Pets for the kids

cupid_s

pavlovs_dog wrote:

yep, thats the one my OH does too :rolleyes: who'd have thought it, a fully grown bloke afraid of slugs n snails :rotfl:

Mine's the same. I tripped up some trousers at the top of the stairs so started moaning. He said it wasn't his fault cos there was a slug on them and he had to get them off as soon as he noticed and then couldn't go near them afterwards.

Obviously it was then up to me to find the slug who had absconded.

Apparently I'm getting a divorce if I ever buy GALS

Quackers

Rats

We too have had lots of pets. Hamsters - bit holes in my fingers. George the house rabbit - gorgeous and loved playing with the dog but got fed up with us and commited suicide by jumping in the pond. Toby the dog - king charles cavalier who was adorable but wasn't mine originally so wouldn't have a dog my choice. Chipmunks - adorable. Started off with 2 but they had 5 babies so we ended up with 7 who created havoc when we let them run round the house one day :rotfl:Nice animals but I dont think they are good pets unless they are handled a lot early on so they are friendlier! We've had a few cats but my husband isn't a cat lover - especially when I arrived home with one without telling him

Our rats have been the best. Very friendly. Alice used to 'climb' around me and snuggle on my shoulders as I was walking around the house. She was luverly and easy to look after. We've had 4 rats in total.

Now we have a tank of fish :rolleyes:

saintjanet

Quackers --are all rats friendly,or have you been lucky?

I have heard that you can train them a bit like a dog,to come when called,is that right?

Xenomorhic

My rat came when called,
Licked a hand or cheek to ask for a treat
She adored people and when I walked in a room she'd scale my leggings or trousers quick as a shot to shoulder sit.
She played ball with a little cat toy with a bell in it.
She clambered all over everything- my mom wet herself the day she scaled the chair, sat on her shoulder and started licking her cheek.... it was hilarious.. she got used to her in the end.

I loved that little rat. She was the best pet and the best pal I ever had (never was allowed a dog) and I wish I still had her, even now, 15 years on!

Kelinik

The vast majority of rats are friendly and even then the ones that aren't usually have good reasons not to be (ie been mistreated). Two of my three know their names (the third came to me at already over a year old) and all three know the signals for out of cage time, treats and back to bed time. The ONLY thing that will stop me having more after these is the fact that being an amateur property developer and keeping rodents (AKA teeth with furballs attached) that need free range time are a conflict of interests lol!

Quackers

Xenomorhic wrote:

I loved that little rat. She was the best pet and the best pal I ever had (never was allowed a dog) and I wish I still had her, even now, 15 years on!

See, thats how I feel about our little rat. My girls adored her. There is still a lollipop cross at the bottom of the garden where even Mr Quackers (the big 'ard man of the house') buried her

And he usually bins dead animals!!

Kelinik

*goes of to start a ratty pics thread in the arms*

gingercordial

saintjanet wrote:

Think VERY carefully before considering a parrot,i have had one for 15 years,he is an amazon and while they can be very endearing,they also make a hell of a noise at times and often screech loudly enough to perforate your ear drums!!:D.

The African grey is a better talker but my mate had one and that was really vicious and would attack anyone who went too near!!

I still love mine but i dont know if i can stand him or another 25 years or so:eek:

I had a vicious African Grey too, not fun.

OP, also remember parrots cost a lot of money to buy, from a couple of hundred for the less popular/smaller species to up to £1,000 or more for a tame African Grey. You can't be stingy about it because you will either end up with a wild-caught bird, one that is ill or one that can't be tamed - that was my mistake. A big enough cage also costs an awful lot of money, but is necessary unless the parrot is going to be out of his cage all day (and he should be out for most of the day anyway).

I'd love another parrot, really want a macaw, but am waiting until I have more room and don't go away as much, oh, and when I can afford £1,500-odd to buy one!

elisebutt65

Thanks for all the replies - very greatful.

Having read up on parrots - esp. the damage they can do to a person - breaking fingers and ripping skin etc, have decided that perhaps not such a good pet to have around children,

As for GAL's - Eeeeeeeeeeeuuuuuw - sorry but I'm not a slugs or snail person and I have to remove any I find with a tissue and deposit into the alley before my eldest experiments on them with a pile of salt!!!

Lizards do sound quite good but s you say, there is the expense of the vivarium and vets for reptiles. Didn't get to the petshop today but definitely going tomorrow so I can quiz them in there, as well.

I may just go for the easy option and get a catflap fitted and get a kitten - sigh. The cat rescue place don't like placing in homes with kids round here. My last cat was a rescue cat - the vet knew I was looking for a cat and gave me a call as her owner was ill so her niece and children had 'looked after' her - by generally using her as a football and setting light to her ears!!!! The vet refused to return her after fixing her ribs and burns so I had her for about 2 years before she developed carcinomas on her ears where they'd been burnt so I had an earless cat for another few years until she finally popped off to cat heaven.

My neighbour recently got a new kitten but her eldest cat really, really hates it and she has made noises towards re-homing the new one so I may offer, if I can't think of another pet, even though I am reluctant to go for another furry - lol. At least if I get a catflap then I can train her to go outside and not have all the litter tray aggro. - Maybe I should train her to use the toilet - apparently there are websites out there that are full of this - RAFLMAO!!!!

Jay-Jay_4

Yeah but if the cat goes outside to poo it'll either be in your garden or someone elses A litter tray only needs skipping out for solids daily and renewing every week. At least your neighbours can't complain

TBH a cat sounds like your best option. Cat's a so independant and you've had one before so you know what to do. Perhaps it's a compromise between getting a furry and knowing that you won't have to nag the kinds to clean out a tank/cage/stable ( :rolleyes: ) every day.