There comes a time for every family when the kids start begging for a pet and we wanted to make it easy on you to choose the best possible pets for small children. Kids feel a special connection with animals, and bringing home a new addition to the family can be beneficial in lots of ways! Pets teach kids about responsibility, loyalty, and unconditional love. They provide joyous life lessons (think litters of kittens!) and also tough but important ones (think Marley and Me; I’m not crying, you’re crying!).
The right pet can beautifully complement a childhood and provide long lasting memories of a shared friendship. But what are the best pets for small children? The answer will depend not only on the animal, but also on your family’s lifestyle. Below are ten of the best choices (in no particular order), along with the pros and the cons of owning each animal. Since there is a 100% chance that most of the responsibility will eventually fall to the parents, be sure to consider your own needs and wants while deciding on the perfect pet!
1. Dog
If you can pull off the logistics, this furry friend is one of the best pets for small children. Dogs most definitely require a lot of care and attention, especially as puppies that need training. Taking on a dog as a pet might be the last thing you need if you’re feeling overwhelmed with the other living things already in your charge.
That being said, nothing beats watching a child grow up alongside a canine companion. Dogs and children are generally drawn to each other and a meaningful friendship is a likely possibility once the tail-pulling has ceased. The right dog will play, learn tricks, run, and snuggle far better than most any other pet.
Some important things to keep in mind: dogs need regular veterinary care, exercise, and a reliable pet sitter or kennel if the family goes on vacation. Also, do your research to ensure you choose a family-friendly breed that will tolerate (and love!) a baby or small children. The American Kennel Club says that some of the best choices for small children include labs, retrievers, and beagles.
2. Cat
Second only to dogs in popularity, cats can be great family pets…and amazing pets for small children. They have tons of personality (usually in a good way), are generally friendly and loyal, and sometimes even cuddly. They keep themselves impeccably clean with all of that self-licking and they don’t ask for much in terms of entertainment. In fact, many are independent and prefer to do their own thing most of the time.
The number one complaint about keeping cats is maintaining the litter box. Your children will swear up and down that they will be the ones scooping the poop out each day, but rest assured it will be your job in no time. So make sure you are up for it (unless you can afford a Litter-Robot or have the patience to potty train your feline friend!).
Another thing to consider is the predatory nature of cats. If you have a mouse problem you’ll be happy to have that cat around, but on the flip side, you might see a sudden decline in your backyard wildlife if you choose to let your cat outside. All in all, if you teach children to be gentle and allow cats space when they ask for it, these furry creatures are definitely one of the best pets for small children.
3. Freshwater Fish
Let’s jump to the other end of the responsibility spectrum! Not worried about creating everlasting child-pet bonds just yet? Maybe a freshwater fish (or even ten- here is your chance to use up those extra baby names!) is all your little one needs to quench their thirst for pet ownership.
Fish are cheap as can be and relatively easy to care for. You’ll basically just need to monitor the water temp and keep the tank clean. No puppy pads needed here! And if it turns out that pet fish aren’t the one, don’t worry—common aquarium fish like goldfish and guppies don’t tend to stick around for more than a year or two before swimming off to fishy heaven. We’ll call this one of our favorite short term pets for small children and a good way to get your feet with keeping a pet.
4. Guinea pigs
And now a happy medium: the guinea pig. Small, soft, and affectionate, guinea pigs can be your child’s pal without taking over your life. They make great pets for small children as long as the squeezing age has passed. To get started you don’t need much more than a cage, pellets, and a water dispenser, however, it is strongly recommended that you adopt or buy these guys in pairs because they are very social animals. Pay attention to their sex when you do so; a male and a female together will quickly lead to more than you bargained for!
They love to get out of their cage to exercise, explore, and get a good brushing. It’s fun to feed them table scraps; they’ll likely eat more vegetables than your toddler. The best part of guinea pig ownership is arguably the way they’ll squeal in greeting and get excited to see you!
