5 Types Of Pets For Kids – With Pros & Cons

Although most of us think of puppies or kittens when we imagine potential pets for kids, there are many more options than just those! So today we’ll be going over several of them, and discussing the pros and cons of each option. And hopefully by the end, you’ll have found a pet that works for your family.

1. Dogs

Starting off with perhaps the most popular type of pets for kids, we have dogs. I’ve personally had many dogs throughout my lifetime, including three after my children were born (a shih tzu, a walker hound, and a beagle). All of which we’ve loved immensely. But as with any pet, there are pros and cons to adopting a dog when you have kids…

Pros –

• There’s a large variety to choose from. There are so many breeds of dogs that it’s easy to find one that fits your individual needs. Retrievers and Labradors, for instance, are very popular with kids.
• They’re loyal and make great companions. “Dogs are a man’s best friend” and they can be a child’s as well. In fact, the bond between a person and their childhood dog is often unmatched. Especially since dogs are well known for being so loyal.
• You can train them. Dogs are highly trainable, if you go about it the right way, and this can present a variety of benefits for people with kids. Including the ability for the dog to travel with the family, behave on a day-to-day basis, and be gentle with small children.

Cons –

• They require a lot of attention. To raise a healthy, happy dog that will enrich your family life… you’ll have to put a lot of work in every single day! And if your family life is already busy, or you have very small kids, this can be a challenge.
• There’s potential for injury. Don’t get me wrong, I’m by no means saying that it’s unsafe to have a dog in a home with children! However, if the dog is improperly trained, the children don’t know how to behave appropriately around dogs, etc… There is a risk of bites or scratches, and in extreme cases, more severe injuries.
• They can be loud. As I said earlier, we have a beagle. And she can make a LOT of noise! But beagles are far from the only breed who are prone to barking. So just keep that in mind, especially when you live in close quarters with other people.

2. Cats

Now, transitioning right into the other type of popular pets for kids, we have cats! I never had cats when I was growing up, and neither did my girls. But in recent years, my oldest has adopted three of them and my husband and I have also adopted several that needed emergency homes. And I must say, they’re very special animals.

Pros –

• They’re relatively low maintenance. Cats, just like any other animal, still require attention and care. But overall, they require less work than dogs. Plus there’s no need for a yard and they can be happy in small homes versus dogs who need a lot of space.
• They don’t need to be trained. Even though an animal being trainable is technically a good thing, it does require a lot of effort. And cats are sort of the best of both worlds, they don’t require a lot of training and are pretty well behaved without it.
• They have a lot of personality. Every cat is different, and this can be both endearing and fun. Many of them are affectionate and sweet, and can bring a lot of comfort to kids and adults alike.

Cons –

• They can’t be trained in the same way as dogs. Remember how I said that the fact cats don’t need training is a positive? Well, predictably, it’s also somewhat of a negative. Because cats oftentimes have a mind of their own, and that can present challenges.
• They require litter boxes. Litter boxes are a necessary part of owning a cat, but they can be stinky (although there are ways around this), they take up space, and small children could even get into them and become sick without supervision.
• It’s hard to nail down their temperament. Because cats rarely fit into the stereotypes of their breed (if they even have a specific breed), it’s hard to know how your cat will behave until you spend time with it. Some cats aren’t cuddly for instance, while others are. Some like kids whereas others don’t. So you need to be sure to do your due diligence, either by talking to the people you’re getting the cat from or by spending personal time with the cat before you adopt it. Unless you’re ready to accept the cat, regardless of personality.

3. Rabbits

Another somewhat popular type of pets for kids is the rabbit or bunny. But although they can be very special, unique, rewarding pets to have… They also need very specific care in order to stay healthy and happy, which many people underestimate. So it’s important to understand the pros and cons of this pet, to avoid making a choice you regret if rabbits aren’t right for you.

Pros –

• They’re very smart, and can be very affectionate. Rabbits are intelligent animals, meaning that they can be trained to learn tricks. Plus, they can be very loving and cuddly towards their owners if they’re raised in the right environment.
• They’re quiet. Another big bonus of owning a rabbit is that they don’t make much noise. So they’re ideal for families who live in close quarters with other people, such as those who are renting apartments.
• They don’t eat meat. Rabbits are actually vegan animals, so if you’re a vegan or vegetarian family yourself, they might be a good option if you’d prefer not to have to feed your pet animal products.

