Animals!!

Very interesting. I have always thought the perfect pet would be something that needed fed 20 times the first day, 15 times the next two days, 1 time a day for the next week and never again the rest of its life.

Oh and it NEVER poops.

I would suggest going to a rescue and getting a cat that is already at least 2-3 yrs old, that way they are already trained and you can see their personality!!!! Plus those older cats really need homes and still have tons of life left and tons of love to give. A kitten might be a bit much with kids that young - they play rough, scratch etc for awhile. I would wait on a puppy until they are 4 and 6 or even older. Puppies are tons of work and jump and scratch little kids.

In my book, kids this age, are pets. LOL Because all pets take consistent daily care just like kids. I never had enough time and energy to add a pet to the mix. Same with my daughter who has 3 kids. She had a cat and was relieved when he died. She said he took nearly as much care as her toddler. Part of the care was seeing that the cat and the toddler got along. The cat was older and became diabetic. A pet will age and need more care.

I also agree with Diane B. Your kids are too young for this kind of responsibility. You will be the care taker and since you want to involve them in the pet's care you will have twice the work.

2 and 4 year old kids will be interested in helping for about 3 days, and after that, it will be your job! So be prepared. These days a lot of people are allergic to animals, and although that can be eliminated, you need to be committed enough to work through it. Same goes for animals in any kind of bedding (rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.).

Do not teach your kids that it's okay to start with something and then give up and give it away. So many people buy cute pets (e.g. bunnies or ducklings at Easter) and then find out what a hassle it is. Shelters are full of animals that people just gave up on. For larger animals (dogs and cats), it's incredibly stressful to be re-homed so it's considered very cruel to start with one and not be committed and willing to do what's necessary.

Cats can be entirely indoor animals, but they don't always love being handled. Dogs vary by breed, but they have to be walked no matter what the weather is and no matter what a kid's mood is. Any animal can bite an annoying child or one who grabs too tightly. Smaller animals that live in cages (gerbils, mice, turtles, lizards) aren't so cuddly and they also don't live as long, so you need to be prepared with your "death" speech. Fish are low maintenance but it takes time to set up a healthy aquarium, and tank cleaning is not a fun task. You'll need to check frequently for dead or dying fish, and while they are inexpensive to replace, it can get "old" after a while. Kids can help feed every day, but that's about it.

Frankly, with very young kids, I'd give them each a cactus garden or other succulents (since you live in Arizona) and let them water it and trim the dead leaves. Otherwise, I'm not really sure why it is that you want to get a pet for them - they are too little to enjoy and learn from the responsibility, so unless you and your husband want to take on the work with a large, family-oriented, hardy and sturdy dog (such as a lab or golden retriever), I don't see much value in it at this stage.

Start with a plant! Seriously- take them to a local florist, garden store, etc where the employees will know something about the plants. Start with something that is very easy to care for, maybe something that flowers like a peace lily. Tell them that they need to care for the plant because it is a living thing, have them water it, give it fertilizer, choose a nice pot for it. If they can keep it alive and happy for a certain amount of time, go back and buy them a trickier plant, like a nerve plant. If they can keep that one alive for a while, revisit the pet talk. If not, you have only killed a couple of defenseless plants.
If you and hubby want a pet for yourselves, not the kids, I would say go to the local animal shelter and look for a good "starter" dog- one that is a couple of years old already, has some basic obedience training, and has a known personality that likes small children. But it sounds like you are thinking of starting smaller, which is fine! You can work up to a dog :)

What kind of pet do YOU know how to take care of? What did you grow up with? A dog? A cat?

Your children are too small for little pets. Little dogs are scared to death of little kids. One errant grab and a little leg gets broken (and the kid gets bitten.)

Whatever you choose, YOU will the caregiver. NOT your kids.

