There are some wonderful small cute and furry animals which can make excellent pets for young children.
Many parents consider that a dog or a cat is too much of a commitment and is often too big to be an ideal pet for small children.
And they pose some risks.
For example that have been many instances of young children being attacked by their own pet dog.
One of my favourite animals that makes a perfect pet for young children is a guinea pig.
My own daughter has her favourite pet piggie and loves him, along with some other pets.
They have some huge advantages as a pet.
They rarely live much longer than around 5 years, so you won't be looking after the guinea pig after the kids have left home.
They are cheap to buy, usually under $20, they are cheap to feed and don't get sick as often as other animals.
They are warm and furry and like company and will happily sit on your child's lap in the evening being petted.
However even though a guinea pig is a small cheap pet you still need to give some thought to several important matters that are common to all pets.
How you will house and feed him.
They are housed in what is called a guinea pig hutch or cage.
The hutch is usually kept outside the house, though not always, and is primarily constructed of timber and wire, though metal is also a good material for construction of hutches.
It should have a dedicated sleeping area where he can sleep free from the risks of bad weather and snug inside his own sleeping area.
It should have an outdoors area where he is protected from predators but can run around doing what they do like eating the grass.
You shouldn't use wire on the floor of your hutch as they can get a condition known as bumble foot from walking on wire.
The majority of guinea pig hutches sold in pet shops are way too small.
It's not difficult to make your own cage, and if you're handy you can do so quite cheaply, but it is most important to ensure that it is as large as possible.
If not then you must give your guinea pig time each day to run around and play and exercise.
They are cheap to feed and not difficult to feed but you do need to learn a little bit about what they need to eat and what they don't need to eat.
They need plenty of hay for roughage, will happily eat a wide range of fresh green vegetable leaves such as broccoli or spinach as well as fruits like apples and pears.
Some foods should be avoided such as lettuce and cabbage which can give your guinea pig diarrhea.
And they love grass as well.
You need to understand that once you buy one, (or more), guinea pigs you are committing to cleaning out their hutch regularly, as young children will rarely do this do this well.
And you also need to ensure that he is regularly groomed to keep his hair in good condition and free of knots.
This of course is part of the fun.
A small, soft and furry guinea pig makes a wonderful pet for the children as long as you house him properly and feed him well.