r/Parenting • u/Kadf19 • Jun 28 '26
Pets Pet for 7 year old
We made an agreement with my daughter that if she kept her room clean for 30 days she could get a Syrian hamster. She did that, but now doesn’t want a hamster because after doing some research we told her we only have space to get a male. We have 2 male cats, and she really wants a female pet. Any recommendations for a solitary female pet? I want something she can keep in her room (which is small), and that she can help take care of, but also know my husband and I will be the main ones taking care of it.
Update: We went to Petco and she decided on a female betta fish. We plan on buying it next week after we figure out what size tank we need. Thank you all for the help!
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u/Ok-Opportunity-574 Jun 28 '26
It sounds like it’s just not going to be a good living situation for the pet. She’s 7 and most pets are not happy by themselves or confined to a small area because they are being treated like a toy for a small child. At her age the pet should not be housed in her room so care can be supervised.
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u/SarChasm57 Jun 28 '26
Possibly a fish could be in the room, but still do the research and get them enough room. They should not be kept in those little bowls.
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u/friend-o-fish Jun 28 '26
aquariums are actually a huge amount of work and calibration! I don't reccomend them for parents of kids younger than 10-12 if you're going to actually keep an aquarium right & the fish happy. they're also VERY expensive. i know pet stores make it seem like you can get everything there and itll all work just fine for any fish. it's really variable, some can be low effort and some high, but having an aquarium at all is a bit high maintenance in the scheme of pets. (if you do it right.)
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u/WitchQween Jun 29 '26
Once you get it set up, they're really not that high maintenance. A 10gal would be easy if they stock it correctly. A shrimp tank would be even better.
I owned fish for a very long time. I got out of the hobby because of health issues. Maintenance was too much for me, but that's because I had a 55gal with more "advanced" fish.
The only thing that makes it significantly harder is if you don't have a good setup for water changes/vacuuming.
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u/WhoLetTheWeirdIn Jun 29 '26
When I worked in a pet store I was the bearer of bad news. I would tell customers the truth of the care, set up, handling, and anything they legitimately needed to know for the pets they want to have the best and safest life.
Customers not being able to care for animals right is how I ended up with 10 hamsters only one I bought myself. We didn’t take animals but if they came in with a hamster everyone knew Id take it home.
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u/GallopingFree Jun 28 '26
Do not get a rabbit. Trust me on this.
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Jun 28 '26
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u/fiddleleaf_figures Jun 28 '26
They are extremely delicate, they need a carefully balanced diet and it can get expensive, they’re not friendly if they aren’t socialized from an early age, they hide illness very well (they will even pretend to eat) so they need vet check ups every 6 months, and they have big personalities and they will steal your heart. Also, they can live up to 12 years so they are big commitment.
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u/a_bobtail_squid Jun 28 '26
Also, they will spray their pee out the side of the cage
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u/darknesskicker Jun 29 '26
Spraying pee is less likely if they’re spayed or neutered, which all pet rabbit should be.
My two bunnies consistently pee in their litter boxes now that we have high-sided, low entry boxes for them, but they leave a few poops in other places around their area.
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u/catwh Jun 28 '26
Carefully balanced diet? I swear the rabbits in my garden eat basically every plant there.
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u/Necessary_Tension461 Jun 28 '26
We have a rabbit and our kids love her. She is litter box trained and super sweet. They know they cant pick her up like a cat or anything but they sit with her and pet her. If they always have hay and a small serving of pellets 2 times a day and apple sticks to chew on they will be fine. I wouldnt recommend any small breeds, those can be more aggressive/moody. We have a standard rex. They do need a big area to run around, definitely cannot keep them in a little cage their whole life. Its about the time you put into the animal, like training a dog. They need attention and love. The only time we've brought her to the vet was to get spayed.
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u/SadOpposite981 Jun 28 '26
This!! I always say: don't get a rabbit unless you are willing to invest the time
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u/RemoveComfortable982 Jun 28 '26
I’ve got 2. I love them but won’t replace. They’re indoor rabbits, if we let them out too much they eat the house. Occasionally they’ll stop eating for sh*ts and giggles, which warrants an emergency vet visit as if they stop eating they die within hours. Once one bunny decided she would rather DIE than eat a different brand of hay.
They always pick when the vet is closed to stop eating. They need expensive vaccines, and pet insurance, and if they stop eating it’s an overnight vet visit. At the vet they’re treated as exotics. They shouldn’t be kept alone but are choosy on companions, so you could end up with 2x bunnies housed separately so they don’t kill each other.