If you aren't willing to wait until they are older, then find a larger animal that is used to living with a family and doesn't have issues, hasn't been abused, and a breed that likes children. Be willing to devote the time to the pet so that it's part of the family in your mind. Otherwise, wait until your kids go to school.

with kids this small, any of the 'good' pets (nice dogs and cats, basically) are a risk. and the absolute worst thing to do is to to get a pet to test drive and then get rid of it because it doesn't work out.
if YOU want a dog or cat go ahead and get one, but i suggest adopting from a facility where you can get one that isn't a baby, and has a background with children. toddlers will want to help help sporadically, but cannot and should not be responsible because they will quickly lose interest in the nuts and bolts of animal care.
a fish tank is a great idea if you are okay with cleaning it. your kids will get lots of delight out of watching them, and there's scant chance of anyone getting hurt. there's also less emotional attachment when they die.
little animals like rodents and turtles are too fragile. we got our little boys hermit crabs one summer. my older son's barely made it home from the beach. we found the younger's in pieces. i don't know what happened (he was pre-verbal) but i'm betting it wasn't good.
ETA i'm in shock that anyone is suggesting that all cats are vicious, or that ridiculous old wives' tale that they steal anyone's breath. if you don't like cats, no worries. but the next thing will be that all black cats are witches' familiars.......
:( khairete
S.

At this age, if there is interaction that involves touching with pretty much any animal, there's going to be a potential for injury, either to the child or the animal. A child that young just has a very hard time being gentle enough, and an innocent animal is going to defend itself if it feels threatened.

If you get a pet, you have to be the ones that are primarily responsible for making sure that neither party gets hurt, and that falls mainly with teaching the kids the rules and never letting them play unsupervised with the animals until they are older and REALLY understand how fragile pet lives are.

People still believe cats steal your breath? WTEverlovingF??? If you choose the right cat carefully and based on personality and breed rather than what's cute and out of impulsiveness, it can work out well. Our cats are both quite charming and sweet, particularly Luna who is older by a year. She's gentle and sweet-natured and snuggly. When she knows you're sad or not feeling well, she comes to you to give you comfort. She loves the children and even lets my youngest daughter dress her up in panties and dresses and hair bows. The cat has the patience of a saint. As a reward, she's spoiled rotten. :-) Daisy, our other cat, is sweet too, but has slightly less patience and more fears. But she's so friendly that if she were a dog she would allow burglars into the house as long as they gave her doughnuts or Q-Tips.

Anyway, Luna is a Bombay, and they're bred specifically for the traits that I mentioned. So if you go with a cat then look for a Bombay. They're all black with medium length fur, and often will have a patch of fur like a moon on their chest. That's sort of their signature.

Cats are easy to feed and change their litter. They won't transmit illnesses to you or your family unless they're outdoor cats. They're not nearly as expensive as dogs.

If you want an inexpensive option, go for Guinea Pigs or hamsters, but know that their life spans aren't very long and they're delicate. You also don't really know what you're getting if you buy them from a pet store. It's very easy to get sick and/or old animals from the pet stores while the pet store tells you that they're healthy and young. Not to mention pet stores get their animals from mills. Try the rescues and shelters first.

You also need to understand that at the age your children are right now, the animals would be YOUR responsibility. You CAN NOT make animals your childrens' responsibility. Teach them how to treat animals kindly, respectfully, gently, and honorably as well as the basics of feeding and watering and hygiene... but YOU MUST assume responsibility. If you can't be responsible for any pets completely, then don't get any.

A pet also has to be one, in which the kids will not hurt, it. Intentional or not.
2 and 4 is very young, to be "responsible" for a pet and know... how to handle it.
Even a pet fish, can die. For example.
And it depends on the personality of your kids.
Some kids are gentle. Some are not.
Some are impulsive. Some are not.
Some will listen. Some will not.
Some will irk a pet when you are not looking. Some kids will not do that.

