Best Pets for Kids: 7 Small Pets and What Each Needs

The best pets for kids are small animals that an adult is ready to look after every day, with the child helping. The RSPCA says no child should be the only person responsible for any animal and that adult supervision is always required.

This page covers seven small pets: hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and mice, gerbils, ferrets, and chinchillas. Each one has a lifespan and a care need from a welfare group or a veterinary source, and the health rules for children younger than 5 come from the CDC.

In a 2017 systematic review, researchers found 22 studies on companion animals and child development. They reported an association between having a pet in childhood and emotional health benefits, particularly for self-esteem and loneliness. They called the findings on anxiety and depression inconclusive and said there is a shortage of high quality and long-term studies.

Choosing the Best Small Pet for Kids

There are many factors to consider before any animal comes home. While getting a giant dog may seem like a good idea at first, other questions should be answered first. Who will do the daily care? How long does this animal live? Does the child's age fit the animal?

Small does not mean easy. The RSPCA says both hamsters and gerbils have complex needs and can be easily injured by rough or careless handling. Humane World for Animals asks families to be ready to spend at least several hundred dollars a year on a guinea pig, not counting regular veterinary costs.

Health Rules for Young Children

The CDC lists children younger than 5 years old among the people more likely to get severe illness from small mammals. Its small mammals page covers rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, and rabbits. After handling a small mammal, or touching its cage, bedding, water, or food, the CDC says to wash your hands with soap and running water. It also says not to kiss, snuggle, or hold small pets close to your face. The RSPCA reports that the CDC does not recommend pet rodents, including rats, for families with children aged 5 or younger.

The CDC's bird page says adults should supervise hand washing for young children. The reptile, poultry, and fish rules are in the FAQ at the end of this page.

1. Hamster

The RSPCA says hamsters are often a child's first pet because they are small animals with a great deal of character. It also says their needs are quite complex and that looking after a hamster is too much responsibility for a child, so an adult should always be responsible for handling and care.

Hamsters usually live for up to two years, according to the RSPCA. Our page on hamster lifespan gives the Merck Veterinary Manual figure for each type. The RSPCA says hamsters are nocturnal.

Hamsters do not all live together. The RSPCA says hamsters are generally solitary and can be aggressive toward other hamsters, and that Syrian and Chinese hamsters are better kept on their own. It says dwarf species such as the Roborovski, Campbell's Russian, and winter white can live together with the right care and conditions. Our guide to the 5 best hamster breeds for kids compares the types.

2. Rabbit

The RSPCA says rabbits are better suited to older children who can handle them gently and understand the full scope of the responsibility, with adults ready to help and take over when needed. It calls them fragile creatures that can be easily injured and says that, as prey animals, they prefer not to be picked up. For children, it suggests sitting quietly and letting the rabbits approach at their own pace.

Rabbits need room. The RSPCA says a hutch alone is not enough and that rabbits need at least 3m x 2m x 1m of space to move, play, exercise, and hide. It says a rabbit can typically live 8 to 12 years, and that rabbits should be kept in pairs at least. A neutered male and a neutered female make a good pair, because neutering reduces the likelihood of fighting in both sexes.

The RSPCA's diet page says a rabbit's food is mostly fresh hay and grass (85%), with some leafy greens (10%) and a few pellets or nuggets (5%), and that carrots are not the main food. Our page on whether rabbits can eat carrots covers them in detail.

If you're feeling the love for these fur babies, check out these cute bunny shirts from our site. 25% of all proceeds are donated to no-kill animal shelters!

3. Guinea Pig

The RSPCA says guinea pigs are traditionally thought of as great first pets for children. Humane World for Animals is more careful about young children. It says they often lack fine motor control and self-restraint, so they may inadvertently drop a guinea pig, squeeze it, or scare it into biting. It adds that guinea pigs need a gentle touch and may be easily startled by sudden movement and loud noises.

Guinea pigs need time out of their cage and attention every day, according to Humane World for Animals. Short-haired breeds need brushing once a week and long-haired breeds daily. The cage is cleaned thoroughly every week and spot-cleaned every few days.

Guinea pigs do best with the companionship of another guinea pig, Humane World says, and the RSPCA says they are happiest in pairs.

Guinea pigs live an average of 5-7 years, which Humane World says is longer than hamsters, gerbils, mice, or rats. The RSPCA says typically 5 to 6 years. Humane World also says allergies to guinea pigs are a reaction to proteins in the saliva and urine, not hair or dander, and that hay and wood shavings can cause allergies too.

4. Rat Or Mouse

Rat Facts

The RSPCA calls rats sociable, intelligent animals and says they should never be kept alone. It recommends adopting a pair or trio of same-sex bonded rats. It says rats are easier to handle than smaller rodents such as hamsters and often enjoy human interaction. Rats can bite when frightened, like all small animals, so children need supervision and need to be taught to be gentle.

