Pet Experts! advice on gerbil vs cat

[momto2]

We are considering a pet for our 8 year old. The choices are down to a gerbil or a kitten. I think I would prefer the kitten, although my husband isn't sure. He is concerned about the kitten/cat jumping on the counters, table, furniture, etc. Also he is concerned about the kitten peeing everywhere. Any help in these areas?

As for the gerbil, I don't really know how much fun it will be for my son to 'play' with. Also I would be assigned the task of cleaning the cage, etc. (well I guess the same would apply for the cat's litter box). How much work is a gerbil? Do they play well with children? Would my son be able to pet it and play with it?

Which would make a better pet in YHO?

Thanks for ANY and ALL help, I really need it.

 

[DocRafiki]

I don't know much about gerbils, but the difference is huge. A cat will cost you loads more and could live into its 20's. I believe gerbils only live 3-5 years.

If you want a pet "for" your kid, a cat is not the way to go. You can't really expect him to take care of it when he goes off to college in 10 years.

 

[SeaSpray]

Cats usually last longer than gerbils do. I'm referring to life span here. LOL Also, a cat will become almost like a member of the family since they're "free range", allowed to roam around. The gerbil will always be just a pet, even though I'm sure your child will love it. Before you get either one, do a lot of research and posting this thread is a good start.

My personal opinion is, as long as you realize the care involved, I'd vote for a kitten/cat. As long as they're from a reputable person or store, they should already be litter box trained when you bring them home. They're not like a puppy that you have to train once you get it home. Kittens normally follow their mothers into the litter box, that's how they learn.

 

[helenabear]

Truthfully I would go for a cat over a gerbil any day. I had both for myself as a kid and I could just as easily scoop out the kitty litter as I could do the cage. Since he is kind of young, I doubt he'd be doing either himself really, and I'll tell you I'd rather do kitty litter over an icky gerbil cage in a heart beat!!!

Gerbils have a tendency to play at night only and sleep during the day. You can pet them and hold them, but they are no where near as affectionate as a cat is (IMO). They also smell more to me and can make tons of noise at night. I think a cat, by far, is easier to keep. All of my cats have been litter trained by the time they get here (I guess their mamas teach them) and the moment I have put them in their new litter, they know where to use it. Just make sure you get them fixed... helps with any weird spraying problems. I am glad I had cats and still have my kitty from when I was in HS with me... love her and her "sister" to pieces. Never had that with a gerbil or the like

 

[momto2]

To Seaspray,

Thanks for the help. We have been researching, online and books from the library. I thought it would help us to hear from people instead of a book or website that focuses on one particular animal. And so far, it has helped ~ thanks.

To helena,

It was such a help to hear from someone who has had both animals as pets! Thanks so much! I too would rather clean a litter box than a cage any day! LOL

 

[DisneyObsessed]

We are a family with a dog, a cat, a guinea pig and two dwarf hamsters. We have exerience My advice is, go for the kitten. The gerbil will be ignored after time. He can't come to your son like a kitten can. A kitten will be more a part of the family. My kids are older and they become irritated when they want to hold their hamsters, and the little guys just run all over the place. They don't sit and cuddle like a cat. Good luck!

 

[Bojangles]

We have hamsters and cats. I would rather clean the litterbox than taking apart the hamster cage, cleaning it and re-assembling it. The hamsters are definitely cheaper to maintain but I think they're more of a PITA than they're worth. Plus sometimes you get a hamster that is mean and doesn't want to be picked up or held.

 

[Melora]

My 8 year old has a cat of his own. It did not start out to be his cat.. my oldest (now 18) brought her (Madison) home for himself 4 years ago and the kitty attached herself to my other son...
She is totally in love with him and sleeps with him and even follows him around. Unfortunately you cannot choose who your cat will find the most attractive to him or her, but if your son plays with the kitty and spends time with it, it will in all likelihood become quite fond of him. We have hamsters as well and as fun as they are to watch, they arent really affectionate, they can't sleep with you (though my hubby wishes our other HUGE cat would find someplace ELSE to sleep) and they can bite if picked up when they arent feeling like being "loved".

Most kittens are potty trained, my suggestion is the first few days keep him/her confined near the litter box so they dont have to go too far to find it and it should never be a problem. Also make sure you get it neutered immediately so it never sprays, marks territory or goes into heat and add unwanted kitties to the world.

 

[momto2]

Thanks so much for the help. Especially those of you that have or have had both. The kitten is the direction I want to go too. I just needed some more oomph to get my husband there.

