leave food out all day and they won't eat unless they are hungry. And you don't even have to worry about a litter box if they go outside. I have 3 cats right now and other than feeding them during the day I rarely have to do anything else for them. I know you want it to be your dd's pet, but you know you will most likely be taking the most care of it. It is not even just her age. My brother decided to have his own cat at 19, and as you guessed, well the cat is a family pet now. (actually I take the most care of him)

 

[puffkin]

Fish would be good if you don't mind the up keep of taking care of the aquarium.

Hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs are a lot of work. Your daughter will probably lose interest in the "care" of these animals very quickly.

Dogs are the ultimate companians but are also a TON of work.

I would suggest a kitten or young adult cat. They pretty much take care of themselves. It will grow up with your daughter. It will be personable and you can play with it, but it most likely won't be over demanding on your time like a dog. Care is pretty much limited to putting food out and scooping out the box.

 

[chyam]

I guess alot depends on your daughter, does she seem gentle with other peoples pets or at a petting zoo? Does she understand that animals need to be treated with kindness? Personally I would go the kitten route, go to a shelter where they will put you in a little area and see how the kittens react to her and vice versa. I personally wouldn't want a fish, you can't hold them and it's tough talking to them through a bowl! A guinea pig to is a good choice, although with a kitten they will be with you for many years which maybe better than something else up and dying in 3-4 years. Most of the time I suggest getting 2 kittens to keep each other company when people work, but it is probably best to only get 1 in your case so it will bond with your daughter, also if you could teach her to feed the kitten (maybe you prepare it's food and then let your daughter put it down for the kitten) animals always respond better to the person who feeds them. And as spring approaches there is always alot of kittens who need homes.........good luck!