Pets for the kids

elisebutt65

Noooooooo

Sorry but I am that hated species - a dog hater!! I used to be a cat person but want somthing a bit more relaxed IYKWIM?

judderman62

Go for a Komodo Dragon

*Louise*

OddjobKIA wrote:

One thing that worked on my kids 8-4 they wanted a dog so I said fine if they took it for a walk every morning, they said they would

I said we would practice first

I got them up at 6am in the pooring rain to take our futre dog for a walk they were fed up with the idea after 200 yards.

Never asked for a pet again.

PERFECT!!!!:rotfl:

My OH and eldest son keep bugging me for a puppy (even though I'm the one in the house all day and would have to look after it)

Next time OH asks about it, I'm going to do just that - and the first day wil be his Sunday lie-in.:T

*Louise*

elisebutt65 - I know you said no fur, but how about hamsters? Not too much trouble, only have a life span of a couple of years an pretty easy to clean out.

And of course, you don't have to take them out at 6am - stick them in a plastic ball and away they go!:D

TheImportanceOfBeingIdle

Get a cat and shave it.

Wake up in the morning, feed it and kick it out. Come home in an evening, let it in and feed it again. Simple.

juno

Parrots are lovely. You do need a fairly large cage, but it won't be in it much. You'll find it in the fridge, in the cupboards, in the bath etc though. They need a lot of attention, so if everyone is gonna be out all day then don't get one.

MrSmartprice

I agree, parrots are wonderful, especially African Greys. But be prepared to devote a lot of time and attention as they are so intelligent and require plenty of stimulus. Remember too that they are likely to outlive you, they live 70-90 years. You would need to bequeath it and provide for it in your will. Sadly this level of commitment prevents me from having one.

Try a couple of guinea pigs. They are very child-friendly, don't bite, have lovely personalities and take little maintenance. Lots of fun to breed too, as the young are up and running from day 1.

gravitytolls

I'm not a small pet person, and personally can't see the point of the non furry variety animals, as they don't sit on yoru lap, come when you call them (I know, someone will put me righ ton this) etc.

We've had cats and dogs for years, cos we like 'em. Also small critters too. These are now banned.
Tiggles the hamster was lovely, till he got out, fell down the drain and drowned (I wondered what was stopping the flow).
DS2 was sad to lose his hamster, so we replaced it with a lookalike and told him we'd found him.
He asked 'why is he smaller?'
'Ooh, he's lost weight because he hasn't had enough to eat.'
'Why is he a different colour?'
'His fur's darker cos he's been living in the pantry.'
'Mum, he doesn't seem to knwo me at all.'
'I've go tsome bad news, Tiggs is dead, so now you need to get to know nad think of a new name for your new hamster.'
A few days later ...
'I just can't hink of a name for the new hamster.'
'That's just as well, as I have some more bad news...'

Ruddy thing had a heart attack.

Next was Morris the rat. Loved by all, including the friends who looked after him when we were away. 2 more eplaced him when he died, but one went mad, and the other died sooon after too.

Gerbils - the cat ate them. That's life I guess.

Guinnea pig, nice but didn't like any of us.

And the children never clean out the small pets, forget to feed them, stick 'em in boxes supposedly while they're cleaning, then get a better ofer of a game of footie, and naff off and leave them somewhere.

Dogs are great, but more of a tie than children really.

TBH, I odn't think you can go far wrong with a cat. Teh neighbour can feed it, or it can be kennelled fairly inexpensively (compared to a mutt). They're relatively independent, clean, and still quite sociable.

But TBH, if you're not keen on pets, I'm inclined to go with not bothering, as they're more work than you might htink once the novelties worn off.

*Louise*

gravitytolls wrote:

Tiggles the hamster was lovely, till he got out, fell down the drain and drowned (I wondered what was stopping the flow).
DS2 was sad to lose his hamster, so we replaced it with a lookalike and told him we'd found him.
He asked 'why is he smaller?'
'Ooh, he's lost weight because he hasn't had enough to eat.'
'Why is he a different colour?'
'His fur's darker cos he's been living in the pantry.'
'Mum, he doesn't seem to knwo me at all.'
'I've go tsome bad news, Tiggs is dead, so now you need to get to know nad think of a new name for your new hamster.'
A few days later ...
'I just can't hink of a name for the new hamster.'
'That's just as well, as I have some more bad news...'

Ruddy thing had a heart attack.

I'm sorry...I know I shouldn't laugh, but.......:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

*Louise*

We had two hamsters......would stick to single ones in future...I heard squealing coming from the cage, lifted some of the bedding...and found that the bigger one was attacking the little one:eek:

So much for sisterly love

The bigger one was found dead one morning a week later.....looked like it had gone to sleep under the hamster wheel, and the smaller one had started running inside it...revenge?