Pets

[petes_dragon]

Hiya everybody, long time no Q - how are you all?

Just a quickie, if anyone in here can help....Does anyone know what the right age is for a child to have his first pet hamster?

My little boy is almost 4 and is DESPERATE for a pet and we thought that a hamster would be a good idea - but do you think he is too young??

Thanks in Advance

A xXx

[hammerman]

I think he's at a perfect age. Make sure you give him the responsibility of feeding and cleaning out but always supervise him.....just be in the room with one eye on him until he's confident.

Good luck.....pets teach children many things

[yapisle]

how does he react to other animals - to a cat / dog? - to wild animals like birds in the garden / visit to the zoo?

Is he at ease ... or does he chase away / run at animals?

Take him to a pet shop ... to look at the many animals - see what interest him.

There is no right age - just when your boy is 'ready' for the responsibility, and cares. It is a responsibilty

Wanting is not always a good sign - novelty may wear off.

[matt66]

Mark these words...whether your child is 4 or 14 he will never never ever clean the cage out every week. So you will be looking after the hamster and feeding and cleaning it (they reek of urine in 3 days).

It is very difficult to bond with a hamster because it is asleep during the day and awake at night. So your 4 year old will hardly see it awake and the novelty of seeing a sleeping pet wears off in a day. besides they usually bite if handled so theres another big problem. So basically after the frst week the pet becomes yours and you have to care for a stupid rodent thats no fun.

So the problem is not the gae of the child but the choice of pet. Budgies are much better.

[devilwoman]

matt 66 is right about hamsters biting, we had 2 hamsters a few years ago and no matter how nice u were to them, they would take every ipportunity to bite u, nasty little crotters, made my finger bleed a couple of time. u are better off with guinea pigs, much friendlier and gentle, your little boy would be happier with them.

[Tiny E. A]

If you handle a hamster confidently, regularly and with care they are perfectly tame and will not bite. None of mine have ever bitten me over the years. They also get up at intervals during both the day and night, just longer intervals at night. They also become used to being woken at the same time everyday, so your son could play with him. I agree with hammerman though that at that age you son will need to be supervised with the pet to ensure both son and hamster are happy!

[45703]

As soon as they are on solids! so 4 is fine!

[spurslady]

My niece turned 4 in March and her parents bought her a hamster. She loves it, helps look after it and Hannah the hamster is thriving well or you could get a rabbit but the hamster is easier for a young age.

My partner hates pets so my kids are stuck wth tropical fish that I have to see to.

[noxlumos]

Yeah, I think four is fine. Our four year old is quite happy and confident round the pets and although we no longer have a hamster ( died a couple of years ago) we do have guinea pigs which he loves and are delightful. We've never found hamsters bite either, and if your kids won't clean out the cage of an animal belonging to them and their responsibility and regulalrly feed them, then there's nothing wrong with the pet , or the child, just the parenting,sorry matt. They need to be taught that they have responsibilities which can't be abdicated, one of the whole erasons for having a pet, otherwise it's pointless and just gives them a negative messae instead of a positive one.

[matt66]

fair point nox...i cant argue with that. But it was worth pointing out to the OP

[DavidUK]

If you kept me locked up in a cage and just took me out when you felt like it I would want to bite your fingers too.

I think it's cruel keeping an animal locked up in a cage for your occasional pleasure.