Can you recommend a great pet for indoors other than a dog, cat rodent or snake?

Question

My son is sad because we have to get rid of his kitten due to allergies and I need to get him something else to help him get over her. He wants something that's playful and I want something that can be potty trained easily or that lives in a cage. No ferrets, I hear they smell bad and no reptiles or rodents (rodents draw snakes and I'm horrified of snakes. Can you recommend something that doesn't cost a fortune but is playful and affectionate?

What about sugar glider I've heard they're great???

Answer 1

i had a chincilla that was my favorate pet they are soooo playful and very friendly. Not to mention are very kid safe. or you could always go for fish. i have nevr heard of a rodent attracting snakes thought. so i think you should be safe to get a roden. Although i do not suggest getting any dwarf hampsters they are
NOT friendly

Answer 2

hhmmm. that sure does limit the choices.
.....and birds are no good for allergies either.
let me think.....a monkey. No that would probably run into some dollarage......I am thinking, honestly. This is tough though. Rabbits are bad for allergies and messy. Fish are not that playful or cuddly....I'll look in the classifieds and get back to you.

Okay i looked. Seems like the only other option is the rodent type i.e. guinea pig, hampsters. I think kaylora might be right here. I read somewhere pets can actually be good for children to help them overcome the allergies. Perhaps you could research this subject....We have a small dog. She is great, very loving, and affectionate. They are quite easy to keep clean too. And the price - you find the best dogs for nothing and have a friend for a lifetime. Best of luck.

What about hermit crabs?

@#!!@#.....or a hedge hog??

Answer 3

Rodents do not draw snakes. That's a myth.

If he has allergies be careful what you get. Any animal with fur may have dander. Small pets also need bedding which can be full of dust.

Ferrets do have an odor even when de-scented, I agree.

Any pet can "cost a fortune". It's not the purchase price but the vet care that can cost alot. If you don't want to spend money on vet care, consider fish or hermit crabs.

If he feels he must have something to play with, why not a dog?? There are lots of dogs in shelters right now who need homes.

There is always a bird as a pet, but the better birds aren't cheap. They also need more careful handling, and depending on your son's age he may be too young for one.

Answer 4

Before you leap off the deep end and banish all furry pets from your son's life, I wonder if you've had a complete allergy work-up done on him? Many people are allergic to cats. And it's not really the cat that they're allergic to, it's cat dander or it's the cat's saliva. Since cat's are constantly preening, then they have residue of saliva in their fur all the time.
You may be able to come up with a dog that is less likely to cause allergic reactions. Poodles are high on the list of "tolerable" by people with allergies. Rabbits can be crate & litter-box trained, but again with the preening thing may be a problem (although their saliva is considerably different than a cat's).
If you rule out cats, dogs, rodents, and snakes then you don't leave much. Get the allergy tests done, then make an informed choice...not one based on myth or fear.

Answer 5

What about amphibians? my sons have frogs. they are self sufficient...just feed crickets once a week and clean cage twice a month.
i guess you'd have to like frogs...i personally LOVE them. we love watching Princess and Greenie run around gobbling up the crickets...*yeah I'm a strange mom! ha ha*

but if you are really not wanting a reptile, or rodent, dog or cat, or even a ferret....your choices are VERY limited.
its a frog...or a turtle, or perhaps a hermit crab? very easy upkeep! although not that cuddly.
turtles can live a VERY long time. but..why not research on line? their may be sites to help you find the perfect pet for a child with allergies.

ps. I'm allergic to fuzzy animals...i take an allergy medicine for it...works WONDERFULLY! and i have dogs, rodents, donkeys, horses, goats, chickens, peacocks, frogs, hermit crabs, fish...you get the idea. and BTW if live in West Texas...home of the rattle snake and copper head...rodents do NOT draw snakes. snakes go for the easy meal. why on earth would it put itself in danger around humans for a difficult meal?

if luckyc501 was the expert he clams to be he would know that a lab/poodle mix is not a hybrid...a hybrid is a cross between two species that are closely related...such as a wolf/dog hybrid or a horse/donkey hybrid (which gives you a Mule)
hybrid are usually sterile (infertile).
AND he would know that NO DOG is non-shedding...every dog sheds, just some less than others. every animal with hair, including humans, shed their hair.

sugar gliders are WILD ANIMALS, they are NOT meant to be pets! i find that ppl might think they are cute creatures and they ARE, BUT it is cruel to keep them confined in your home..when im sure the poor thing would much rather be in the wild!

Answer 6

Buy a rabbit, they're cheap to purchase ($5-$35) and hardly cost anything to feed. They aren't rodents (they're in the family lagamorpha vs. rodenta) and they can easily be litter trained.

The best thing when buying a bunny though would be to buy one young so you can make sure it's tame. Another good idea wou;ld be a parakeet or chinchilla, but rabbits are the cudliest of the three. Mine are sweeter then my cat.

I would not reccomend any reptiles or amphibians because, like ferrets, they have a very strong odor, they also aren't cuddly. Hermit crabs reek too (my sister has one, yuck!).

Answer 7

Are you looking for a pet that your son can hold --- or would just watching it suffice?

Pets to hold: Hamster --- although technically a rodent, the fur makes it much cuter. They will not attract snakes so long as its home is cleaned regularly.
Parakeets, cockatiels, African Grey, conures, macaws --- birds can be very entertaining. Since your son has allergies, you may want to stay away from cockatiels and cockatoos. They make a fine powder on their skin that looks and feels much like talcum.

Now, if you want pets just to look at, get fish (goldfish tend to tolerate abuse better than other fish) or small birds such as finches. Zebra finches are strikingly colored and the males have a call that is much like a child's toy bugle. Strawberry finches are expensive, but the male's call is like a waterfall --- just beautiful.

Hope this helps.

Answer 8

1. You aren't going to "draw snakes" just from having a hamster or Gerbil in a cage
2. You can have a ferrets stink glands removed thus resolving the problem of the "stinking ferret"
3. You could always get him an aquarium and fish, But I don't see him playing with fish very much
4. Try getting him a Guinea Pig

Answer 9

I know you said no reptiles, but I have owned tortoises for many years and they are very easy to maintain and very hardy. They do not eat bugs or meat or anything gross like that.

They eat vegetables/lettuce and special dry food you can buy at any pet store. They only drink water - they do not live in water!
They are fun because they do have their own personalities if you really get to know them.

They walk around quickly (contrary to popular belief). Potty training is an issue, but you can just be sure that they are kept in their pen/sweater box or outside.

They are not terribly expensive depending on the kind you get & they live forever at least 100+ years if kept properly.

Answer 10

I think the only thing left is a fish. Get something colorful with a pretty tail fin. It will be fun for him to watch. A Betta or maybe some guppies. Or maybe a turtle. My brother and I had those when we were younger, they were OK. I would say a bird or rabbit but they can stink and a lot of work to clean behind.