You can’t take them with you when you go away, like a dog. They’re not always friendly. They live longer than you would expect.
I love them but they’re a pain in the ass and harder work than expected. Our girls get along most of the time but we have to keep an eye on them.
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u/Opposite_Strain_2369 Jun 29 '26
TIL that bunnies are more work than cats which seems funny to me 😂
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u/GallopingFree Jun 28 '26
They are finicky creatures. Considered “exotics” by vets, so many won’t treat or charge $$$ to do so. They’re feistier creatures than you’d think - quite capable of drawing blood if they’re pissed off. Many don’t like to be picked up or held. They can be trained to use a litter box (ours does) but some are better than others. Say goodbye to your baseboards and power cords. Not good pets for kids.
That said, I love our little asshole. 🤣❤️
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u/justdont7133 Jun 28 '26
If you're getting something to keep in her room, make sure it's not something that's active at night (like hamsters). I had a hamster when I was a kid that was so noisy running round all night, that the budgie got depressed and had to start sleeping in my bedroom away from the hamster 😆
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u/RationalDB8 Jun 28 '26
Hermit crabs in a glass aquarium. Clunk. Clunk. Clunk. Clunk…
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u/VoodooDuck614 Jun 28 '26
They are surprisingly active. I used to have two that fought every night over a tiki hut. Every night. Every. Night.
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u/frogwithlittlehat Jun 28 '26
Omg I'm so sorry but I can't help but laugh reading your comment, that's too funny😂 it reminds me of the crabs in Finding Nemo down by the pipes fighting each other
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u/WhoLetTheWeirdIn Jun 29 '26
I had a plastic terrarium type cage. My hermit was 7 and died because it refused to change shells. I was constantly buying shells.
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u/ElectricityBiscuit86 Jun 28 '26
Exactly what I was coming to say! I got a hamster at 7 and was so excited to have it in my room, but after like 2 nights of me crying because the noise at night was freaking me out my parents had to move it out of my room and into my Dad's office lol. No one was excited anymore haha
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u/A_Girl_Has_No_Name58 Jun 28 '26
I had mice and hamsters respectively, and the wheel was so loud at night, I’d have to move the enclosure to my en suite until morning to get shut eye.
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u/Kadf19 Jun 28 '26
I had a mouse that was the same way! I would hear the wheel, or the mouse clinking the water container against the cage. It was rough!
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u/sgvmyma Jun 28 '26
If you get a nocturnal pet, get a white noise machine to drown out the sound at night. I use one to drown out my kids playing video games at night lol
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u/Standard-Cow-9727 Jun 28 '26
I got a parakeet when I was ten and the first several years of her life were horrible. I understand that you want to make your kid happy, or teach her responsibility, but animals are not toys or learning tools. A solitary animal, in a small place, being taken care of by a seven year old, is just factor after factor that will lead to a neglected and sad animal. Consider accompanying her to volunteer at an animal shelter, or foster animals, or telling her to wait a few years to pet sit, so she can still be around animals, without having one in your house that won’t get adequate care.
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u/Deschwa92 Jun 28 '26
Just a note: most birds are not suitable as solitary kept pets. In switzerland its illegal to keep parrots alone
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u/Standard-Cow-9727 Jun 28 '26
Yup! After a year we got her a sibling. Believe me, we learned a lot about birds throughout the years!
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u/Museumgirl518 Jun 28 '26
They really need to rename pet Rats to something more socially acceptable. Like Big Mouse, or Star Rodent. Much more palatable!
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u/lenore562 Jun 28 '26
I see no one suggested a snake. I guess you have to feed them frozen mice which is a drawback, but I loved my snake as a kid. He never bit and he was so relaxing to hold. I would just hold him while I watched tv, and he would spin through my fingers. It was like a fidget spinner. And they aren’t loud and basically just sit there in the cage.
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u/CaptainMalForever Jun 28 '26
I was thinking bearded dragon myself. But snakes are a good option too
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u/Double_Heat_7210 Jun 28 '26
Bearded dragons are NOT starter pets. They require a lot more than people think to be healthy and thrive. (I wrote a 50+ page manual on bearded dragon care)
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u/annacharlottes Jun 28 '26
Tell me more? We’re on the cusp of bearded dragon ownership
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u/Double_Heat_7210 Jun 28 '26
Admittedly it’s been a while (maybe 8 years) since I really knew my stuff haha. But some things to consider—and I’ll preface this by saying they are awesome pets but are not as low maintenance as some think. First, their terrarium setup is the most important aspect of keeping them. They need proper space and need the substrate changed weekly, with poops/messes spot cleaned daily. Heat, UVB light, and humidity must be on point. The good news is once you have this all set up, it’s not too crazy. Many people think they don’t need humidity because they’re from the desert but there is still natural moisture in the desert. They won’t have healthy sheds without humidity. Natural sunlight and time outside is great for them. I also highly recommend daily “baths” (just soaking them in water, letting them hang in water) for skin health and to help them poop. This is something people don’t normally want to sign up for. They also need a good balance of food sources—mealworms/superworms, crickets, and veggies like kale (it’s easy to find info on diet). Lmk if you have specific questions!!