To Those with cats, do they spray or mark their teritory often? Can we train a kitten not to jump on the table and counters? Will that training last forever?

We are dogs owners of the past. So we don't know much in these areas. We do have a chinchilla though! And as has been mentioned about the gerbils. The chinchilla, doesn't really come when called and the cage is a mess to clean.

Thanks again, I sure do appreciate the help!

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by momto2


To Those with cats, do they spray or mark their teritory often?

Not if they are spayed/neutered.

 

[Otto's Doll]

I have 5 cats (and we are considering getting a kitten). We also have a dwarf bunny (Litter boxes with scooping litter are MUCH easier than a rodent cage!) and a dog. I would go for a cat any day. They are companions and playmates and very entertaining. My DD's cat is her shadow, as is my DH's cat. When my DS was young, his cat slept in front of the ladder to the bottom bunk, so my DS wouldn't be able to accidentally fall out of the top bunk during the night. They really are family members!

 

[DisneyObsessed]

You need to get the cat spayed or neutered as soon as the vet says. It used to be six months, but I think they do it even younger now. A female in heat is not fun, and a male who sprays is nasty. You can't get that smell out.

 

[Twigs]

We have had both cats and gerbils. DS's (11) love both, but by far they ineract with the cat more.

I didn't find cleaning the gerbil cage to be a problem, we used pine shavings and just dumped the whole contents of the tank in a garbage bag once a week. My local pet store, where the owner is extremely helpful, advised a glass tank instead of the plastic ones with a plastic lid that clips on,(gerbils love to chew, and even put hole in clothes) it had punch outs on top to add the tunnels etc which the kids love but I stopped using quickly, the gerbils would pee anywhere and it would drip out of the tiny holes in the tunnels - very disgusting DS's were diappointed not to use the tunnels, but I was not putting up with that mess!! They did interact with the gerbils taking them out a lot, but besides holding them and letting them run in a confined space on the floor that was about it, and they are VERY fast so you have to be very careful that they don't get on the loose. ( My neices gerbil got loose and in trying to catch it my sister accidently stepped on it and THAT was a disaster!) Also our gerbils lasted 3 and 2 years. I thought they lived longer. We actually brought the 3 year olds to the vet when they got sick as we thought they had a lot longer to live and he said that was old for a gerbil. You also have to be careful about handling them if you have a cold, they can get sick from you.

Now the cat, is much more lovable in that you have constant interaction with them, they are always around. We just got a new kitten and it is like having a baby in some ways. As I am home when DS's are in school he follows me everywhere! I will have him neutered at 6 months, my vet will not neuter sooner. I never had a problem with a cat spraying or peeing on the floor (l always get them neutered) if they do it is usually a health problem, they use the litter box instinctively but you should also not change the location of the litter box if possible.
I have always trained my cats not to jump onto the kitchen table or counters. I keep spray bottles around and with a loud no and a spray they usually learn where they can and cannot go, but it take time and patience to be consistent. A can filled with coins that will make a loud noice when shaken could also work. My kitten just jumped onto the counter for the first time 2 days ago and I loudly shouted no and sprayed him, but to be sure I am keeping aluminum foil at the edges of the counter for a while, if he tries to jump up he will probalbly come down with the foil and it should scare him, he hasn't done it again (yet), I'm sure he will try again, but you do have to be persistent.

Good luck with your new pet!

 

[lisajl]

I agree with most of the posters here. Cats are intelligent animals. They just need to be shown where the litter box is at, and put them in it. They will go there. Occasionally a cat will go outside the litter pan, but usually there is a reason. (ie..infection).

As far as keeping them off the counters, I agree with Twigs.
If you keep a spray bottle filled with water, spray them and say no, that will help.

Unfortunately, we have two cats that LOVE water! It is always a riot to watch them try to drink out of the sink.
My DD's cat loves to watch the toilet flush...don't ask...I have no idea!

We have three cats and 1 dog.....the cats are soooo easy to take care of!

Good luck...
Lisajl

 

[MHopkins2]

If you're concerned about training (and/or litter problems), my advice is to go to a reputable shelter and adopt a young-ish cat. S/he will already be spayed or neutered and fully litter trained, and the shelter can usually give you info on personality, energy level, and the like. This will also save you big bucks on vet bills, and you'd be giving a loving kitty a second chance - often, they're "dropped off" for the sin of shedding or irrational fears about a new baby.

 

[Melora]

I agree... go to the animal shelter and find a nice young cat. They spay and neuter them there and you are saving their life. Out here in California if you get a kitten from the shelter they will neuter them as early as 3 months.