5. Hamster
Hamsters are another favorite on our list of pets for small children. Soft, little, and adorable, a hamster will make you giggle as it crawls up and down your arms tickling you with its little claws. The way they tirelessly run on their little wheels is also adorable, until you realize that they are nocturnal and their wheel is a lot squeakier than you first noticed.
They are inexpensive, although you can spend a small fortune on those clever little tunnel accessories they sell at the pet store. Hamsters are better suited for older children because they tend to nip, especially if they are stressed out (again, no squeezing!). Hamsters go a long way in teaching the aforementioned responsibilities of owning a pet because they need to be fed, watered, and have their cage cleaned regularly. With a lifespan of only about two or three years, they are also sure to provide a little life lesson about the difficulty of saying goodbye.
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6. Rat
As long as you have them living in your house intentionally, rats are arguably the best choice from the rodent family as far as pets for small children go. “Fancy rats” (as opposed to “feeder rats” that are purchased as reptile food) can be purchased from a pet store or breeder and will likely be cuddly and friendly human companions. It’s best to purchase in pairs, and to again avoid that male/female combo.
They are great pets for small children because they have calm personalities and don’t mind being handled as much as some other small critters. They are known for being super smart, which increases the child-pet bonding factor, and it’s even possible to train a rat to learn tricks! They keep themselves remarkably clean and are pretty low maintenance. Many moms and dads will have to rise above that icky feeling that rats tend to conjure up, but if you are one of the brave ones, this is a fun animal to add to the family!
7. Rabbit
Looking for a lovable and cuddly animal that you can keep outside? Rabbits may be for you! Although they can be indoor pets as well, many rabbit owners appreciate rabbits’ ability to withstand cold temperatures and therefore live in an outdoor hutch. A favorite breed is the Netherland Dwarf rabbit. Not only are they friendly and playful, they are also small and therefore easier for smaller kids to handle (and again, by “smaller kids” we must emphasize they need to still be waaaaay past the squeezing phase!).
You can put two together (don’t forget to spay/neuter, they are rabbits after all) or just keep one alone as long as you interact with it regularly. They have easy cage requirements, a simple diet of hay and leftover fruits and veggies, and you can even buy little rabbit leashes so you can take them for a walk…definitely one of the best pets for small children! Don’t forget to check your local humane society before going to the pet store; along with cats and dogs, rabbits are often in need of rescue from animal shelters.
8. Bearded Dragon
Some children would prefer to bring home a reptile rather than something furry, and some have to do so because of allergies. Bearded dragons are one reptile that make good pets for small children, as long as there’s a willing adult nearby to supervise and help out. “Beardies” will tolerate being handled more than most reptiles; in fact, they are mellow animals that won’t bite, scratch, or do much of anything besides bask under their heat lamp and hunt the occasional cricket.
They are solitary and very quiet—the perfect roommate! And they’ll enjoy a daily salad along with their live insect meals, so save those kitchen scraps for your new buddy. The initial setup requires a good size aquarium, lamps, etc., but once you’ve got that going, your new friend shouldn’t need much. Keep in mind that having a bearded dragon inevitably leads to more pets in the form of roaches, mealworms, and even little mice (“pinkies”) that will become prey in no time, so be sure you have the stomach for that sort of thing before you commit.
9. Goats
If you have the space, another great animal to consider adding to the family is the lovable, practical goat. Being very social animals, it is necessary to get at least two so that they have each other for companionship. You will need a yard that they can roam in as well as an enclosure with a solid fence (both to keep their feisty selves in and to keep predators out). Inside the enclosure they will need some kind of shelter, and maybe some structures to climb on. Besides those needs, goats are pretty simple to care for and are surprisingly gentle, loyal and fun.
And unlike most of the pets for small children on this list, here is one the kids can actually squeeze! Since they only have lower teeth, you don’t have to worry that they’ll bite much besides all of the plants in your yard. They’ll do you the favor of keeping your lawn trim and will eat up any brush and poison ivy (but beware, they will also feast on flowerbeds). Keep in mind that goats can live to be over 15 years old and they will need routine vet care, so they are no small commitment.