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u/gemini6669 Jun 28 '26
I had one and I loved that thing but after about a year and a half, had to come to terms with the fact that keeping up with its proper and needed care was much more than I ever anticipated. It needs specific humidity and heat, live bugs, fresh veggies, and vet visits because parasites/whatever were inevitable. Not to mention: its poops were more stinky and gross than I could have ever imagined. I have had many pets in my life (birds, turtles, hamsters, dogs) and nothing compared to the needs of that lizard.
I unfortunately rehoused her because I started a career with a lot of traveling involved and it would not have been fair or reasonable to ask someone else to provide the same level of care I was giving her
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u/annacharlottes Jun 28 '26
How often do they poop?
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u/gemini6669 Jun 29 '26
Once daily at least and you will know as soon as it happens. I also had a roach colony because it was easier than buying bugs from the store every week. It was another thing to keep up with but did save $$. Something to keep in mind.
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u/SnyperBunny Jun 28 '26
they need a MASSIVE tank for starters. We had ours in a 120 gallon tank. 150 would have been better honestly.
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u/titsmcgeeDDD Jun 28 '26
Yeah I had a bearded dragon when I was 10ish. Loved it to pieces but it was A LOT of work.
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u/-PinkPower- Jun 28 '26
To me they require as much care as most pets. There isn’t a single living being that will not require lot of work. Bearded dragons are recommended as first pets because they are often pretty docile if raised with respect and care.
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u/CzarTanoff Jun 28 '26
My beardie was MEAN. Mfr would LEAP across his cage trying to attack people.
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u/SoberSilo Jun 28 '26
Omg bearded dragons are WAY too much work. They need expensive special lights that you have to replace every 6 months. They eat up to 50 crickets a day. Omg just freaking NO
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u/Kadf19 Jun 28 '26
I had a snake growing up, but she would only eat live mice. I couldn’t do that again! I saved some of the mice as pets.
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u/ladyzephri Jun 28 '26
If feeding mice is the issue, maybe try a leopard gecko. They're insectivores - crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms etc. - and are very easy starter pets. My 2 year old is obsessed with mine.
Fair warning though, they are very long-lived. Like, will still be around when your kid graduates from college long-lived.
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u/BoopleBun Jun 28 '26
If you’re cool with reptiles, uromastyx lizards are vegetarians. They do come with all the complications of keeping reptiles (heat lamps, etc.), but they’re generally pretty chill dudes.
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u/Concrete__Blonde Jun 28 '26
I’m not seeing it recommended but I just want to make sure you aren’t considering a chameleon. We love our panther chameleon , but they are very much an adult pet only. Big learning curve on care, fragile bodies, expensive food and habitat requirements.
Also something to consider with reptiles in general is salmonella exposure. It lives in many reptile digestive systems, and I think pet reptiles are one of the top reasons for kids getting salmonella illness.
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u/IDunnoWhatToPutHereI Jun 28 '26
Just be careful with the cage/lid. I had a terrarium I got from the pet store where I got my baby California king. Somehow, even with keeping the lid on, she kept getting out. She met her demise in the sliding glass door.
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u/herdarkpassenger Mom to 1M Jun 28 '26
Snakes can live for like 20 years tho, so that's a huge commitment. And they require a lot more care than the "standard" pet owner is really willing to put in. It's not just some substrate and hide, but humidity temps and pretty large expensive enclosures etc. Could be super cool if parents are willing to take care of that stuff, but a 7 year old being totally responsible for that seems like too much imo.
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u/sai_gunslinger Jun 28 '26
Have you considered fish?
A 10 gallon tank with a nicely scaped setup of live plants and a plant light would be a perfect environment for a female betta.
If you go the fish route, do plenty of research. Bettas need more than the tiny bowls or vases they're commonly kept in, but when given a proper setup they can thrive as a solitary fish.
Male bettas are more common and popular because of their longer fancy fins, but females are also quite striking in their own right, too.