Cons –

• They’re fragile. Not only are rabbits very sensitive animals who become stressed easily, but they’re also quite delicate physically. So if you have younger kids who may try to carry them around, play with them roughly, or even drop them by accident… Then this type of pet may need to wait until they’re at an age where they can understand how to properly handle such a fragile creature.
• They need specific care. Rabbits aren’t necessarily “easy” pets to own. They need to be handled a certain way, be fed a certain diet, and have access to certain enrichment activities and spaces in order to thrive. So a lot of research and planning needs to be done ahead of getting this kind of pet, and a lot of effort will need to be put in if they are to stay healthy.
• They can be expensive. First of all, rabbits are very social creatures; so to give your new pet their best life, it’s necessary to get rabbits in pairs. Which means double the supplies as well. Plus, they’re very prone to developing medical conditions. So there may be a lot of vet bills in the future that you’ll need to be prepared for.

4. Fish

Once again, we have one of those types of pets for kids that comes with a variety of options. Because, much like dogs, fish come in a lot of different shapes and sizes. They’re also a unique type of pet in the respect that they can’t be handled or cuddled with, but at the same time… They present benefits that other types of pets may not. Some popular kinds of pet fish are goldfish, bettas, and tetras.

Pros –

• They’re low maintenance. Fish are honestly some of the most low maintenance pets you can have, especially depending on the type that you get. Which means that it’s relatively simple to teach kids how to care for them. They won’t take up much of your day. Plus there will probably be stress associated with owning them.
• They’re stress relieving. Studies have shown that watching fish swim around actually reduces stress and anxiety. So even though fish aren’t a pet your little one can cuddle up with at night, they can still receive and everyday benefit from owning and caring for one.
• It’s a great learning opportunity. Furthermore, fish can present a great opportunity to teach your kids some scientific facts about aquatic life in an engaging way that they’ll actually remember.

Cons –

• There’s a lack of interaction compared to other pets. Obviously, your children won’t be able to bond with fish in the same they might bond with a furry, cuddly, engaging animal like the previous ones we’ve discussed. So that’s a major drawback for some people, especially if you don’t also have those types of pets in addition to fish.
• They have relatively short life spans. Although some types of fish may live for several years, fish have notoriously short life spans in comparison to other pets for kids. And simple things like accidental overfeeding, an incorrect environment, etc… can result in their premature death. So if you do get a fish, you’ll have to be prepared to help your children navigate the grieving process sooner than later.
• They can be surprisingly costly. Depending on what type of fish you get, how many you get, how large the aquarium is, etc… Having fish can actually be more costly than you may think, especially in the beginning. Because the stereotype of just plopping a fish into a bowl (which obviously wouldn’t be costly at all) is actually not healthy for your new pet.

5. Guinea Pigs

Lastly, we have guinea pigs! Guinea pigs are another one of most common types of pest for kids, but they’re also commonly confused with hamsters. And while these animals have their similarities to each other, I think guinea pigs are better suited for children because they’re a bit hardier and more social.

Pros –

• They’re very social. Guinea pigs are known for their friendly disposition, and despite being small, they’re more than capable of building a strong bond with their owners. So they can actually be quite loving, despite common misconceptions about rodents that suggest otherwise. They’re even known to have vocalizations like chirps that come out when they’re excited, which is pretty endearing.
• They have unique personalities. Guinea pigs also have distinguishable personalities, much like a dog or cat would have. And this not only allows children to bond with them more easily, but makes them more fun to spend time with!
• They’re relatively low maintenance. Like any pet, guinea pigs require a certain amount of care to thrive. But in comparison to a dog or rabbit, they’re relatively easy to care for. They just need to be fed, played with, and provided with a clean environment.

Cons –

• They do better in pairs. Much like with rabbits, guinea pigs do much better with a pal. So if you’re going to adopt one as a pet, you should probably make it two! But obviously this means more effort and money from you will be required.
• They can create an odor and a mess. If you keep their enclosure clean, then smell will be less of an issue. But that’s not always a simple task, because guinea pigs can make quite a mess with all the waste they produce. Plus, some male guinea pigs mark their territory with urine, which can get smelly as well.
• They’re somewhat fragile. Although guinea pigs are hardier than hamsters, they’re still quite small. So they need to be handled carefully in order to avoid injury. This means they may be best suited for children old enough to understand how to properly interact with them.

Final Thoughts

There are obviously many more pets for kids that I could discuss, but I don’t want to overload the post with too much information. So I may just make a follow up article later, that discusses slightly less popular pets for kids.

In any case, I hope you enjoyed reading about the pros and cons of each one of these pets. And that it helped you in your journey of finding an animal that meets your children’s needs!

Lastly, if you’re serious about introducing a pet into your child’s life… Check out my article on preparing your child for their first pet.