Parenting
FURRY PETS
Furry pets are always winners in the cute and cuddly department, with their soft fur, tiny paws and bright eyes. We recommend:
GUINEA PIGS
Guinea pigs are easy to handle and love to snuggle in for a cuddle whilst nibbling a tasty vegetarian treat. They are very friendly and will happily play with toys such as cardboard rolls or cat toys with bells. Your child can even teach their guinea pig friend tricks, which is a great way to bond!
POCKET PETS
SMALL PETS BIG ON PERSONALITY! Introducing a pet into your family is a great way to teach kids about responsibility, care, and empathy, but if you rent your home, live in an apartment, or haven’t the time or space to meet the needs of a dog or cat, then you need a pocket pet! Pocket pets are small, reasonably low maintenance creatures full of personality. Take a look at our pocket pet guide to see which is right for your family.
Guinea pigs can be kept indoors or out, and require a plant-based diet supplemented by food pellets from a pet store. A safe wooden chewing toy especially designed for rodents will keep their teeth in tip-top condition. Pros: Relatively easy to handle and low maintenance. Cons: Need quite a bit more space for exercise than you might expect. Susceptible to ticks and mites if kept outdoors. Lifespan: 4-8 years Social: Best kept in same-sex groups, minimum of two.
RATS
Rats make surprisingly good pets! They are sociable, intelligent, and love to interact with people. They have heaps of personality, far removed from their somewhat gross and scary representation in books and on tv. Male rats are bigger than females and perfect for those who want a laidback snoozy kind of lap pet. Female rats are more energetic and inquisitive and will rush to greet you and come out of their cage to play. A rat will learn its name and come when called, and you can teach them lots of tricks. Rats should always be kept indoors and love a large, cluttered cage with lots of toys, cosy hammocks, and things to climb, hide, and forage for hidden food in. Pros: Friendly, gentle, clean and intelligent. Cons: Subject to respiratory infections and tumours requiring veterinary treatment. Lifespan: 1-3 years. Social: Best kept in small same-sex groups.
MICE
Mice are undeniably cute, but they’re also very small and fast, so better suited to older children if they’re going to be handled. Mice can be very entertaining and love lots of toys to play with, climb and chew. Being tiny, mice are relatively cheap to own and feed. They require a secure well-ventilated indoor cage and should be kept in pairs or small groups of the same sex. If buying male mice, make sure they are litter mates as they are territorial and will fight other male mice they are introduced to. Pros: Low maintenance and low cost. Cons: Love to chew and try to escape. Scent marking can be a smelly problem. Will breed rapidly if males and females are housed together. Lifespan: 1-3 years Social: Best kept in small same-sex groups.
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Your Local Families Magazine August / September 2021 www.familiesmagazine.com.au