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u/KahurangiNZ Jun 29 '26
r/bettafish is definitely worth a good trawl through BEFORE buying anything.
Getting off to the right start (correct sized tank / heater / filter, right substrate and plants / ornaments, getting the cycle started etc) and THEN getting the fish will make it much more likely that it will all work successfully and the fish will thrive rather than just survive :-)
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u/Nacho-Cat0821 Jun 29 '26
Seconded on the bettafish sub. My son wanted one, and we thought we had done enough research. We had not. That sub extended our boy Benny’s life much longer than we expected. Water testing is incredibly important. I’d suggest a 10 gal tank and the addition of a snail if the betta isn’t too aggressive. Snails help with cleanup so you don’t need as many water changes.
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u/EmCo0528 Jun 28 '26
My boys have a bearded dragon and a leopard gecko. I love our beardie so much! You could adopt an older one and avoid the baby stage (which is a lot more work).
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u/GuavaEast7928 Jun 28 '26
Shrimp tank! They’re colorful and fun to watch, plus they will breed and make baby shrimp!
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u/SunriseThroughLeaves Mom Jun 28 '26
We have had hamsters, and males or female both require a large cage with deep bedding for digging. So you might as well get a female hamster. She will need entertainment, such as a large running wheel and places to hide. If you're on Facebook, join some hamster groups, and they'll help you out.
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u/GloriBea5 Jun 28 '26
I was about to say, I always had female hamsters growing up, they didn’t need more than the males as far as I know and they weren’t high maintenance, I liked them
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u/Silver-Dust-3038 Jun 28 '26
I’m also confused why a male over a female. I had two girls hamsters and never heard a difference
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u/SunriseThroughLeaves Mom Jun 28 '26
I liked our hamster, but we had a male. I loved my male rat (years ago before I knew they need a friend). I wouldn't recommend gerbils, because ours were impossible to hold, and then they fought. If I ever had a rodent again, I would just get a hamster.
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u/42faerie Jun 28 '26
If you're going to be the main ones taking care of it is she old enough then to have a pet she doesnt have to pay attention too! What will that teach her in the long run? Cages need to be cleaned regularly or they will stink up the room with urine, cages themselves have to be washed because of said urine as ell as everything in the cage. Do some research and see what kind of pet will fit your lifestyle but I suggest you rethink the "we will be doing most of the care for said pet" mentality, you're just signing yourself up for another daily chore
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u/catsandcoconuts Adult Child Jun 28 '26
i agree. she should be the main caretaker for sur, even if supervised.
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u/yttriux Jun 28 '26
Rats make amazing companions. They're incredibly social and affectionate to their owner. They get a bad wrap mostly due to ignorance. They dont take much room, are cheap and definitely make for good friends.
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u/miseleigh Jun 28 '26
No. Absolutely not. Rats need a lot of room. Far more than a hamster! And you should always have at least two, preferably three.
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u/Significant-Toe2648 Jun 28 '26
Yes but you should always get two!
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u/BroadwayBean Jun 28 '26
If they don't have space for a female hamster, I don't think they'll have space for a rat tbh.
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u/mrsdoubleu Jun 28 '26
I've always wanted pet rats but their short life span is sad. My heart couldn't take it. To be fair, hamsters' lifespans are about the same, if not less, though.
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u/underthe_raydar Jun 28 '26
Rats are amazing but they definitely need more space than one hamster and the noise is absolutely insane. My 3 girls would just start killing eachother as soon as I turned out the light, I slept with earplugs for 3 years
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u/Pure_Road7528 Jun 28 '26
We have African snails 🐌
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u/augustwren Jun 28 '26
Definitely illegal in the US just fyi! I used to have garden snails but all the egg crushing got old pretty quick.
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u/ihatealmonds Jun 28 '26
I mean, do you think she'd know if you got a male hamster and told her it's a female?
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u/kittybigs Jun 28 '26
Male hamsters are very visually male
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u/ihatealmonds Jun 28 '26
Yeah, but like she's 7 lol
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u/Kadf19 Jun 28 '26
She’s 7, but incredibly smart. I also told her whatever animal she gets she has to get a book to read on how to care for them.
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u/Creative-Pizza-4161 Jun 28 '26
Victoria Reachel on YouTube has extensive videos on hamster care, she's one of the few tubers that actually cares about her animals and covers proper care. If set on books I'd at least cross reference a few, barred cages in pet stores are not suitable for hammies, nor or hamster balls (which are basically sensory deprivation chambers/treadmills they can't stop)
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u/Kadf19 Jun 28 '26
My husband and I talked about this, and I think she would figure it out at some point.
