she is 7 and very caring but i dont want to get an animal that needs lots of attention. Or expensive! I thought stick animals but dont know much about them. I dont want to get an animal that will die too quickly
i have put it off but feel that she would now be ready to take on the responsibilities of caring for sometyhing. She loves small dogs but i dont really want one! We have even discussed rats!
Ideas gratefully recieved
2006-10-19 23:30:09 · 31 answers · asked by rosyreal 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Animals are a good thing for children they learn responsibility for others etc..but...and a big but while shes caring and interested at the moment it may not last..I have three children and over the years have ended up main carer for..a cat...a dog ..2 hamsters ..a rat ( ugh) and a guinea pig...good luck what ever you choose.
2006-10-19 23:39:02 · answer #1 · answered by Lily 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fish are good starters--they are inexpensive and easy to take care of, but if she wants something cuddly, rats are a good option. They are surprisingly clean and VERY smart! A friend of mine got a rat for her daughter, and she has even taught him some tricks. You can get a little plastic hampster ball for him to run around the house in as well. As I said before, they are easy to maintain and are very clean pets. You might also consider getting a cat, as they are also VERY easy to take care of, especially if you don't make it a completely "indoor" cat (that way you won't have to have a litter box). Dogs are GREAT (I have 2), but they are a BIG responsibility--you can't leave them alone more than a day at a time, where as with a cat, if you go out of town, you leave some food in the garage and they will be fine in most cases...
2006-10-20 13:19:18 · answer #2 · answered by missapparition 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rats are a great way to break into the responsibility of raising an animal. Their easy to take care of, they become very affectionate and they're entertaining as all get out. For best results get a medium size colored rat..ie.tan, black and white, chocolate something like that. big white rats, sometime called lab rats don't work well as far as I'm concerned. but besides the rat or two, a cage, food dish or silo, (food plus supplement), treats to eat and treats to chew on. water bottle and some kind of house to bed in and don't forget the bedding. saw dust or chips isn't good for their respiratory system but there's other bedding's out there. I recommend the paper pulp regular. it might cost a bit more at the cash register but it'll save on vet bills in the long run and it's softer. I know two people as I write and both of them have their rats sit on their shoulders while doing homework. they might run off and investigate awhile then come back and climb back up on their arms. heres some trivia for you, a rats teeth will grow 7 inches in there life time (thats why you need to get stuff to chew on), a wild rat can chew through a steel and concrete pipe and their heads are in two parts and can fit through a hole the size of a nickel. I have had many rats myself and I have a hard time buying the steel pipe thing but all the stats that are done on rats come from the NY subways testing and research center so...who knows?? anyway, this might help you pick out your daughters first little friend. Good luck!
2006-10-20 03:45:46 · answer #3 · answered by dhwilson58 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I see guinea pigs on here quite often. Guinea pigs are commonly thought of to be low maintanance, but that's not quite true. They need vet visits, daily veges, vitamins etc.... They can become sick very quickly so it is important to keep a close eye on how much they eat and drink. Also, they are social animals so if your daughter and family can't spend a lot of time with the guinea pig, it's really important to give it a same sex cagemate.
If you want a pet that doesn't need a lot of attention (and that's hard to find) I would suggest a fish or maybe a cat (mine never wanted me around and only wanted my attention when I was sleeping.:)
2006-10-20 12:05:05 · answer #4 · answered by JLH 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My little brother got a small fish tank with 2 goldfish in it. If you go to a pet store, they will provide you with all thats necessary for startup, a small, easy to maintain tank, some gravel, decor, filters and food etc. They will explain exactly how it all works and how to set it up at home. Set up the tank first for at least a week before you get the actual fish, the environment needs time to adjust. From then on its smooth sailing, a little food once or twice a day, and a good clean when necessary. And vuala! a pet that cant go anywhere else except where you put it. and if one dies, its super cheap to replace!
2006-10-19 23:52:43 · answer #5 · answered by waggz86 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok first off a pet should never belong to a child.. especially one that age.. they cannot understand "lifetime commitment"
ALL pets need to be "family pets" becuase it will be the parents who oversee the care and pay for food.. and ultimately make major decisions concerning the pets....
stick bugs live to about 1 year but they breed and multiply rapidly -easy to care for, feed romaine lettuce in the winter apple or raspberry leaves in the summer
I would suggest a Guinea Pig or Rabbit, or Betta Fish.... (hamsters are not good they are nocternal and bite often) or a cat (not a kitten) - I am glad you are not getting a dog.. they are very demanding and do not make good pets if you do not have alot of time for them... - birds are messy
before getting ANY pet go to your local SPCA or animal shelter and look there... the prices will be bettter than a pet store and you will get more honest information and can go there many time before you take a pet home...
but mostly remember a pet is a FAMILY pet.. it is up to the parents to oversee everything.... DO NOT get any kind of pet unless you are fully willing to assume every responsiblity becuase a kid CANNOT be given the burden of "if you dont look after it we get rid of it"
2006-10-20 03:51:47 · answer #6 · answered by CF_ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
At seven, she is not ready for a pet that's hers alone. There is no such thing as a low-maintenance pet if you're going to care for it properly.
It could be a good experience for her if you did most of the work, letting her help with little jobs and having her watch and learn from you--I think that's a great way to get her started on learning how to care for and treat animals properly--but under no circumstances should she be held solely responsible for the pet's care.
2006-10-20 23:47:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
wow, someone said an elephant... even though that's a good one, i think a ferret would be the perfect pet for your daughter. ferrets have longer life spans than hamsters or fish. they're also easy to take care of. lastly ferrets are very playful! the best part about ferrets is they sleep most of the time and are only up for a few hours of the day. i have a ferret and she has been the best little pet!!! good luck choosing a pet! i'm sure your daughter will love any pet you give her!
dee
2006-10-20 02:55:16 · answer #8 · answered by dee 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
least work/troublesome: fish, tortoise. A pet dog would be like taking care of a child full-time. The rewards may outweigh the effort tho. But it's a lifelong effort ..... so, think very carefully cos you will be the one who ends up being totally responsible, in the long run.
2006-10-19 23:40:28 · answer #9 · answered by PikC 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would probably be best not to get her a pet at her age as children can become bored with pets easily. The best solution would be a Nintendo DS and a copy of Nintendogs. They have small puppies that need cared for and they come in Pink . :D
2006-10-20 02:13:56 · answer #10 · answered by Kev K 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