Best Pet For Kids By Age

Young girl and boy with puppy and kitten.

The key to choosing the best pet for kids is finding one whose care needs match your child's age and maturity.

Some pets are low maintenance. Some are high maintenance. And some are sold as low maintenance until you get them home and price out the heat lamp.

Younger children do best with pets that need less handling and less care. School-age kids and teenagers can take on the medium- and high-maintenance varieties. Here's a look at common pets for kids, from lowest to highest maintenance, to help you choose the best pet for your child's age.

(Not sure your family is ready for a pet at all? Start here: Easy Pets for Kids: How to Choose the Right Family Pet.)

The Best Pet for Kids by Age: The Short Answer

• Under 5: fish in a proper tank, for watching. Guinea pigs, with you doing the handling. Or a calm adult cat or dog the whole family cares for. No reptiles, amphibians or backyard chickens.

• Ages 5 to 7: guinea pigs, fish, rats (with you supervising), or a family cat or dog the child helps care for.

• Ages 8 to 12: add hamsters, gerbils, mice, parakeets, cockatiels and gentle reptiles like leopard geckos and corn snakes.

• Teens: rabbits, bearded dragons and a bigger share of the dog. Big parrots and exotic animals are only for families who want them for themselves, not just for the kid.

The Best Pet for Kids Is Never an Impulse Buy

No pet should be an impulse buy. Don't give in to the whining and pleading as you pass the pet store.

A pet will cost you a lot of time and money, and it'll be with your family for its entire life. Research before you bring a pet home, so you know exactly what you're getting into.

If they're old enough, have the kids do the research and present it to you. The best pet for kids is often the one they spent the most time researching. Kids who have to research a pet, and wait for it, are more likely to appreciate it and help care for it once it comes home.

Low-Maintenance Pets: Best for Young Kids

Low-maintenance pets are the best pets for kids under 6. They don't need grooming, walking or even petting. They need the basics: the right food, water and a proper home. They make good starter pets. They also offer the least payback in terms of love and affection.

Fish

Fish are among the best pets for kids. Most freshwater fish are inexpensive to buy and keep, after the initial investment in a tank and supplies.

Some fish are hardier than others. For small kids, go for durable, beginner-friendly fish. You don't want floaters to start your child's pet career.

Skip the bowl. A single betta is the easiest starter fish, and it needs a heated, filtered tank of at least 5 gallons. Goldfish are hardy, but they grow big, live 10 years or more and are messy, so they need a filtered tank of 20 gallons or more. If your child loves the first tank, you can graduate to a bigger community aquarium.

Lighted aquariums can even work as a night-light in a child's bedroom.

The daily work is feeding once or twice a day. Once a week, change about a quarter of the water and wipe the glass. Keep the tank out of direct sunlight, and algae will grow more slowly.

Reptiles and Snakes

Child watching a leopard gecko in its terrarium

Reptiles and snakes can be a great pet for kids, depending on how interested your child is. Little boys (and some little girls) love lizards and snakes. Most moms don't.

If your kid has a lizard or a snake, make sure there's an adult in the house willing to handle it. You've got to have that backup person with pets. In other words, Dad's the go-to guy on this one.

Keep the reptile in a tank with a locking lid. You don't want Timmy (or Tiffany) taking it out without your supervision. And skip the big constrictors, like Burmese pythons and boas, that can grow to 13 feet or more and be dangerous to everyone. Some lizards, like iguanas, grow to 5 feet long. Always ask how big the reptile will be as an adult. 'Nuff said.

The best reptiles for kids are tame ones that won't bite:

• Lizards: leopard geckos and bearded dragons

• Snakes: corn snakes, rat snakes and king snakes

Research the specific species. Some require live (shudder) food. Leopard geckos eat live crickets and mealworms. If you're determined to get a snake, at least get one that's trained to eat frozen mice instead of the live, running-around variety. Then all you have to do is thaw (to room temperature) and serve.

Reptiles are easier to care for than they look, but they're not cheap to set up. They need a tank, places to hide and perch, water, the right food, and a heat source. Desert and tropical reptiles also need special UVB lighting.

The bearded dragon is a good example. It grows very, very fast, up to about 2 feet long. A baby can start in a 40-gallon tank, but an adult needs at least 75 gallons, plus a basking light, a UVB light, and a daily menu of insects and greens. Feeding reptiles is not a simple matter of dropping in some pellets each day.

Reptiles don't need much exercise (though if you released one near me, I'd get plenty), and they don't need much attention. Plan on 15 to 30 minutes a day to feed them, and about an hour a week to clean the tank.

Two rules for every reptile:

• No reptiles or amphibians for kids under 5. They often carry salmonella, according to the CDC.

• Everyone washes their hands after touching a reptile or anything in its tank. (More on that: How to Prevent Zoonotic Diseases.)

