Is a hamster a good pet for a 5 year old?

Answer 1

noooo i dont think so, id stick with a goldfish

Answer 2

It honestly depends on the disposition of the child. If the kid is responsible, has reacted well around other types of animals (i.e. doesn't squash the cat or pull the dog's tail), and can be relied upon to handle the little rodent gently, then there is a good possiblity that they could deal with having a hamster.

However, a note on hamsters. They are fairly unpredictable little guys who can have a tendency to bite without warning. If you get them very young (having just been weaned), then there is a better chance that if they are handled enough they won't bite. They're hardy, active, relatively easy to maintain (if you keep their cages clean), and quiet. There aren't many kinds of pets that are "good" for a child that young besides dogs and cats. The larger animals seem to tolerate a bit of rough handling better than little critters. If you're dead set on getting a rodent of some sort, I would recommend a rat faster than I would suggest a hamster. They're very clean, usually friendly, have a low "bite-rate" and can be harness-trained (yes, you can put them on a leash!).

Might I also mention that I wouldn't get a hamster if you're expecting the child to be responsible for its care and well-being. Five year olds, no matter how intelligent, generally aren't good at keeping their pets fed and watered. The best time for starting pet care responsiblity (in my opinion) is around eight years of age. However, there are always exceptions to the rule.

I hope this helps.

Answer 3

Small pets should never be taken care of by a small child alone. If you plan to handle the hamster and feed it with your child it could make a fine pet, but don't leave the care just to the five year old. Also, a gerbil or rat may be better than a hamster. Hamsters are more noctuornal than the others and can be grumpy if little hands wake them up. However, if you fing a very sweet hamster it will make a great squishy pet for your little one. Oh yeah, I would recomend staying away from dwarf hamsters, but thats just my experience.

Answer 4

It depends on the child. If they are hyper active and want to constantly pick up the hamster and play with it it might not be a great idea. It's good to pick them up, but you don't want the hamster to end up being tortured. Also, they might accidentally leave the cage open or something like that and then you'll be stuck with a lost hamster. Hamster cages require alot of cleaning and maintenance so that is something that you will have to end up taking care of also. I have had 2 hamsters and a guinea pig. One hamster was sweet but the other one was quite nasty and we couldn't hold him because he would bite us. Basically I think 5 years old is way to young for a hamster.

Answer 5

Keep in mind, whatever pet you get, you will be taking primary responsibility for it, no matter how much your child begs, promises, or pleads. Even children who love animals lose interest within a few weeks-few months. So make sure it's something you would personally enjoy as a pet, and that you want a pet :)

I personally think a 5 year old is too young for a hamster. I say go for a betta fish.

Answer 6

NO! Hamsters are much too small for a child of that age. It could easily hurt it by playing too rough with it or squeezing it too hard. The hamster could also bite the child, this is likely as the child would probably not be able to hold on to a small squirming creature without holding too tight. Also, a kid that age would never be able to take responsibility for an animals care. A better choice would be a dog or a cat, one that would be a family pet.

Answer 7

I wouldn't recommend it!! Why?? Hamsters, Gerbils, etc. are nocturnal & they can become very upset when they are woken in the day time. They can & will bite!!
These little rodents, along with rats, mice & even rabbits do NOT have a very long life span. The smallest thing & that's it. They were not meant for longevity.
Either research it, think LONG & hard about it, or plan on purchasing new pets pretty often & explaining to your 5 year old that Peanut went to Hamster Heaven!!!! so did blah, blah, blah, etc.

Answer 8

Sure it is. You both can learn how to care for it. A hamster is a great pet for a 5yr old. Unless the kids are older than you should supervise your kid whenever they want to take them out and hold them and when they clean the cage. You don't want your critter to escape. All 3 of my children did very well with their hamsters. They were shown how to hold them. How often to change water and bedding. What treats to give them. Life span for a hamster isn't very long 2-3yrs. It's about 5-6yrs less than that of a guinea pig's life 8yrs.
Good luck

Answer 9

I would have to say no.
When I was younger my dad got me a hamster and my little sister used to put her hands in the cage when I was cleaning it out and it would always bite her. She was about 4. So I dont think one more yr would matter.
Though I could see your trouble trying to find a pet for a young child is hard. You will probably end up cleaning and taking care of what ever you get so I would make it something you like.

Answer 10

I don't think so. They eat their young sometimes and that didn't set well with my kids. I got the best for my buck with the fish tank. They are colorful, quiet, and don't eat much. The hamster cage, I could never get it the smell to acceptable levels no matter how many times I changed it.

Answer 11

No for a couple of reasons.
1- your child could squeeze it to tight and that's bad
2-if your child drops it it could kill it
3-if your child drops it and it lives good luck catching it
4-they need to be handled gently everyday or it will become mean
5-if the child was to shake the cage (not saying he/she would) but if the child shook the cage the hamster can actually die from shock. (I've had it happen my cousins shook the cage the hamster instantly curled into a ball and started shaking it died a couple hours later)