I'd really like to have another pet in my life. Ive had pets in the past and want a new one...but what?

Please help with suggestions and reasoning.

A bird? they do make a lot of noise and mess with poop and seed

I am tempted by a ferret or similar, but have been told they stink and have a tendancy to be vicious little things!

Maybe another cat? But then I am def tied to the house no supr of the moment nights away.

Maybe a turtle? Are these happy in a smoking household?

Snake or some sort of reptile?

How about a rat or two? They're lovely little creatures and very intelligent.

Any pet will need someone to tend to it though, if you're going to spend the occasional night away.

Got to be an eel for the ultimate combination of affection and self-sufficiency.....

Depends what you want...
Small/large.
One you can cuddle/play with or just a show animal?
etc.

Personally one of my fave pet animals are Rats - intelligent, can play with them. Will want lots of attention/play with you, best kept in 2s or 3s.

Also have spiders/scorps and soon lizards but these are all show animals that I don't 'play' with.

Stick insect. :thumbsup:

I can let you have as many as you want when I've trimmed the privet.;)

Thanks guys! Seems a few of you are in fact 'rat fans' ;) Thing is - I just don't want a rodent, noooooo. I'm def not a fan of their teeth!

NOt keen on the idea of a reptile i guess a lizard could be cool - a biggish one though so he/she could get of of it's cage and have a wander round?

Guinea pigs!

Sometimes threads are just MADE to be merged: http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=132553

:)

I'd really like to have another pet in my life. Ive had pets in the past and want a new one...but what?

Please help with suggestions and reasoning.

A bird? they do make a lot of noise and mess with poop and seed

I am tempted by a ferret or similar, but have been told they stink and have a tendancy to be vicious little things!

Maybe another cat? But then I am def tied to the house no supr of the moment nights away.

Maybe a turtle? Are these happy in a smoking household?

I'm trying not to judge, but do you really think it is fair to keep a pet when you smoke? At least a cat can choose to be inside or out, but my grandparents adopted a 6 year old rescue dog who had formerly lived wih a smoker, and it died of lung cancer within 2 years. It really upset them and me that the dog had no choice in it. There are campaigns to stop people smoking round children, but what about animals?

Maybe you could get a pet that lives outside, like a rabbit. There was a big thread on here recently about rabbits as pets and outdoor secure housing for them.

I agree with penny_crayon, if you are in a smoking household then in my opinion it's just not fair to keep an animal cooped up in there and make it breath the smoke.

I would go for a pet that is happy enough outdoors for this reason alone, if you have a shed then you can make a lovely run for some rabbits or similar in the winter and rabbit proof your garden for the summer time.

if you have a shed then you can make a lovely run for some rabbits ...
Lovin that idea...have to wait till we move to a house from flat though ;)

Lovin that idea...have to wait till we move to a house from flat though ;)
:hihi: Cool. Rabbits love running about and generally having fun and stamping their feet. :thumbsup: Generally they are not little savages either, plenty of cuddles and treats and they are quite content..

I would definately recommend a rat. I owned a Hymalian Wex Rat. He was a brown hooded male with curly wiskers. Very clever animals and he was soooo affectionate. They are very clean unlike Hamsters who poo in their beds! they will even use a litter tray (mini... top off a coffee jar etc). I used bottoms from cereal boxes for his bed so they could be thrown away after a week. You can get really big cages and put up pieces of rope for them to climb up. You can train them to fetch things. A Great all round pet. I used to let him out regularly but he would sometimes annoy the dog too much by sleeping under his tummy with him not knowing. :hihi:

Oooops I didn't realise pets were for non-smokers only!

Perhaps I will look into getting a rat though I really didn't want a rodent, I am being gently pulled by the option of a turtle though - it can plod around rooms and sit quietly and be viewed.

Anyone ever had a turtle and wish to pass on advice?

At my daughters kindergarten they have just been given 2 chinchilla's. I have never really thought of having them as pets before but they are the cutest things I have seen for ages. Sooooo soft :love:

Oooops I didn't realise pets were for non-smokers only!

Perhaps I will look into getting a rat though I really didn't want a rodent, I am being gently pulled by the option of a turtle though - it can plod around rooms and sit quietly and be viewed.

Anyone ever had a turtle and wish to pass on advice?
I didn't say that, I said in my opinion it wasn't fair to keep a pet soley in a smokey environment.

If you're thinking about getting a rat then I would suggest getting 2 as they can get lonley if they are kept on their own. They need lots of cuddling and out time (http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/community) has more info if you're interested. Girls are generally more bouncy than boys, boys prefer to lounge about and chill as a rule.

Perhaps I will look into getting a rat though I really didn't want a rodent,
If you are not keen on the idea of rodents then (I'm guessing here!) you will either be converted to loving them :love: by owning a rat or your pet(s) would not get the attention they need and would miss having.

Rats embody everything about rodents that people tend not to like (hairless long tails, pointy face, teeth)...maybe worth seeing if anyone you know has some adults you could visit to gauge your feelings towards them?

Also, rats are sociable animals. If you decide on going for a rat then 2 is better (same sex obviously, or you will quickly have loads!).

Yeah, I'm not completely ignorant, selfish or down right cruel to leave a pet locked up in essentially an ashtray!

We have recently added a rat to the family and she is lovely..:)

Yeah, I'm not completely ignorant, selfish or down right cruel to leave a pet locked up in essentially an ashtray!
Sorry I didn't mean to give that impression...just coming at it from concern for the animals when have already said you didn't want a rodent.

