Ideas please

[Maz]

My Stepson really wants a pet of his own. Our first hamster was his, but he lost interest in the hamsters a long time ago. The hamsters are mine Although he is welcome to have one but doesn't want one. Not only do I really love hamsters but they are the one pet I can handle and stroke without triggering asthma and other allergies. So far. We can't have a dog or a cat as I'm severely allergic to them. I'd happily have guinea pigs but been advised that even if I'm not allergic to them, the hay will be an issue (and yes I'm very allergic to hay!). Hamsters have been the only thing I'm not allergic to (with the exception of dwarf hamsters - it seems I am allergic to them but not male Syrians and male Robos - haven't tried any females yet!). Occasionally their pee slightly affects me when cleaning out but it's not a big issue.

He also says ideally something that doesn't live in a cage. Which has stumped me a bit! I did suggest rats, which can be a bit dog like in behaviour but he said no to that and OH is anti that. I think I'll have to take "something that doesn't live in a cage" with a pinch of salt.

So would be really grateful for ideas, from those who have other pets. I believe lizards are supposed to be non allergenic. We don't know much about those but he said no to a snake. Isn't there a salmonella issue with lizards? (If you don't wash your hands after handling them which teenagers sometimes don't).

I think he wants something he can interact with basically and just have a pet of his own - which is understandable.

I have thought about a Chinchilla. Yes it lives in a cage, but he didn't outright reject the idea - however, from what I've read, they are not really cuddly or enjoy human handling that much so he might be disappointed by that.

 

[Coco61]

We had a chinchilla once as our daughter wanted one when she was 18. She then went to university! I did all the care really after that. The cage needed to be large and I doubt ours was large enough looking back. So I used to let Shadow out to stretch her legs downstairs and boy did she need that. Despite the pictures of a chinchilla being cuddled, in my experience you can forget that. Far too skittish. She would jump up onto the arm of my chair for a treat to be given but that was as close as it got. Getting her back into the cage was very difficult and was really a herding manoeuvre that she got the idea of. She loved snoozing in her hammock though.
The blurb talks about them living 20 years or so but when she needed vet treatment I was told 5-8 years was typical for a pet one. It was only when she needed such treatment that her amazingly soft coat could be stroked.
While she was lovely, I would not do it again. Maybe she was an adult when we bought her and it would be easier to tame a youngster.

 

[elusive]

That is tricky, I thought Chinchillas are social & need to be kept in pairs or groups but don’t really know much about them.
Keeping reptiles isn’t that easy, lots of people do keep lizards & other reptiles but they do have very specific needs, right kind of light, heat, calcium issues & all sorts of things to think about so he would need to do quite a lot of research into that, again not something I know a lot about but enough to know it isn’t simple!
I’m not sure you have that many options left.
Have you considered rabbits? Again social so it would have to be more than one & they do need a lot of space, not sure how high they are on the allergy stakes though.

What about millipedes
I know they don’t appeal to most people but you never know, the big ones need quite a lot of space but you can handle them & interact with them to some extent.

 

[Maz]

Coco that is really helpful, thank you. I didn't know you'd had a Chinchilla! And yes that thought has occurred me, that I may be left to look after it!

Elusive - I thought you might suggest millipedes ha ha - and it did occur to me. But I don't think he'd be interested. OH suggested a stick insect - that sounds a bit easier than a Lizard, as yes I know the environment is very tricky for those, with heat lamps etc. Doesn't appeal to me as they eat live insects!

I'm sure there was someone on here had an African land snail at some point. I also considered Sugar Gliders but they are apparently not hypoallergenic either. It would be nice to meet one though and see!

Stick insect appeals to me - I'll see if that's a possibility. I'd also be happy to have an outdoor barn cat (next door used to have one that was a great rabbiter! And we've only had issues with rabbits since their cat disappeared). But most cat rescues won't let you rehome one for outdoors and I don't think that was what he had in mind.

 

[Maz]

Rabbit sounds an option yes (it would need an enormous cage!). We had friends who had a rabbit that used to hop around the room and that didn't seem to bother me. The hay could well be an issue again though.

 

[elusive]

I had stick insects for a while when I was a kid, they are quite easy to care for I think & I think there ae different species as well now.
Can’t really remember a lot about them though.

House rabbits can be a lot of fun but they need a lot of space (you shouldn’t keep just one as they do need company of their own kind even though they interact with their owners quite happily most of the time.) Probably need a whole room ideally if kept indoors or a large cage plus run if kept outdoors.

I’m afraid I have very strong opinions about cats & the damage they do to wildlife of all kinds & the way they do it so I won’t say more.