Even though reptiles are sturdy, they're still living creatures. Never let young children handle them unsupervised.

Turtles and Tortoises

Turtles and tortoises are reptiles, too. Turtles live in or near water, and tortoises live on land. Both are long-lived: box turtles can live 30 to 40 years.

Make sure you provide the right environment for your species. Turtles need a big tank with clean, filtered water, a basking spot, a heat lamp and UVB light. Tortoises need room to roam and a warm, dry home.

Even though they look sturdy, don't drop them. It can injure their shells or internal organs. Tortoises in particular shouldn't be handled often.

And turtles are one of the most common sources of salmonella in kids. That's why it's been illegal in the U.S. since 1975 to sell turtles with shells under 4 inches long. Skip turtles for young children.

Small Mammals: Rats, Mice, Guinea Pigs and Hamsters

Rodents make good starter pets for school-age kids. They're small, furry and cuddly, and when the kids aren't playing with them, they happily stay in their cages. They're quiet, not very messy, and fairly easy to care for. And they're inexpensive to buy and keep.

First, you should know that mice are not baby rats. They're two different species with very different personalities.

Rats

Rats are exceptionally smart and friendly, despite their nasty-looking tails. If you want a love bucket, get a rat. They're the best rodent for younger kids, with you supervising.

Hold them at the store, and if a rat is a nipper, ask for another one. The younger you get them, the easier they are to tame and bond with. And get two. Rats are social and get lonely on their own.

Male or female? Good question. Male rat urine can be a bit smelly, and males mark their territory with a drop of urine, which is a drawback if you let them out a lot. On the other hand, males are a lot calmer and more loving. If you change the bedding at least once a week, the smell shouldn't be an issue.

You'll need a special place for the rat cage. Bedding can be messy, and the cages take up a lot of room. Each rat needs at least 2 cubic feet, so a pair needs a cage of at least 2 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet.

Rats need to run around outside the cage for at least a few minutes every day. You (or the kid) have to supervise these outings, because rats love to nibble through phone cords and electrical wires. And you don't want them getting lost in your walls or closets, either. Rats live 2 to 3 years.

Mice, Hamsters and Gerbils

Mice are cute and fun to watch in their cages, but they're a bit squirmy and nippy to hold and love. Hamsters are awake at night, when your kids are asleep, and many nip when they're woken up or picked up. Gerbils are friendlier and awake during the day. All three are better for kids 8 and up, who can handle them gently. They live 1 to 3 years.

Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs are one of the best first pets for young kids. They're sturdier than hamsters, rarely bite, and most enjoy being held gently. They need a roomy cage, unlimited hay, fresh veggies every day for vitamin C, and a buddy. Get two. They live 5 to 7 years.

Small Birds: Best for Kids 8 and Up

Birds usually aren't the best pet for kids under 8. Younger kids aren't gentle enough to care for them, and they dart around, which alarms birds.

Small birds make excellent pets for older children. A hand-raised bird bonds readily with its new owner and stays tame, as long as it's handled regularly and gently.

Small birds are easy pets because they stay in their cage and can't wreak too much havoc. Change the paper in the cage every day and refill the food and water. Give the cage a more thorough cleaning once a week.

Parakeets and cockatiels are excellent choices. Parakeets live 5 to 10 years, and cockatiels can live 20. Finches and canaries are mainly for watching, not petting.

Cats: Low to Medium Maintenance

In my prejudiced mind, cats are the best pets for kids. They're sweet and cuddly, and they're low maintenance. They're not messy. In fact, they're fastidious, and they'll look at you in dismay if you neglect to clean their litter boxes.

Of course, they have drawbacks. They shed, and many people are allergic to them. If you don't provide a scratching post, they can shred furniture and floor coverings.

And while a cat can handle you being out for the day, don't leave one alone for the weekend with a bowl of food. Have someone stop by every day to feed the cat, check the water and scoop the litter box.

Cats are fairly long-lived (12 to 18 years), and indoor cats are usually healthy.

Don't get a kitten for small children. Cats between 1 and 3 years old have all the kitten charm but are hardier, and they can easily escape rough little hands. And be careful when introducing a new cat into a house with another cat or a dog.

Dogs: Medium Maintenance

Two girls lying on grass lawn with a puppy between them.

I have a bias here: I disapprove of outdoor-only pets. They get neglected, especially in the winter. If you have a pet, it needs to come inside and be part of the family, at least some of the time.

Outdoor pets also have shorter, unhealthier lives (thanks to cars and other hazards), and they're more likely to bring diseases and pests like fleas into the house.

Dogs go through a golden age about halfway through their lives, when they're housebroken and calm. They no longer chew your shoes, and they usually come when called. That golden age lasts only a few years. Dogs can be a lot of work at the beginning and the end of their lives.