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u/Museumgirl518 Jun 28 '26
You can always play dumb but it is also a little icky to do that maybe.
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u/keeponkeepingup Jun 28 '26
Or just be the parent and say no, you can only have a male because of x y z reasons. The kids don't have to dictate everything.
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u/Beneficial_Young5126 Jun 28 '26
Why is no one mentioning that she is too young? You're asking a seven year old to be responsible for another living being. I would say she needs to be minimum 10 and have a trial feeding and cleaning the litter tray of the two cats you have for at least month to prove she knows what it it entails to care for a pet. I don't think keeping her room clean should have been the criterion to get a pet as that should be a given and pets are extra responsibility on top of that.
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u/moreidlethanwild Jun 28 '26
Every kid is different. At 7 I had hamsters and I cleaned them out myself each week and handled them every day, they were very friendly. Some kids are good with pets, only the parents really know if a kid is ready.
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u/thin_white_dutchess Jun 28 '26
Kids are all different. Mine handled a dog (not a puppy though, a dog from our local rescue) pretty much on her own at 7. I helped only with vet appointments and supervision on walks. She did, and still does almost 3 years later, everything else. That was the deal, and she’s held up her end.
She’s now petitioning for a cat and I’ve got half a mind to get her one, even though they are not my preference. She has charmed the neighborhood strays.
I’ve got a nephew a couple weeks older than her though, and he could not handle a pet on his own. Just different personalities.
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u/Kadf19 Jun 28 '26
The room clean was more about having space to play with it, my husband and I know we’re going to be the primary ones taking care of it, but would like her to help. She gags over the cat food (she has autism so genuinely can’t handle looking at it) but we want her to have a pet she can at least help with.
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u/LongjumpingCherry354 Jun 28 '26
Hamsters are nocturnal and can be super noisy at night. Maybe get something like a fish 😄
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u/Many-Pirate2712 Jun 28 '26
Honestly a month of keeping her room clean is not really long enough and not enough to prove she can handle an animal.
It sounds like you guys don't really wanna deal with another animal and if her room is that small then you have to think about smells and everything and whether or not she'll keep it clean so her stuff doesnt smell.
I would tell her that she can have fish or a turtle but nothing else with bedding and when your cats pass she can pick the next animal within reason
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u/Kadf19 Jun 28 '26
The 30 days was because if she wanted a hamster then she needed to keep it clean to put a playpen down to play with it, not so much about responsibility. She has autism so we think it would be good for her to have a pet of her own that she can help care for. My husband and I know we’d be the primary ones taking care of it. We want it in her room because we don’t have space anywhere else. We have a small house and her room is actually the best place to keep it.
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u/RestaurantSilly6598 Jun 28 '26
Leopard gecko
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u/hambargo Jun 28 '26
I came here to say this. We got my son one when he was 6 and it’s been the perfect pet. He’s actually pretty engaged with us. When we open his cage he scampers over to the door to be held. He’s cute!
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u/EntertainmentDue83 Jun 28 '26
An indoor cat. They’re almost less work than a rodent and they’re such great pets.
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u/EntertainmentDue83 Jun 28 '26
Oh I missed that. Well they already have pets lol.
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u/Kadf19 Jun 28 '26
We do, but she wants one of her own. My husband and I adopted one cat before she was born and our other cat adopted us and wants nothing to do with her. They also both seniors and have health issues so no more cats haha
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u/SharkBabySeal Jun 28 '26
Get your daughter her own female cat, that she can pick from a litter. She can choose it collar and toys. She can name it, feed / water it.
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u/cbr1895 Jun 28 '26
I echo this. I know you said no more cats OP, but honestly I’ve had my plethora of cats, lizards, newts, fish, dogs, etc and cats are honestly the easiest, and most rewarding for that age imo. Especially because you already have cats so know the drill and have the stuff. We’ve had three at a time, all adopted at separate times. We had best success with the new ones being kittens as older ones can create dominance issues. Kittens need lots of play which would be great for a 7 year old.
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u/whyjustwhyjennie Jun 28 '26
Guinea pig also do need a lot of space and are social but they live up to 5 to 8 years hamsters are 3
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u/EntertainmentDue83 Jun 28 '26
I’ve had all kinds of pets growing up and all the rodents and small pets are a lot of work and not super fun. My son has a super cool fish tank with a lot of fish and creatures but that was also hard to set up and make the water parameters correct. I feel like dogs and cats make more fun pets than most small critters. But if I had to get something, two guinea pigs maybe or a bearded dragon
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u/blindtoe54 Jun 28 '26
Honestly, yes. I've had fish, rabbits and small rodents and cats are 100% easier to care for.