10. Chickens
Keeping on the farm theme, a flock of chickens, or more specifically a brood of hens, make great outside pets for small children. Make sure to get your chicks sexed; otherwise you may end up with a rooster and they can be aggressive. Chickens are not only one of the best pets for small children, but for the whole family! The great and unique thing about chickens is that you take care of them, and they’ll return the favor by providing breakfast; all of that kitchen waste can be turned into delicious food scraps, which in turn will produce better, more nutrient dense eggs.
They are really low maintenance, and the kids can handle the majority of the care, collect the eggs, provide fresh water and food, and keep an eye for hawks and other predators as they roam around the yard once in a while. Believe it or not, chickens are actually comical little creatures, each with their own personality to get to know! Some kid-friendly breeds include: Dominiques, Australorps, Orpingtons and Wyandottes.
Summary of Best Pets for Small Children
While there are a thousand positive things about bringing home an animal, being a pet owner is a big responsibility for the whole family. No matter which animal you choose, proper pet care is essential. It falls to the grownups to pick up the pieces if your kiddos lose interest, so do your research and find out exactly what is involved. Ultimately, the best pets for small children need to also be the best pets for parents!
And one final disclaimer: every animal is different. Your first pet may have been a childhood dream, but there is no guarantee that your new pet, no matter what type or breed, will have a personality that can roll with the small children lifestyle. Dogs can bite, cats can scratch, and fish can…well, maybe fish are safe! Just go in with your eyes wide open, and don’t allow the sad begging eyes of your children make you act impulsively! With a little luck, you’ll enjoy the ride just as much as they do.
What do you think the best pets for small children are? Do you have any suggestions that aren’t on the list? Tell us about your experience with pets!
Lisa Holmes lives in Wellfleet, MA with her husband, toddler and infant. She is a BabyQuip Quality Provider and loves welcoming travelers to Cape Cod. She works as an elementary school teacher, which gives her the opportunity to enjoy lots of time at the beach during her summer vacations!
This is helpful! Especially since my little guy just recently started asking for a pet. I’m tempted to go with a tamagotchi.
I grew up with tons of pets, not only for myself but just in our home (my mother loved animals). We had hamsters, rats, birds, snakes, lizards, cats and dogs…even a ferret. I loved it all but my mom did most of the work. Now that I am a mom I think about all that. We started our son off with feeding the dog we already had, then when he was 4 we decided he could have a kitten (which is something he had been asking for). We are ready to get a puppy, one that can grow with our boy but COVID has made puppies a hot commodity.
Our entire family loves our dachshund/beagle mix, Luigi! He was our first baby and has welcomed three more babies into the world over the last nine years! My dad has goats and they are just like pets for him. :)
I grew up with both cats and dogs, even a few hamsters along the way. Today, I have two female cats who are such a pleasure.
Our 18 month old’s first word was baaaa-dit aka Bandit the Morkie! Best friends furever!
Rats!! Who knew? Our dogs were so loved by our whole family! Such a great addition! But they are work.
I think it’s important for kids to learn to take care of a pet! I heard Santa is bringing some guinea pigs for Christmas this year!
Great post!! We have a dog and both of my kids love her! It’s teaching them responsibility and being kind to animals.
I grew up with a cat, but since my husband is super allergic we got a dog after we got married. Watching our daughter grow up with a dog is such a different experience from mine, but i think no less important. She loves to help feed the dog, and tries to help let her outside even though she can’t quite manage the door yet!
It is so sweet to see a little kiddo and their pet. Not to mention to watch them grow up together. So many great memories having a pet in the family :)
I loved having rabbits growing up! They were great outdoor pets to learn the responsibilities of caring for an animal.
We just got our first pet, an English bulldog puppy. We brings so much joy, and a little bit of chaos! Training is a work in progress but we love him so much.
We love our beagle (the first child) so much and recently added a beta fish named Sharky to the family