Can You Please Help Us Choose a Pet?

[katydidthat]

My son wants something cuddly.  Not a fish, not a bird (although I would like a bird).

We live in a tiny teeny 2 BR unit ... it is not big enough for a cat or a dog.  

It would be nice if it could like happily in a large bird cage ... as I have one.  

NOT MICE OR RATS.  

TVMIA

[i-need-a-martini]

Definitely a rabbit.

It would be Ok in a unit. Ours lives on our balcony and comes in every night. He has thr un of 1200m2 of garden on the weekend but doesn't seem to enjoy being out there that much.

The best thing about them is that they are clean so will always poo and wee in a litter tray.

They have more personality than a guinea pig too.

[sandym3369]

I have had both rabbits and Guinea Pigs . Used to take the rabbit out on a leash if young and handled a lot they are really good. Our Guinea Pigs where great with the kids they use to whistle when they saw you and would also follow the kids around. I think a Guinea Pig would be better for a unit as they are smaller and I think easier to handle . 

[katydidthat]

What about gerbils or hamsters?  Are there any native animals that can be kept as pets?  Like bilbies?  

We had rabbits when we were young ... we had a chinchilla called Cwch (pronounced cootch, it's Welsh for cuddle).  It was hilarious ... every now and then it would escape from its hutch and chase the neighbour's cat around the garden.  It would come into the house sometimes and chew the tv cords ... 

[sandym3369]

Don't get Gerbils or Hamsters in. Australia .

[kengillard]

Isn't Hamster another name for Guinea Pig?

[katydidthat]

Oh.  Thanks, Sandy.  I grew up in London ... I can remember us having a class hamster in primary school.  

[katydidthat]

Hamsters are smaller than Guinea Pigs, Gillie ... and I think they tend to be more beige in colour, where Guinea Pigs are all sorts of colours.  

One thing I remember about Guinea Pigs is that they had these whorls which made them (for me) difficult to stroke.  

[sandym3369]

I come from the UK also .  I have had a hamster and they come in a few colours .  

[j*oono]

My class had a hamster too.  It would have been around the time we were reading the Narnia books because I remember there was a hamster called Reepicheep in one of them.   They are very cute but I don't think you can get them here.  They are quite different to guinea pigs.

[j*oono]

Hey, it's also a shame we can't have tortoises here.  Now they are easy to handle 😄