Sooner or later every child will ask their parents if they can have a pet, be it a dog, cat or something smaller. Whilst not everyone will want to commit to taking on a dog, there are several smaller animals which could become loving companions for younger pet lovers. Some will require more attention than others but allowing your child to have a pet will help them to foster responsibility, patience and compassion for animals as they grow up.
However, with such a wide choice of pets, which one will be ideal for your family? In no particular order, below is a list of the top ten pets for children.
1. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]There are various breed of hamster, from the solitary Syrian hamster to the Dwarf Campbells which like to live as a pair. Hamsters are ideal first-time pets for children as they are easy to look after. However, they are nocturnal so are not ideal for keeping in a child's bedroom!
2. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]These can be sociable little creatures and should be kept in same sex pairs or more. Female mice are easier to keep than male mice. They can be very entertaining to watch, especially if they have an interesting environment to live in. However, they are small and quick, can be timid and may be difficult for children to handle.
3. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]The domestic rat is clean, clever and makes a very interesting pet and companion for an older child. They are best kept in same sex pairs as they love company, both ratty and human kind! Being so social, they need to have exercise and attention outside of their cage every day.
4. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]These little nocturnal creatures can become quite tame if handled correctly. They love digging and burrowing and charging about. However, they are also easy to look after and really fascinating to watch if they have an interesting home to live in. Again, they should be kept in same sex pairs.
5. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]Can be kept indoors or outdoors and should be kept in pairs or groups. If you have a male and female together, make sure that the male is neutered to avoid any unwanted additions! They are vocal creatures, very sociable and will not appreciate being left in a hutch with no attention. They are gentle, easy to look after and are awake during the day. They can live up to seven years.
6. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] These are suitable for older children. They require a little more care and attention, especially long-coated varieties that will need daily grooming. They can be kept indoors or out and can be house-trained. In the wild they live as groups but males must be neutered if kept with a female. They will also need regular vaccinations.
7. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] These are friendly little birds, easy to care for and can be taught tricks and to talk, something which children will enjoy. They are sociable birds and, to interact with the family, are best kept singly or as a pair. After the initial outlay, they are also relatively cheap to keep. They live up to 9 years or longer!
8. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]For children who may suffer from allergies, fish are a good option and are easy to care for. They can be from simple goldfish to tropical fish in an aquarium.
9. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]Cats can be a good option for older children as they can be independent but also love attention. They do require commitment as they can live to a ripe old age so are really suitable as a family pet with adult input. However, if children are noisy or boisterous then your cat will not be a happy one!
10. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]Whilst chickens might not immediately spring to mind as pets for children, they are very child-friendly! Children will enjoy checking the henhouse every day for eggs and the chickens will only need to be cleaned out once a week. However, you will need a reasonable sized garden and secure housing that can, ideally, be moved around. Will need to be kept as pairs or more.
Whatever pet you choose for your child, adult supervision is required at all times to ensure that the animal is being properly cared for. However small your new pet is, they will soon become part of the family!
Mon May 27, 2013 12:33 pm