Any animal/bird, rodent, reptile, can bite or claw you.
Except a fish. But it is "protected" in a fish tank. But if a hand gets in there to grab the fish, well it can die. Or the tank can fall down/break.
Rabbits for example, have very weak backs. If not handled or carried correctly, it can get hurt/broken back/it can fall down from being carried recklessly.
A pet, also is not a "toy." A child has to understand that.
And if harassed, or chased too much, an animal, cat or dog, will or can, bite, or claw you. Or growl. Then it is not the pets, fault.

Any pet requires responsibility and commitment for the life span of the pet.

You just don't try one and give up... If you do.. You are modeling that behavior for your children as they age, you age etc!!

At ages 2and 4 there are not a lot of choices to introduce due to the ages of the children.

For us.., our dogs came before we had daughter so she was raised with dogs! There's a ton of responsibility. For instance this week, our 14 he old Cocker was sick, he had a tumor we thought but it was tooth related. In the end, we just spent $1000 to remove 13 bad teeth and a leg tumor. We hope he recovers and lives another year or 2!

Pets cost $$$ to upkeep. Think of pet care when you're on vacation as well.

We love of 2 Cockers (14 and 8 respectively) and our toy poodle 7. However we do spend a lot on routine upkeep, occasional surgery, etc.

Think about the long term commitment and what you are willing to do for the pet when needed.

OMG - it took me awhile to stop laughing after reading some of the answers....

Either is fine as long as you want the work of caring for and training. The kids can help a bit but most will be up to you.

Not all cats jump on your chest... (and none steal your breath :) ) mine always slept behind my knees, and my folks have one that sleeps against the top of one of their heads. And just like people they all have different personalities.

Same with dogs, my German Sheppard loved kids hated other dogs, but I know someone with a 6 month old Sheppard puppy that loves other dogs, but her kids not so much (still working with a trainer, but they will probably re-home). I have known Pit Bull's that were giant lap dogs, more likely to drown you in their slobber, and little dogs whose sole goal was to rip a chunk out of your ankle.

Your best bet is an older animal from a pet rescue, that way you will be able to find out how the animals are with kids.

Oh an yes, cats do shed and so do most dog breeds and mutts. My husband always said our dog only shed once a year.... it started in January and ended in December!

FYI - Rats also make great pets and are very very trainable.... you just need to get past the fact that it is a rat... ;)

Good luck with whatever pet you choose!

Whatever pet you get, it will be your responsibility. If your children help at all, it won't be much. That's not a criticism of your children - they're just not capable right now. You're giving them exposure to other living things, that's all.

So - what would you and your husband like to have? Remember that this is another living creature to care for and love 24/7 - a new family member, not a disposable toy or fancy. Whether it's a dog or a lizard, a guinea pig or a bird, you grownups will have the physical, social, and financial responsibility for it.

In our family, we had pets even before we had children, so at the time when we had four dogs and four cats I had twelve "children" to care for! (I didn't object - it was fun.)

I always had cats growing up, my kids have always had cats. The cats never got hurt, and we were never hurt by them. Maybe because we always had them it came naturally how to handle them. Anyway, at 2 and 4 years there wasn't much my kids could do to feed and clean them aside from giving treats or adding some food and water to the dish with direction from me. They would have loved to "play" in the litter box at two, but it probably isn't a great idea. Anyway, cats require very little care. Put down food and water and scoop the litter box. They are very independent.

Wow. Cat bashing! I grew up with cats. I've always had 3 it seems, and my kids grew up with them. I have never had a cat be vicious or scratch my kids. They have never stolen our breath while we sleep (old wives tale - haha) and the cat litter is not a risk for anybody really unless you eat it (or unless you let your cat go outside and get parasites from the dirt). Small dogs drag those kinds of things in the house too, and they can bite and be vicious.

I think your kids are too young for you to get a pet. You should enjoy your time with them without the chore of taking care of a cat or dog (or other small pet), which can be like having another kid.

But don't be scared away by something just because someone sounds a crazy alarm! Cats are fine. So are dogs.

@gypsymama - I had the EXACT same experience with a cat we had... She would wait until I was *almost* asleep, and then ponce on my chest from above me and settle there, I would have sworn she was trying to take my breath!!!!!! I've never heard anyone else express that!!!!!

