I see many of you suggest fish and I was wondering if fish even qualify as pet ? It’s not really an animal you can hold and interact with and that’s the thing we generally seek when we take a pet ?

I think cats are easy too !

I think rabbits are easy. I have wire on the bottom of the cage and just move the cage over the grass, meaning I never have to clean the cage. All we have to do is feed it and it gets a lots of scraps (like apple cores, carrot peels, cabbage leaves etc). We have a rabbit and a guinea pig together in the cage.
We also have chickens They’re overnight in the cage, so a bit more cleaning, butt I just collect the poo every morning in a bucket (which I add once a week to the garden, gives beautiful rich soil). During the day they’re out in a fenced part of the backyard. They give beautiful eggs.

A lovely cuddly little kitten would not be a lot of trouble and would teach your children about loving and caring for another creature. Cats do not need to be walked, usually adapt quickly to a litter tray, and provide many hours of soft, fluffy pleasure.

How about chickens. The children can help look after them, and you get fresh eggs.

I think I’d go with a rabbit!

Fish. They dont need to be walked, or groomed

When you do decide on a pet, the RSPCA and pound will be able to help you out with finding a pet. They have many pets that need lots of love in new and hopefully forever homes. The RSPCA has been inundated with people abandoning their pets over the holidays, which just saddens and vexes me beyond belief. Pet ownership is for life and the responsibility has to be taken seriously.

Fish are the obvious answer but a cat is also pretty low maintenance. They are very independent.

depends on a lot of situations. a fish or two is easy to care for

Fish are always easy and good for small areas. If you have a larger area a rabbit is good and they can cuddle. If you have a big backyard why not try a couple of chickens. We have chickens and the kids love collecting the eggs and looking. After them.

You could ask for advice from a couple of reputable pet shops. Make it very clear that are making enquiries only and definitely not going to buy one that day. Animal Welfare League may be able to help you with suggesions. Some actually have birds and other animals besides cats and dogs sometimes. RSPCA also as another member suggested. Some have a budgie or canary They need a birdcage big enought to able to move about, fly a little and stretch its wings out wide. They need clean seed and water every day, possibly twice a day if you have more than one in a very big cage. You need to clean the bottom of their tray every few days. We put newspaper in the tray of ours. You need time to care for them, but you don’t have to walk them. You need pet shop advice on extra care. If you get a budgie get one that is not long out of the next or it will screech all the time and drive you mad !!! If you get a male you may be able to teach it to talk. Be careful what you say – it is surprising what they learn. We minded one for 7 months while its owner went overseas to visit her sister. A couple of weeks after she came home she informed us that her had learnt one of Mum’s sentences “come on children, hurry up and get ready for school” It was a joke between us for a long time.

Definitely a cat,they will bring so much joy to your family!

All pets need lots of care – even goldfish. It depends on the amount of time you have to devout to a pet. Dogs need lots of exercise, attention and companionship. Cats need attention, activities to keep them active and lively and companionship. Fish do not require exercise, but their water and environment needs to be maintained and cleaned and they do need stimulation in the form of plant life, places to hide and an interesting bowl/tank. A good idea is to do lots of research and to visit the RSPCA and get lots of information and fact sheets from them on pets.