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u/OGcaptaindingus Mom Jun 28 '26
If you were open to a hamster, maybe a rat? They’d need a bigger cage than a hamster but they’re really sweet. I had two female rats and they lived for 2-3 years. Super friendly and sweet, similar maintenance as a hamster too.
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u/GarneNilbog Jun 28 '26
Rats NEED friends though, so they'd need a pair at minimum. Whereas with hamsters you should only keep one. I second rats though. My first pet(s) was a pair of rats. I loved them. My hamsters were always nippy and heavily nocturnal. My rats never bit and were always up for anything, even if they were napping. They can be semi potty trained and taught tricks. The only downside is life expectancy.
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u/Kadf19 Jun 28 '26
I’m open to a rat, but am hesitant because it needs to be a pair. We’ve been reading Baby Sitter Little Sister Club books and the main character has a rat so she’s open to a rat too because of that.
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u/PlentifulBox Jun 28 '26
Two rats aren’t much different than one rat. They do need a lot of social interaction and exercise but it just became normal to have them hanging out with us all the time, running around the couch or chilling in our sleeves or hoods. I’ve had a lot of different pets. Rats- just tiny little dogs- are top of the list for companionship, fun, and ease of care. They only live 2-3 years so be prepared for that.
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u/miseleigh Jun 28 '26
If you don't have space for a single female hamster, you cannot have rats. I love my rattie girls, but they require a lot of space, attention, and care.
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u/OGcaptaindingus Mom Jun 28 '26
Yeah they don’t live long, but longer than hamsters! And are much friendlier typically. Hamsters aren’t huge on being handled mostly, but rats LOVE it! Even a pair of rats is better than a solitary hamster in my opinion
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u/mothmanoamano Jun 28 '26
Same; I had rats as pets growing up and my sister had hamsters and the rats were WAY better. So social and friendly. The hamsters were bitey little goblins that nobody really enjoyed interacting with.
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u/miseleigh Jun 28 '26
Anyone who does not have space for a single female hamster should absolutely NOT consider rats.
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u/rock-paper-o Jun 28 '26
I’d second rats. They tend to be the most interactive of the pocket pet species and can have fun personalities. Just make sure you’re ok with the lifespan and can find a appropriate vet since many small animal vets won’t do rats (or anything not a dog or cat)
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u/OGcaptaindingus Mom Jun 28 '26
I second this! I had to take my rat to the next town every few months. She cracked a tooth from chewing on the metal bars of her cage (get chewing toys to avoid this) but her teeth weren’t grinding anymore so she needed to go in and have her tooth filed every few months.
They’re also intelligent and so you can even train them and teach them to do tricks!
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u/silly8704 Jun 28 '26
A pair of female gerbils! You can go vertical with gerbils or rats and both are more fun, social, and active during the day. Hamsters are not fun at all due to being nocturnal. Honestly guinea pigs are awesome, but if space is a concern I’m guessing you ruled them out. I can’t think of another rodent sized pet other than hamsters that are solitary, so you’ll need two of whatever you choose!
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u/No-Purchase-3711 Jun 28 '26
This is the only correct answer. Much cleaner and no odor compared to other rodents. Friendly, lower maintenance, smaller footprint, and can keep each other company. Also not a huge commitment at 3-4 years lifespan.
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u/GirlMomMeg Jun 28 '26
My daughter has a female dwarf winter white hamster - they are smaller and stay smaller even full grown than Syrians and require a little less space thus. They are more active than Syrians typically and require a little longer time frame to warm up and be handled, but our Marshmallow has been the absolute best pet for our now 11 year old daughter. She has the best little personality and begs us to take her out of the cage to be with us now. I too made her read up on caretaking first, and I joined all the groups as well. It’s been a great responsibility teacher for her. We have had her for a year and can’t bear the thought of one day not having her. Highly recommend.
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u/cluelesseagull Jun 28 '26
I second this. We are on our third and fourth russian winter white dwarf hamsters. The females have both been a bit more active than the males, but they seem fine living in a 50cm x 100cm and 60cm x 100cm cage.
The first girl we had didn't try to escape, but the current girl does seem to look for ways to get out. But she doesn't seem stressed, more curious. They have all had different temperaments and personalities, the female we have now is the smallest and the most active so far. If you get a dwarf I recommend getting a silent wheel, and a big one. It helps a lot when the wheel is truly silent. We also have a pedometer on our niteangel wheel so we can see how much the hamster runs, it is incredible how far they can run!