 

[Maz]

I can imagine - although next door's cat was good at keeping wild rats at bay as well and they caused a lot of problems if not kept in check, and it meant rat poison wasn't needed. As predators they can be a bit grim though.

I don't think we'd have space for a rabbit then. I might try and find out more about stick insects.

A tortoise was suggested too but don't they sleep half the year?

 

[Maz]

Also wondered about an African Pygmy Hedgehog. They need special heat and tanks as well but are apparently quite interactive and can be held (if not cuddled exactly).

 

[Lovelyness]

A friend of mine had ferrets for a while…they were kept outside. I have seen a man in town, walking a ferret on a lead!

 

[Maz]

I did mention ferrets but it didn't go down well. I think he wants a house pet he can interact with. It's very tricky. I did suggest a horse actually but they are expensive.

 

[Lovelyness]

I did mention ferrets but it didn't go down well. I think he wants a house pet he can interact with. It's very tricky. I did suggest a horse actually but they are expensive.

Expensive, and won’t fit in the house either How about tropical fish? I’m super allergic to horses !

 

[Lovelyness]

Or how about checking out Borrow my Doggy or Cinnamon Trust…he could walk someone else’s dog without having one in the house….or volunteering at a rescue centre

 

[Maz]

I did think about volunteering at a rescue centre or doing dog-walking yes. Thank you. Yes I am also very allergic to horses! But at least they live outdoors. Actually there is a donkey adoption place in our area.

 

[Lovelyness]

Donkeys would be lovely Or volunteering at a stables...they sometimes throw in horseriding too in return for work. I only have to stand in a field with a horse to react to it!

 

[Lovelyness]

Hey! ..you could adopt a donkey! Or he could just volunteer

 

[Maz]

It's a thought but not sure if we'd have available space. Volunteering is a good idea - even dog walking.

 

[Lovelyness]

If he volunteered somewhere, he'd probably meet other people too which could be good...and it looks good too on University or job applications

 

[Socks' Mum]

Chinchillas a

That is tricky, I thought Chinchillas are social & need to be kept in pairs or groups but don’t really know much about them.
Keeping reptiles isn’t that easy, lots of people do keep lizards & other reptiles but they do have very specific needs, right kind of light, heat, calcium issues & all sorts of things to think about so he would need to do quite a lot of research into that, again not something I know a lot about but enough to know it isn’t simple!
I’m not sure you have that many options left.
Have you considered rabbits? Again social so it would have to be more than one & they do need a lot of space, not sure how high they are on the allergy stakes though.

What about millipedes
I know they don’t appeal to most people but you never know, the big ones need quite a lot of space but you can handle them & interact with them to some extent.

Chinchillas and rabbits are hay eaters unfortunately

 

[Socks' Mum]

Bearded dragons or leopard geckos could be OK. Beardies need quite a big cage and heater and lamp, but are friendly, sociable reptiles. They do eat alot though, and the live insects, reptile formula (for calcium) and veggies they eat need to be in constant supply from a dealer. Leopard geckoes are crepuscular, so don't need as much heat and light, but still need a lamp and vivarium with sand, moist area, hides etc. They shed their skin, so need extra care around that. They are usually sociable and can become very tame. Leopard geckoes eat a few crickets every day or so once adult.

You might be able to get special shampoos for dogs, a close cut poodle, for instance, but I'm not sure how effective they are. The hairless breeds might also be less allergic, but not sure if your step son would take to a hairless cat or dog.

 

[Maz]

We've been the whole gamut with hypoallergenic dog breeds and it didn't work and was heartbreaking. So all cats and dogs are definitely out unfortunately. And that is the issue.

Chinchillas a

Chinchillas and rabbits are hay eaters unfortunately

Yes good point and that is the issue there too!

Bearded dragons or leopard geckos could be OK. Beardies need quite a big cage and heater and lamp, but are friendly, sociable reptiles. They do eat alot though, and the live insects, reptile formula (for calcium) and veggies they eat need to be in constant supply from a dealer. Leopard geckoes are crepuscular, so don't need as much heat and light, but still need a lamp and vivarium with sand, moist area, hides etc. They shed their skin, so need extra care around that. They are usually sociable and can become very tame. Leopard geckoes eat a few crickets every day or so once adult.

You might be able to get special shampoos for dogs, a close cut poodle, for instance, but I'm not sure how effective they are. The hairless breeds might also be less allergic, but not sure if your step son would take to a hairless cat or dog.

I think Leopard Geckos seemed like an option - they're supposed to be the easiest and don't grow too big. If the heating equipment and live insects can be accepted!