If there is such a thing that every child had in common, it could be the love for animals. In fact, it is very rare for a child to not wish for a pet at least once in their life. The most common pets throughout the world are arguably cats and dogs. But some parents really don’t want to be stuck with the responsibility of potty training a puppy. And some kids just can’t be trusted to clean the cat’s litter box on a regular basis. So, are there any pets that are easier for kids to take care of? Of course there are.

Parents sometimes choose to keep to the norm when it comes to pets. If they’ve never had a pet before, it can be a very big commitment for them to get a pet just to make their children happy. That is why puppies and kittens are usually the go to pet for parents trying to please children. Puppies are a ton of work, and some parents compare owning a puppy to raising a newborn babe. Cats can be crazy as kittens, and a lot of people don’t realize that cat toys are a need. Cats have a biological need to hunt, and if they don’t act on this urge they may act out in the future. Cats and dogs are some of the more difficult pets to get, especially if it is intended to be for a child.

Thankfully for parents, there are a ton of different pets that are easier to look after than a cat or a dog. Not all pets are expensive, or difficult to care for. The following suggestions are great children friendly pets, and parent friendly, too.

Parakeets

Parakeets are so easy to care for, almost anyone could do it. The hardest part is cleaning the cage out, which is a breeze if you invest in a cage with a removable bottom tray. Parakeets are also very cheap pets to feed, and cost an average of $10 a month to feed. The coolest part of owning a parakeet is that they are easy to look after, and make your home feel like it is part of the jungle.

Fish

Again, the hardest part of caring for fish is cleaning their fish tank. With the proper filter, you would only need to clean out the tank about once every few months. Filters have come a long way in recent years, and they are now capable of doing most of the work for you.

Mice

Mice carry a stigma about them as rabies infested pests, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Mice are great pets for children. They don’t eat much at all, and they are usually happy to be confined to their cage with their family. It is recommended to keep more than one mouse as a pet, because they rely on each other for body heat and cleaning themselves.

Travis Newville
Breckenridge, Michigan