We ended up having to re-home our cat.... Not for the breath stealing, but she got VERY jealous after my daughter was born. Would NOT stay out of her room, off her bed etc. we tried EVERYTHING- keeping her door shut, training etc. didn't work. Once she started pouncing and hissing at my daughter unprovoked, we decided to re-home her.

Cars are finicky. You can get lucky and get one that is social and will at with kids.... But lots prefer not to be handled.

Pets are a TON of work and can be quite expensive. A good dog, if trained, can be a lifelong companion and addition to a family. But as others have indicated, you and hubby will be responsible for the bulk of the care.

In my experience, NEVER get a cat. They are always vicious with kids always scratching too. Not to mention they like to lay on your chest while you sleep and inhale, like if there taking your breath. For me it was scary to witness. There cat litter is a health risk for baby's too and bad for humans in general. Not to mention the cat hair eeeww and they'll destroy your furnisher. I'd go for a small dog, always had good experience with them.

I suggest going to a local animal shelter and adopting a cat that has been de-clawed. They really need a home where they will be indoors, and the lack of front claws will help insure that people will not be scratched as much. Teach your children to not get in the cat's face or personal space and watch for signs that they don't want to be bothered with: i.e. flicking of the tail, ears pulled back and the obvious growl, etc....Teaching respect for animals starts young and is so important.

I would stay away from rabbits, hamsters, mice, ferrets and other "toothy" animals... If they smell something yummy on a finger, they will bite and clamp down and lock their jaws.. (OW). Birds are beautiful but messy and smelly and some can be very aggressive and need a lot of care.

Mom:

Talk to a person at a pet store - like a mom & pop store...find out what pet would be best for your family.

ANY pet can and will die. Fish die - from under feeding and over feeding...

Cats and dogs can scratch - not meaning to. There are snakes, rats, guinea pigs, mice, etc. There are ferrets and so much more...you need to figure out what your family can deal with in way of cost of care (food, exercise, etc.) and size....

I've grown up with dogs. I am a dog lover. They need exercise, training and love - EVERY DAY. So dogs take a commitment. Any animal you get will depend on the level of commitment you and your family have.

Sorry - I wish I could tell what would work best for your family. However, I don't know you personally, what your family can afford and what level of commitment you are willing to give!

Good luck!

I grew up with a lot of pets...we had dogs, cats, and at certain times we had hamsters, rabbits, reptiles, fish, birds, you name it. Every kind of pet takes your time to feed and clean up after it. Dogs and cats really make the best pets. If you adopt one sit with them in a room for a long time to play with them and get a feeling for their personality. Look for a mellow, easy going animal. One that is not afraid or nervous. One that is affectionate and friendly. Do not pick an animal that hides from you or your kids or acts nervous in any way. Do not pick a dog that seems "alpha" - showing signs of wanting to be a leader, aggression, etc. A cat takes much less work than a dog and the right personality cat can be a wonderful pet. Dogs are really my favorite but this is a real time commitment. They take lots of time and energy - dog training classes, walks or exercise daily, etc. Do not get a dog unless you are willing to put in the time. Again, pick out a relaxed, calm, friendly animal. Do multiple obedience classes with them. Or if you want an easier kind of pet...get a fish tank. Or a small reptile. We let our son have hamsters and although he loved them a lot, one of them always bit, and cleaning the cages got old fast. They only live about 1.5 years though..so at least they don't last forever! I loved my turtle when I was a kid. I loved my rabbits. My brother loved his snakes and his salamander. Go without your kids to a pet shop or two and talk with the people who work there. Go look at the different small animals you can get and get a feel for what you want. Don't forget, whatever you get...you will be doing all the work not your very young kids!

I think the best pet would be a lab or lab mix puppy. Like 8 week old puppy. This way the dog can grow up with your kids and can get used to them. Labs are easy going and can tolerate a lot if trained right and a rounds kids from the get go.