As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
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There are other changes as well.
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It's time to move on and move forward.
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Ok my kids are driving me crazy for a pet. DD's are 3 and 6. I am allergic to dogs and DH allergic to cats so we aren't really pet people...but I was thinking maybe something along the lines of a hamster or gerbil might be good. They keep asking for a bunny, but I know those aren't really good pets from what I have read. Anyway, has anyone been through this with their kids and what pet did you get?
Guinea Pigs! They are fantastic starter pets! Pretty easy to take care of, and very tolerant of being handled - they almost never bite, unless you are really rough with them, and they actually seem to like people. They respond to you much more than gerbils or hamsters, and make lots of different little noises that you will come to understand. You should keep it somewhere that they will get lots of interaction with people though.....it helps them get used to you., and learn to trust people. Also, make sure to take it out of the cage so it can run around and get exercise. We even used to take our outside and let him eat grass while we were out there! (It kept poopy cleanup in the house to a minimum, lol)
We had 3 different guinea pigs (they only live about 6 years), and loved them all!
We did try to go the rabbit route, but it didn't work out very well.....we would up giving him to our friends who love rabbits and have about 6 of them.
I read somewhere that Guinea Pigs are pretty social and do better in pairs. Did you have 2 at a time or just one? DD 3 has one of those for a classroom pet so that may be a really good option.
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We have pet rats. Yes rats. They are really cool, very clean, and they love being handled. We have had Aurora and tinkerbell for almost 2 years now. They are also very hearty pets, easy to take care of and super sweet. They have never bitten anyone, and they actually box each other which is pretty cool to watch.
Hamster, Gerbils, and Mice bite. We have a hamster too and we should have named her Hannibal rather than Yuki.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by denwol
Guinea Pigs! They are fantastic starter pets!
My sister and I had Guinea Pigs when we were about your children's age. I fell in love with the one we had for our kindergarten class and so my parents went out and got one for each of us. Clifford was my first Guinea Pig and he was fantasic! I would highly recommend a Guinea Pig.
Another one for pet rats. We had Scabbers and Rosie and they really were very sweet. They need to be handled and played with and then they are quite social and fun! The down side is they only live about 3-4 years and my kids were crushed when they passed.
I read somewhere that Guinea Pigs are pretty social and do better in pairs. Did you have 2 at a time or just one? DD 3 has one of those for a classroom pet so that may be a really good option.
We only had one at a time.....That may be why they bonded so closely to us. The last one we had even bonded with our stray cat that we took in, lol! They used to play together in our front garden!
We have 2 Guinea Pigs and they are great. Another idea is a Leopard Gecko. My son saved up enough money to buy one for himself when he was in the 2nd grade. He saved enough to buy the lizard and everything it needed. He is 11 now in the 6th grade and he and "Twitcher" are pals.
Here's why they are great:
-The cages don't smell and don"t need to be changed that often. You just scoop out the "poop" when you need to.
-You don't need a pet sitter when you go away. A time for the light and enough food and water for a week is fine. Get someone to dropin and replenish if you are gone for longer.
-They do have their own personalities. If you get one as a baby they get used to you better.
Down side
- they eat cricket and meal worms. This doen't bother me or my so. It bothers some people. The mealworms you need to keep in your fridge. (Tthey are in a sealed container you cant see in. I keep it in a seperate butter section of my fridge away from everything) You can get crickets that don't chirp
-They aren't cuddly, but they are cute!
- they are fast so you have to be really careful with them and get them used to being held.
Read up on them. Eveything I read when researching them before we let him get it said they were great pets. PM if you have any questions!
I agree - guinea pigs or rabbits! We've never had pigs, but know tons of people with them. I had a rabbit as a child, and loved it!
Small rodents aren't great for kids - they die in 18 to 24 months, they bite, and they are not sociable. Plus, they STINK!
Guinea pigs are pretty sociable and love people. They handle being handled better. Rabbits can be litter trained and after that, can be left to wander about. Both have longer lives than rodents.
I recommend going to the library and getting "How to care for______" books for each type of animal. Some require more work than others.
Thanks, Kristen for the info about a gecko. DD LAuren has saved almost $250 to get one - and is driving us nuts.
We have rabbits and love them. I run a daycare so ours are used to lots of little kids being around and do really well with them. We have always had 2 at a time so they have someone to be with at night or when we are not at home. We have had very few vet visits, we trim their nails ourselves, they are litter box trained and they eat leafy greens, carrots, bananas, hay and pellets. When we are gone, we have family come over and feed them twice a day. Good luck with your decision!
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Katie - WDW - August 2011
I'm allergic to cats and dogs but we ended up getting a Portuguese Water Dog. They are hypoallergenic and I have no problems with my allergies with her. Plus she's fantastic with the kids. She's acutally the kind of dog the Obama's are looking at getting.
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My DH used to have a terrible cat allergy, but living with our two older cats and being in close proximity for a while seems to have made him immune in some way. I wouldn't rule out short hair domestic cats altogether. They shed very little and my 6 year old has no trouble caring for our 3 cats by himself. He even helps clean the litterbox several times a week.
i'm another one for the guinea pig it is kind of in between a bunny and a hampster. i had 2 of them and albino with red eyes and another one he had different colors he was my partner , we had alot of fun he was awesome when he got use to being held . i even taught him to stay on a remote car i had and drove him around the house . they are soooo much fun . good luck on your pet hunting .
Old Vet Tech here:
Please, talk to your allergist before getting any kind of a pet with fur. It's the cat's saliva and dog's dander that cause reactions, and small rodents are not hypo- allergenic. They also use bedding that can harbor dust and dander. If you do decide to get Guinea Pigs, get females as the urine from males can be very strong smelling and can also cause allergies. Rabbits may well be the best choice, but I'd still like you to check with your MDs so that you don't have to get rid of a pet after your kids' have gotten attached to it. Good luck!
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My sister and I had Guinea Pigs when we were about your children's age. I fell in love with the one we had for our kindergarten class and so my parents went out and got one for each of us. Clifford was my first Guinea Pig and he was fantasic! I would highly recommend a Guinea Pig.
They used to play together in our front garden!
Kristin
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