Good pets for kids' room?

Question

We already have dogs, fish, don't want cats. We had a rabbit and tried mice but both stunk unless I cleaned their cages daily. I don't want anything too smelly. My kids are 5 and 9 so they can care for it.

Answer 1

I would definately go with rats. But if that wasn't an option gerbils would be the best second chhoice. Guinea pigs smell very badly. Hamsters have a tendency to bite especially when your trying to get them out of the cage. I can go a month without cleaning my rats cage before it starts to stink. Rats are actually very clean and don't pee often. They also have the intelligence of dolphins so you can train them. Some of the rats I've known were handled by two-year-olds. I only have to change their water and food once a week. BUT DO NOT GET PINE OR CEDAR CHIPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It hinders all small animals senses of smell and can cause infections in their liver that will kill them. Rats and gerbils both live 3-5 years. They are very sweet and like to sit on your shoulders for as long as possible. Gerbils are more fun to watch because they will sit up on their hind legs and look around. Hermit crabs are also boring cuz they don't do anything.

Answer 2

I just got a parakeet (budgie) a week ago, and she's really easy to take care of...a lot easier than my cat and guinea pigs...and she doesn't smell at all. You just pull out the tray in the bottom of the cage and change the newspaper, clean the food and water dishes (which are really small), and give her fresh food, water, fruit, and vegetables. Not too bad! Plus, she's lots of fun to train and quite a clown at times. Just make sure you get a young one that still has stripes on its forehead. Another good reason to get a parakeet is because they sleep at night and love to have lots of noise and interaction during the daytime.

Answer 3

If your rabbits and mice smelled that much, it was most likely that their cage was too small, or you had too many mice for the size cage you had. Pet stores overcrowd pets, and change bedding daily. Most responsible small pet owners either spot clean daily with a total clean weekly, or change the whole thing 2-3 times a week. So whatever pet you choose, don't crowd it into a too small cage and it will be less smelly.

Answer 4

A ferret. I have 3, all litter box trained. They roam the house. Heck, they RULE the house. They just allow me to live here because they like me. They are intelligent, and easily trained, and crave affection. Get them young, and train them not to bite. They don't bite out of meanness. They bite because they have no hands to grip with. Pinch their ear until they squeal each time they bite. It won't take but just a few times, and they will stop. In 7 years and 4 ferrets, I've had 1 bite hard enought to leave a mark, one time. They are NOT the viscious animals uneducated people would have you believe. They are great with children. But they are fragile. Children must also be trained to treat them with care.

Answer 5

Well, any animal can get smelly. But cats are good, and any labrador breed dog is good with kids. You can have almost any animal.
As for hampsters, mice, rabbits, (etc.) you cannot have one without having to clean the cages daily. That's just the way it is. Not getting one because you don't want anything smelly is shallow and you need to get over it, hampters are easier to care for than mice, just watch them ir they'll get awat from you.

Answer 6

Try a gerbil or hampster. Thses guys are generally very well tempered and easy to care for. weekly cleaning is recommended and the kids love them. Cedar chips are your best bet for odor control. These little guys are clean and do not smell if properly cared for and they are fun to watch run in the balls. If even these are to smelly for you try a small lizard or gecko. No smell and inexpensive to buy and feed. Funny if you find a nice one just remember that some species will grow to 6 feet so do your homework. Good Luck!

Answer 7

You could try some kind of lizard(not an iguana, they get to be like 5 feet long) or a turtle. I don't think they smell and they don't require too much mantainance.

Answer 8

A hamster is the best pet for kids. I have 4 kids, and we have 4 hamsters. They are clean and self-sufficient. They store food, so if the kids forgot to feed them (they usually do) they always have a stash of food. They eat most kinds of regular food as well. My kids enjoy feeding them apples, cheetos, and carrots. They are generally nice and the cages only have to be cleaned out once every week or so. It was a good choice for my kids, they love them.

The best chips for them are PINE chips....not cedar. They sell huge bags at Walmart for five bucks.

Answer 9

anything such as a mouse/hampster/guini pig will tend to stink after a while, i know you say they'll take care of them but keep in mind the are only 5 & 9

I would maybe recommend a leopard gecko or some sort of reptile.. they can be a lot of fun

Answer 10

umm i wount go with the hermet crab thing....my 7 year old brother had one and it piched him. we could not get its claw open. cats are good pets. and dogs. but if you most for sure dont want a cat go with something like a hamster, they do stink if there not kept clean. but MAKE your kids clean the cage. it will teach help them lurn that pets are work. the more care the pet needs the better you children will like it. think about it a fish...you feed it and thats it. now a hamster, you have to clean its cage so you have to hold it, there for pet it and let it play in a ball or maze. things like that. we have horses there good pets too if you looking for real work.