What would be the best?

[Roxyluvsme13]

FURRY! Get her a puppy! They always want to be loved on and played with, and mine sure do cheer me up.

[Muddy4paws]

Is a dog or cat an option?

I love guinea pigs I find them so calming to be around but the noise can get to some people.

[sammy101]

furry. Out of what you said,i would go with a Guinea Pig( though i dont know much about them...)

[Miss Z]

I would choose guinea pig out of that choice. Will this be her first pet? Maybe she'd like a little hamster, they are very straight forward to look after and cute and cuddly too, and maybe a little less difficult to clean out than a guinea pig I would suggest a rat, but unfortunately they are not everyone's cup of tea and maybe not a first pet, although I must say that Tia cannot be beaten on cheering me up when I'm down

[IRescue452]

Go with the small mammal. Perhaps you can look on petfinder and find one to rescue in your area. The initial cost of a proper tank will be more than for a small mammal cage and it will take much more time to get it up and running proper.

[Sevaede]

Go with the small mammal. Perhaps you can look on petfinder and find one to rescue in your area. The initial cost of a proper tank will be more than for a small mammal cage and it will take much more time to get it up and running proper.

Yep, that was the plan. They have a humane society where she lives and I was planning on visiting and taking her there to look at the small animals. I was thinking about the tank costs and whatnot and I agree, that would probably be a little difficult and confusing for someone who didn't know what they were doing.

[Misty_Pearl]

Personally - I would choose a chinchilla as they live the longest of the small furry animals.

[Suki Wingy]

I think a hamster or a gerbil or a guinea pig is a good idea. Make sure she knows and wants it first though to avoid... you know. Most humane societies/shelters make everyone in the family be present when adopting any way. I would not suggest a chinchilla as a first pet. They can be difficult (never had one but knew one and did extensive research when I thought I would be able to get one.) If she can handle it, a rabbit may be good too. I would suggest a calm breed like a dutch.

[Sevaede]

I think a hamster or a gerbil or a guinea pig is a good idea. Make sure she knows and wants it first though to avoid... you know. Most humane societies/shelters make everyone in the family be present when adopting any way. I would not suggest a chinchilla as a first pet. They can be difficult (never had one but knew one and did extensive research when I thought I would be able to get one.) If she can handle it, a rabbit may be good too. I would suggest a calm breed like a dutch.

Oh yeah, she knows because we've been talking about it for a while (and so do the parentals). I don't think she wants another hammie. It will probably be a gerbil or guinea pig because the previous experiences have been GREAT with them. A rabbit would be good but we would definitely have to take up the suggestion on a CALM one because the last one I had (we were living together) was NUTS towards anyone, and anything, but myself.

[Sevaede]

Personally - I would choose a chinchilla as they live the longest of the small furry animals.

Are they of relatively low maintenance?

[Sevaede]

I would choose guinea pig out of that choice. Will this be her first pet? Maybe she'd like a little hamster, they are very straight forward to look after and cute and cuddly too, and maybe a little less difficult to clean out than a guinea pig I would suggest a rat, but unfortunately they are not everyone's cup of tea and maybe not a first pet, although I must say that Tia cannot be beaten on cheering me up when I'm down

Heh, well her parentals already have two Doxies (1 and 5). We've also had a mouse, a guinea pig, and NUMEROUS hamsters. Her parents used to breed hammies. However, her last hammie was not the friendliest and I don't think she would want one. Rats are awesome even though mine was neurotic. What do you think about a gerbil? I've had a gerbil for a week now and he's GREAT.

[Miss Z]

What do you think about a gerbil? I've had a gerbil for a week now and he's GREAT.

Well, I've never had a gerbil, but have been thinking about getting one for my brother, so I'm kind of in the same situation as you . Gerbils probably have the same maintenance as hamsters, but I understand they're quicker than hammies and escape easily from your hands. It sounds as if you really like your gerbil, so you're probably more experienced than me on this one

Are they of relatively low maintenance?

I really don't recommend chinchillas as a first pet. They can have rather highly strung temperaments and need a very large cage, so there's a lot of cleaning out to do, and they also need daily dust baths. They are also not that easy to tame accordinmg to some who have kept them in the past. They are beautiful to look at and have lovely soft fur, which does need special grooming. Of course there will be chins out there that are little angels, but not necessarily the majority. They're also pretty expensive too, over here you can pay well over £100 for one, that's just for the chinchilla, and they need a regulated diet to prevent them from getting ill. After my first rabbit died, I decided to have a look at chinchillas. Whilst I found them very sweet, holding them was as easy as holding wet soap. At the time I was 10 years old, but even now at 14 I don't know how well I could hold onto them. Also, a family friend who bred chinchillas for shows DID NOT recommend them as a young person's pet. One of the things she did say is that they are pretty much a life long commitment, apparently it's not unusual for chins to live well into their twenties, so unless your sister is prepared to care for a chin into life where she may be going to university and maybe even getting married, then maybe they're not the pet for her.

[carole]

How about a beautiful baby bunny , i was patting a minature rex at the pet shop, his fur was like velvet, the other bunnies were soft but nothing in comparison, they are so cute and cuddly and not too hard for a 13 yr old to look after

[Sevaede]

furry. Out of what you said,i would go with a Guinea Pig( though i dont know much about them...)

Well, I am going to get her a book and print out some information on whatever I get her PRIOR to actually getting it so she can be prepared. However, her parentals already have two Doxies. One is about five and the other is almost a year.

[Sevaede]

Is a dog or cat an option?

I love guinea pigs I find them so calming to be around but the noise can get to some people.

I think so. It would have to be a small pooch though because the parentals are not fans of big dogs. So, something about the size of a field spaniel or less.

The guinea pig I had was really calm and quiet. He was definitely awesome.