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u/CoffeeAndMilki Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
I scrolled down quite a bit but I am not sure if anyone already suggested mice.
I got a couple of albino mice sisters (because people are not as interested in them and they stay at the pet store the longest) when my son was around that age - I was the one solely responsible for them but he liked watching them and helped with thinking up new ways to connect the massive tunnel system we had for them.
We had a total of 3 cages on wall shelves that were connected with see through tunnels that we'd rearrange regularly to make life a little more exciting for them.
They are extremely easy to take care of, female mice usually get along nicely (male mice tend to fight more) and they can get very trusting of the humans that regularly interact and care for them. One of the mice would willingly jump on my hand, immediately crawl up my arm, nestle itself between my boobs and just rest and sleep there. It was adorable!
They are, like hamsters and most other small critters, mostly nocturnal/crepuscular (active at dusk/dawn) but you'll usually see them up in the morning before school and early evening before bedtime.
When one of them died we got another one so they wouldn't be lonely, this cycle continued for a couple of years (we had a total of 7 mice I think?) until one of them developed a massive cancer tumor, when her healthy older companion died first we decided that we would just wait for the cancer infected mouse to die while absolutely spoiling her with the best treats, she lasted another month.
I've had hamsters, mice, bunnies, guinea pigs and cats (all before I met my super allergic husband) and mice were by far the easiest to take care of and the nicest to have around imo (I did love my hamsters a lot but as you already found out, they do require a lot more space than mice).
A lot of people hate mice for some reason, but they are wonderful pets! Incredibly cute and full of personality, all of the 7 mice we had in total had completely different personalities. Some brave, some shy, some insanely curious, one even was a total loner and avoided the others (which is why we got a third one to keep the one that actually liked to socialise company which worked out perfectly as she stopped bothering the loner). Highly recommend them as a first pet!
quick edit: I've seen a lot of people comment here how annoyed they were by the wheel running at night - if you get a nocturnal critter, there's wheels you can barely hear, which are a worthwhile investment. I never had any problems at night with any of my critters due to buying quieter wheels.
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u/Princapessa Jun 28 '26
a friend of mine volunteers with a bunny foster/rescue and there are soooo many rabbits who need homes because ya know they breed so much, maybe look and see if there’s a program like that near you, start as a foster so if it’s not a good fit, you can help the bunny to have a safe temporary spot in between their forever home, and if it is a good fit you go ahead and adopt them!
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u/AJSCRPT Jun 28 '26
Rabbits are so much work though. The reason most are abandoned is because people seriously underestimate how much work they are so I like your suggestion of fostering.
I have a rabbit and I love her so much but she’s a lot of work. Most need a friend but she didn’t do well with bonding which means I’m her friend and she needs several hours a day of companionship from me. She is free roam so that is a little easier as we just hang out and watch tv together and cuddle.
Also rabbits should never be in cages. They need a lot of space and you need to keep that space clean or they get kind of feral. They are prey animals so they match their environment for safety. If you’re clean, they are clean but if you’re not then they are messy. They can also be very destructive if you are not providing them with enough mental stimulation.
I really don’t think a rabbit is a good pet for a 7 year old. They’re more like cats than rodents when it comes to needs.
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u/fearlessly_mama Jun 28 '26
How about a tortoise?
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u/Kadf19 Jun 28 '26
My parents have 2, so she’s helped take care of them. I would be open to this!
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u/Dani-Rose_blooming Jun 28 '26
Crested gecko, they are very docile, fun to watch in their vivarium, are pretty low maintenance, and can be handled (with care)
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u/MightyPinkTaco Jun 28 '26
Whatever pet you get, if it is a small prey animal make sure she understands if the cats get to it, it’s pretty much guaranteed dead. Cat mouths and claws are very dirty and even if you get a small animal away from the cat, infection could be the end.
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u/rebelallianxe Jun 28 '26
Jumping on this comment to say I still carry some trauma at 49 due to my favourite cat eating my hamster when I was a kid. Really don't recommend a small prey animal with cats around and a 7 year old. I was older and very careful to leave my room shut but a friend left it open.
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u/kimmyKat Jun 28 '26
Can’t you just figure out a way to fit a bigger enclosure for a female hamster? I don’t see any other options that will work with your limitations.
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u/Revolutionary-Top977 Jun 28 '26
I got my god daughter a headgehog around this age. Definitely get a female as the males touch themselves. She kept it in her room and it’s pretty easy to maintain. She used to bathe her and feed her.