Puppies need house training and need to learn the house rules. Otherwise, they'll chew up everything. They're rowdy and rambunctious. With a puppy, you need someone home most of the day for the first few months. Fortunately, they're adorable, so there's a payoff.

Old dogs revert to puppyhood in many ways. They can't hold their bladders, and accidents happen. Health problems can mean multiple trips to the vet. Fortunately, by then they're one of the family, so you bite the bullet and clean up after them just like you would for Uncle Harry.

For the biggest payoff, get a long-lived dog, so those golden years are worth the effort on both ends. Small breeds tend to live longer than large breeds. On the downside, small breeds are often noisier and more energetic.

You can find great dogs at your local animal shelter, and you'll be doing society and nature a favor. But if you have specific requirements, look through the breed books and you'll find a dog that meets them.

My friend Kim, for example, wanted to get a dog for her daughter. Her husband did not want a dog. Repeat. No dog.

OK, she asked, but why don't you want a dog? It will tie us down, he said. It will chew up the house. It will terrorize the cats. It will mess up the house. It will shed. I'm allergic. It will bark. We'll have to walk it.

Kim and her daughter plunged headfirst into every dog book they could find and came out with a couple of breeds that fit all his specifications. Five years later, proud daddy loves to walk the little Shih Tzu around the neighborhood.

You can find a calm dog, a hyper dog, a watchdog or a lap dog. A dog that sheds very little and barks very little. Whatever you want is out there.

But large dogs usually need lots of exercise, and any dog needs a good 20-minute walk at least twice a day. And unlike cats, dogs can't be left on their own for long. Dogs are pack animals. They need people around. They also need to be walked, fed and watered. Frequently.

Think about how much spare time and energy you have before you say yes to a dog. (More on dogs: All About Dogs as Pets.)

High-Maintenance Pets: Not the Best Pet for Kids

Large birds like parrots and cockatoos, and exotic animals, go in the high-maintenance category. They need more attention, expensive cages or habitats, specialized vet care, and a specialized pet sitter when you go on vacation (good luck finding one).

They're not the best pets for kids. They often see children as below them in the pecking order, and that's not good. If you want an exotic pet for yourself, that's one thing. But don't get one just for the kid.

Parrots and cockatoos make cool conversation pieces. They're fun, comical and easy to train to do tricks. They're very social birds that bond readily with people. But they're also loud. They screech. They're messy and destructive. If you ignore or neglect them, they become self-destructive and pick out their own feathers.

And large parrots can live 50 to 80 years. Just think of signing on for a 2-year-old who will never grow up. Ever.

Before You Agree to Any Pet

Before you give the nod to any pet, have a serious talk with your child about the costs and responsibilities, who's going to do what and when, and the consequences. Then draw up a pet contract that spells out:

• The care the pet needs, with set daily times for feeding and water, and when the cage or litter box gets cleaned

• How the pet will affect your child's life and schedule

• What the pet costs

• How your child can help cover the costs

When a child neglects a pet, have a consequence ready. There have to be consequences. (Here's how: Pet Chores for Kids.)

But don't make giving up the pet the consequence. That only teaches kids that animals are disposable. Do you want them to get rid of you later on when they lose interest?

Once a pet comes home, it's part of the family, unless someone develops an allergy or another medical problem, or the animal starts biting. Pets are a serious commitment for the whole family.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best pet for a 5-year-old?

Guinea pigs, or a betta fish in a heated, filtered tank. A 5-year-old can help feed them and fill the water with you. Skip reptiles, amphibians and turtles until after 5, because of salmonella.

What is the best pet for a 10-year-old?

Guinea pigs, rats, gerbils, a parakeet, a cockatiel or a leopard gecko. A responsible 10-year-old can handle much of the daily care, with you making sure it gets done.

What is the best pet for a teenager?

Teens can take on rabbits, bearded dragons, corn snakes and a real share of the dog. Parrots and exotic animals are only a good idea if the adults want them too.

Are hamsters good pets for kids?

They're better for kids 8 and up. Hamsters are awake at night and can nip if they're woken up or handled roughly. Guinea pigs and rats are friendlier for younger kids.

Can a goldfish live in a bowl?

Not happily. Goldfish grow big and produce a lot of waste, so they need a filtered tank of 20 gallons or more. A betta needs at least 5 gallons, heated and filtered.

What is the best reptile for a child?

Leopard geckos and corn snakes are the best starter reptiles for kids 8 and up. They're docile and easy to handle. Bearded dragons are friendly, too, but they need a much bigger setup.

How long do common pets live?

Mice and hamsters: 1 to 3 years. Rats: 2 to 3. Guinea pigs: 5 to 7. Rabbits: 8 to 12. Dogs: 10 to 13. Cats: 12 to 18. Leopard geckos and corn snakes: 15 to 20. Box turtles: 30 to 40. Large parrots: 50 years or more.

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