Hmm rats - I'll seriously consider it thanks to everyone who suggested lil 'friends'.

I'll also keep my eyes peeled for anything non-rodent like lol - but will seek current rat owners to pick their brains so to speak and play with a 'try before you buy' approach :)

Before anyone sends the RSPCA after me - smoking generally takes place in one room of the house, and never without at least one window fully open - yes even in the winter!

if you want to 'pick my brains' ;) feel free to PM me...maybe my little fellas will help convince you either way!
(how much inuendo can you get from that sentence? or is that just me? ;) )

I have to say that rabbits make some of the best and most interesting pets provided they are cared for properly. I currently have five adults and a litter and watching them interact with eachother as well as me is fantastic. They are also incredibly good house pets and can be trained with more ease than a dog!

That said it depends upon how much time and energy you have to commit to a rabbit. I spend much of my spare time with mine.

Hmm rats - I'll seriously consider it thanks to everyone who suggested lil 'friends'.

I'll also keep my eyes peeled for anything non-rodent like lol - but will seek current rat owners to pick their brains so to speak and play with a 'try before you buy' approach :)

Before anyone sends the RSPCA after me - smoking generally takes place in one room of the house, and never without at least one window fully open - yes even in the winter!

You could always try adopting a "Jabberwocky" they are used to living in swamps etc so I suppose it would reward you with many years of affection for giving it a nice home. I'm not sure about housetraining though.

Seriously, we've got 3 male rats so you're more than welcome to pick our brains.

That said it depends upon how much time and energy you have to commit to a rabbit. I spend much of my spare time with mine.

I agree with this - rabbits are social animals and if they get lonely they will become miserable. They need daily interaction and a minimum of 36 hours a week excercise.

Also rabbits cannot excercise outside when its wet which means providing some inside entertainment for them, or else they get destructive! At the end of the day you should consider owning a rabbit as on par with the responsibilities of owning a dog! you cant leave them to their own devices!

Guinea pigs! They don't smell, they NEVER bite, they're much softer and more cuddly than rats. Ok, they're a bit dim but they're just like dogs - they beg for food and become very attached to each other and to you. And they're sooo cute :thumbsup:

Although I like rats they do smell however much you clean them out (they can't help it they trail wee everywhere), they have claws and climb up your legs, they're very jumpy and are less reliable when it comes to biting (i.e. some won't at all but some are vicious!).

Guinea pigs! ... Ok, they're a bit dim...
A *bit* dim ? ;)
Never seen the appeal in pigs myself, my step mother loves them I just don't get it!


Although I like rats they do smell however much you clean them out (they can't help it they trail wee everywhere),

They can be a bit smelly, though with deep bedding and regular cleaning (every 3 days or so I do mine) it's barely noticable.

they have claws and climb up your legs, they're very jumpy and are less reliable when it comes to biting (i.e. some won't at all but some are vicious!).
They do have claws, they can scratch when they clamber over you. Do pigs not have pointy toes/claws?
As for being jumpy/biting I feel this is more to do with how they are cared for, I have only ever had 1 rat that was a biter, she was a rescue from someone who paid it no attention.

Jumpiness is part of being young and part of the appeal for me, less jumpy as they get used to people.

A *bit* dim ? ;)
Never seen the appeal in pigs myself, my step mother loves them I just don't get it!


They can be a bit smelly, though with deep bedding and regular cleaning (every 3 days or so I do mine) it's barely noticable.


They do have claws, they can scratch when they clamber over you. Do pigs not have pointy toes/claws?
As for being jumpy/biting I feel this is more to do with how they are cared for, I have only ever had 1 rat that was a biter, she was a rescue from someone who paid it no attention.

Jumpiness is part of being young and part of the appeal for me, less jumpy as they get used to people.

I'm going on my friend's rats which I often look after as I've never owned them myself. They don't bite, again she's only had one rat before that bit people a lot, they are also quite young which explains the jumpiness. They're just different to guinea pigs in that guinea pigs will just happily sit on your lap for ages, and they will usually do anything to avoid going to the toilet on you (bar my new one which has been nicknamed tena lady!). Guinea pigs do have claws but these are usually not sharp as you keep them trimmed, and they don't climb over you and up your legs like rats :D

I do like rats, I just don't think I'm a rat keeping person. I'm going to stick with my guinea piggles!

II do like rats, I just don't think I'm a rat keeping person. I'm going to stick with my guinea piggles!

Fair enuf...I'll stick to my ratties ;)

Thanks for all your suggestions folk - keep em coming on postcards to the usual address...

I haven't ruled out any options, but do want to make sure I make the right decision !

I'll let you know how things develop!

a little bit off-topic, but is it ok to keep guinea pigs by themselves? a couple of people have told me it's cruel to have just the one.

a little bit off-topic, but is it ok to keep guinea pigs by themselves? a couple of people have told me it's cruel to have just the one.

I wouldn't say so, as long as you spend plenty of time with it and don't just leave it in a cage all day.

a little bit off-topic, but is it ok to keep guinea pigs by themselves? a couple of people have told me it's cruel to have just the one.

Yes it really is. They are social animals and get terribly depressed and live much shorter lives if kept on their own. Any guinea pig book/website will tell you that you should never buy just one guinea pig. It is however very difficult to introduce a new guinea pig to an older one when their companion has died, in which case it is acceptable to keep just the one.