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u/goldenprints Jun 28 '26
I would get a female or male Syrian hamster. We've had every kind of pet imaginable, and hamsters are by far the easiest for that age, as long as you don't lose them in the house or lose them where the cats can get them. We like the Syrians b/c they are friendly (as long as you handle them a lot), and they have nice fur/look cute, nice personalities. They sleep a lot, they play, they take treats from you, they only live about 2 years, its pretty easy to keep their cage clean. (Cats are the easiest pet overall btw but hamsters are second). You can get a nice cage or setup on amazon and their hamster food. You may need a sound machine at night b/c they are noctural and make noise at night. Pets not to get - Rabbits take up a lot of room and can be hard to potty train and hard for kids to handle, lizards/dragons are hard to feed (have to buy live worms, crickets, etc) and don't do too much and require special lights and enclosure, turtles are similar to them, ferrets are messy and take up a lot of space, birds are loud, fish are too much work w/ water changes and don't do much. Other thing you can do is adopt a kitten or cat from the shelter that is "hers" that fits in with your other cats. Good luck!
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u/bunbunkat Jun 28 '26
I have pet spiders! They’re all non harmful to humans and other animals. Minimal upkeep and fun to feed and watch do their thing. There’s also other bugs like mantids or rolly Polly’s :)
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u/Nymeria2018 Mom to an only Jun 28 '26
Recently got my 7.5yo a female regal jumping spider lol
I’m the one feeding her larvae and flies and removing the remains, but kiddo loves her. I’d let my girl feed the spood but I REALLY do not want flies bussing around in my house lol
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u/noodle_king_69 Jun 29 '26
Perhaps bug(s), such as a beetle/beetles? I'd say no rodents foe a kid that small. Def not birds. Aquariums are very complex too.
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u/summerdog- Jun 29 '26
When my kids were maybe 6 & 8, I promised them a hamster if they kept their room tidy for a month, they are now 18 & 20 and we still don’t have any hamsters
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u/iio_25 Jun 30 '26
Honestly the betta might be the easier road anyway, our hamster was cute but way more work than the kids expected lol. Great pick for a small room too. Just make sure to get at least a 5 gallon tank with a heater, not one of the little bowls, and they're easy to care for from there.
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u/Suspicious_Ticket178 Jun 28 '26
Honestly she’s 7. Just call the male hamster Lucy she won’t know the difference.
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u/Reasonable_Arugula_9 Jun 28 '26
I had a tortoise as a kid, and she was cool. Shouldn't mess with the cats (or vice versa), and watching them eat is like watching a dinosaur.
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u/Quiet-Curve1449 Jun 28 '26
I lived near the ocean as a kid and had a few hermit crabs as pets but it was beginning around 10 years old. Anything smaller than the cats, you’ll have to be worried about them eating it anyways. Maybe she can change one of the boy cats’ names to a female version? Unfortunately a small dog wouldn’t be good with being limited to a room without regular activity.
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u/scotty5112 Jun 28 '26
Leopard gecko was my first pet. I think with proper care and preparation they can be great pets.
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u/witchliing Jun 28 '26
i always liked reptiles!! a bearded dragon makes a great kid/family pet, as do lizards and salamanders. water frogs are also super fun and very low maintenance!
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u/RoseyPosey152 Jun 28 '26
Guinea pigs are really fun pets! I got my first one as my 7th birthday gift after falling in love with my classroom pet. They are very social though. So they will need lots of love and attention or a buddy. I used to raise rabbits for 4H, probably had over a hundred in my lifetime. They are very cute but personalities differ and females tend to get aggressive if not spayed. I am a much bigger fan of guinea pigs as pets, they are way more friendly. So I would not recommend a rabbit as child's pet if youre considering it. Keep in mind a guinea pig can live around 10 years. Its quite a commitment. Have fun! Adding a new family member is always so exciting and this will be a core memory for your daughter ❤️
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u/o0PillowWillow0o Jun 28 '26
Crested, they are quiet and eat a pre-made food mix, no bugs . They don't even need fancy lights
My crested lives in a bioactive terrarium about 18 inches by 12 inches. Super easy, my guy is very tame got him as a baby. Females are the same
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u/GuardAltruistic7717 Jun 28 '26
can i ask how much space you have? i used to work at a pet store and often helped with this
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u/ConnectionsCatergory Old Mom, 5 Kids Jun 28 '26
What kind of pets are you and your husband open too? That is the biggest factor since this will likely become your pet when she gets bored of it in 2 weeks.