The RSPCA's rat page gives a 2-year lifespan and adds that some rats live longer. Rats are nocturnal, and the RSPCA says it is best to feed and handle them in the morning and evening.

Mouse Facts

The RSPCA says mice usually live for about three years and are sensitive to light and noise. They move very quickly, and the RSPCA says they have to be handled carefully so as not to hurt them.

For rats, our guide to proper care covers choosing a healthy rat and setting up a cage.

5. Gerbil

The RSPCA calls gerbils characterful animals and says their needs are actually very complex. It says they can live for up to three to four years, some even longer, and can be easily injured by rough or careless handling.

Gerbils are sociable. The RSPCA says wild gerbils live in groups of two to 15 animals of all ages and sexes. Our page on whether gerbils can learn their names looks at how gerbils respond to the people who care for them.

6. Ferret

VCA's veterinarians call ferrets generally good-natured, inquisitive, and playful animals that enjoy human company. They also say a ferret that is not properly trained can be aggressive and nippy, and they advise checking with a veterinarian before buying a ferret if you have small children. VCA adds that in some municipalities it is illegal to keep a pet ferret because of the potential for attacks on people, specifically young children. Ferrets belong to the weasel family, and another page of ours looks at if you can actually buy a pet weasel.

Food and Lifespan

Ferrets are true carnivores, and VCA says the best diet for a pet is commercial ferret food. The average life span is five to eight years.

Safety at Home

VCA calls ferrets great escape artists and says every hole leading to an inaccessible area must be blocked, because if a ferret can put its head into a space, its body will fit too. Ferrets love to chew, and VCA says foam, plastic, and rubber objects must be kept out of reach, including children's toys, because a swallowed piece can cause a blockage. VCA also says ferrets are very susceptible to heatstroke and that their environment must stay below 90 F (32 C).

Vet Care

VCA says a ferret should be examined by a veterinarian within 48 hours of purchase or adoption. Ferrets are usually vaccinated against canine distemper at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age, and there is an approved rabies vaccine. VCA recommends spaying or neutering, and says an unneutered male has a strong musky odor and can be more aggressive.

7. Chinchilla

The Merck Veterinary Manual says chinchillas have a long lifespan, up to 20 years.

Heat

Merck says chinchillas are very tolerant of cold but sensitive to heat. The temperature range they are adapted to is 18.3 to 26.7 C (65 to 80 F), and higher temperatures, especially with high humidity, can cause heatstroke.

Dust Baths and Food

Chinchillas need dust baths to keep their skin and fur healthy. Merck describes a dust box with about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of dust placed in the cage 2 to 3 times a week for up to 15 minutes at a time. Their diet should be mainly high-quality grass hay.

Handling

Merck says chinchillas should be handled calmly and gently to minimize stress. With improper handling, fighting, or overexcitement, a chinchilla can release a large patch of fur, a reaction called fur slip. The fur can take several months to regrow, and the new fur is often a different shade.

FAQ

What is a good first pet for a 10 year old?

The RSPCA says rabbits are better suited to older children who can handle them gently and understand the full scope of the responsibility, and that rats are easier to handle than smaller rodents such as hamsters. Humane World for Animals asks families whether a child can fit a guinea pig's daily care into a busy after-school schedule. With any of these animals, an adult stays responsible for the care.

Are bunnies good pets for kids?

The RSPCA says rabbits can make great pets for older children with adult support. The rabbit section above lists the space and company they need.

Are guinea pigs good pets for young children?

Humane World for Animals warns that young children may drop, squeeze, or scare a guinea pig into biting. The guinea pig section above lists the daily care.

Are birds good pets for kids?

The CDC says to always closely supervise children around birds. For poultry such as chicks and ducklings, its backyard poultry page says: "Don't let children younger than 5 years old handle or touch chicks, ducklings, or other poultry."

Are fish good pets for kids?

The CDC says tank water and items in a fish tank can be contaminated with germs. Its fish page says: "Don't let children younger than 5 years old clean or handle aquarium items." It also says to wash your hands with soap and running water before and after touching or caring for fish, and to dump tank water and clean aquarium items in a bathtub, laundry sink, or outside instead of a kitchen sink when possible.

Are snakes, iguanas, and other reptiles good pets for kids?

The CDC's reptile and amphibian page says: "Children younger than 5 years old should not handle or touch reptiles or amphibians or their environments because they are at a higher risk for serious illness and hospitalization caused by Salmonella infection." The same page says children under 5, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get sick from these germs.

Sources

• CDC, Small Mammals, Birds, Backyard Poultry, Fish, and Reptiles and Amphibians (Healthy Pets, Healthy People)
• RSPCA, hamsters, rabbits, rabbit diet, guinea pigs, mice, gerbils, and rats
• Humane World for Animals, Would a Guinea Pig Make a Good Pet For You?
• VCA Animal Hospitals, Owning a Ferret
• Merck Veterinary Manual, Chinchillas
• Companion Animals and Child/Adolescent Development: A Systematic Review of the Evidence, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2017