they want to look after it themselfs they are 2, 5 and 11 and ideas would be really greatful
2006-09-08 22:45:23 · 40 answers · asked by claire 'n' kidz 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
why don't you advertise yourselves as pet-sitters first in the local shop, or just with friends and family. that way, you can look after lots of different pets, and you will find out which pets are best for your family, and how well the kids look after them. at least you can hand them back after a few days if you don't like them (the animals that is, not the kids!)
2006-09-08 23:04:47 · answer #1 · answered by rojo25 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When my three kids were little they each had their own animal to look after.
The worst one was the rabbit - don't go for one of them! They loved feeding it and petting it - but cleaning out the hutch - always ended up with me!
A pair of same sex gerbils (both female, I think - but definitely from the same brood) - they were great fun! Easy to clean and fantastic to watch - would recommend!
Dog! Responsibility, interaction and a being that will respond. Take the kids to a rescue home and find one that suits them all - the staff will be very helpful.
Cat! After we had the dog (which was more for me than anyone else) we got a kitten. Dog and cat got on well - and was a brilliant way to show the kids that other people could really live with each other well without argument!
If you don't want any hassle then perhaps fish are the answer - but you don't get the interaction with them unless you have a nice big koi lake!
My gut reaction is get a dog - but expect to have to take some responsibility too!
2006-09-09 00:40:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, kittens pretty well take care of themselves and potty training is taught in 1 day. They love to play and they're pretty durable.
On the other hand, I'm thinking a young dog, but not a baby puppy. We just got a baby puppy and it is all over the place, into everything and has to out to be potty trained a million times a day, is alot of responsibility which would end up being your headache. If you rescued a young dog that was good with children and already potty trained and already had some manners you'd be way ahead of the game. Try and find a smart breed though. There are ads in the paper and over the internet practically giving away mixed breed dogs because their owner took ill or from allergies etc.....that's what I'd do.
2006-09-08 23:35:05 · answer #3 · answered by daisymae 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would try a gold fish. The two year old will look at it the 5 year old will feed it and the 11 year old will complain about it . hard ages to get them to share a pet. Maybe a turtle and a fish and let the little one see them and talk about them. Unless you have room and adult patients for a kitty or a puppy. The watch the 2 and 5 year olds as not to play to ruff. And hope the 11 year old is responsible enough to care for it in the boring times for the other two.
2006-09-08 22:53:24 · answer #4 · answered by peacocktrail 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have space outside, then guinea pigs. They prefer living in a social group so that they could have one each. (Suggest all the same sex!) They are cute and furry and if handled frequently don't mind being cuddled and groomed. They also like things to play with and hide under, so the kids could have fun creating guinea pig gyms with cardboard tubes etc. In the summer they could live in a fox proof run outside and even help keep the grass short! Not too smelly or demanding on the adults and cleaning out can definately be done by the kids. If they are well cared for they can live up to 7 or 8 years- in time for your eldest to go to college!
2006-09-08 22:55:10 · answer #5 · answered by Dancemomma 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rats are fabulous, inexpensive, low maintenance pets. They don't smell as much as cats with indoor litter boxes. They don't need as much attention as dogs (or walking). They are about halfway in between cats and dogs in personality. The relatively short lifespan means it will be gone before the 11 year old is off to college.
Just make sure you don't use cedar shavings as litter--causes cancer. Ponderosa pine should be fine, but brown paper towels may be even better.
2006-09-08 22:52:11 · answer #6 · answered by Beckee 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd happily recommend gerbils. Cute, low maintenance, don't smell (sorry, but hamsters and guinea pigs can have an odour problem in my experience), don't need cleaning overly frequently and great fun to watch for young ones. Cats are cool but a much longer term investment with worming, injections and vet visits meaning they're likely to become your responsibility.
2006-09-08 23:00:16 · answer #7 · answered by emread2002 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Seriously, it depends on how much time you can afford to give up. Insects and related creatures are easy to take care of (Stick insect, spiders, scorpions, praying mantis) Fish are very time consuming, the bigger the tank the easier to take care of it. If you want an easy tank to take care of, you need to be looking at somewhere in the region of 3 to 4 feet long! Dogs, cats and other mammals are extremly time-consuming and change lifestyle. Snakes are good but you will need to take care of it. Rodents are fairly boring as far as pets go. Birds are easy to take care of, but if you plan on keeping them in a cage you need to ensure that you have the time to let them out and "train" them. In any case it will probably be you taking care of the animal(s) so be careful!
2006-09-09 02:38:06 · answer #8 · answered by Julien L 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well u could get them a goldfish they only need feeding and change of water every 3 days or a hamster but be careful coz they can bite ummm.....maybe a cat because they are very independent and playful but make sure u get a tame one .or u got just get a guinea pig or sumthin small hope that helped
2006-09-09 02:19:27 · answer #9 · answered by xmissyx121 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well obviously dogs and cats are always good as far as safety or human relation and understanding is concerned. But in my opinion one should always select a pet specially for a kid which can encourage kids to learn more new hings out of it. Having Cat or Dog is nothing learning new. Every kid knows how to take care of them. They are found almost every where. However I shall not prefer to give a dog to young kids to take care on their own. Cause kids learn and adopt so quickly. Now Dogs nature is not suitable to be adopted by Human kids. Though dogs are loyal, but the effect on child's mind can be destructive. Child can become aggressive and violent while it grows cause Dog makes him a real master. And obeys any good or bad thing. Now this behaviour if child adopts to expect form society will be destructive for child. So I don't prefer to give a dog to children without any supervision.
2006-09-08 22:53:24 · answer #10 · answered by jerry 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