Cool pets for kids and teens that are easy to take care of
Many children develop a love for pets from an early age. What child doesn’t want to pet a soft cat or play with a playful puppy? Pets become family members; they are cherished and cared for. Children, by observing their parents, also want to take care of the family pet.However, not all pets are easy to care for. Some animals require constant attention, but there are also low-maintenance pets that bring joy to the whole family. From traditional favorites to rare and unique species, there are many cool and adorable pets to choose from.
Common cool animals:
- Talking parrot. This is a fantastic pet: funny, beautiful, and highly intelligent. However, not all parrots will learn to talk, as their speech is mostly an imitation of sounds they hear. In the beginning, you need to talk to them or keep them in a room with lots of conversation.
Care: A clean, spacious cage, daily changing of water and food, and toys inside the cage.
Pros: Brightly colorful, and their amusing chatter entertains the family.
Cons: Can fly away or bite; their food husks create mess around the cage. - Djungarian hamsters are tiny, fluffy rodents, similar to other hamsters but smaller.
Care: Requires a clean cage with a small house for hiding and sleeping, as well as special food and fresh water.
Pros: Small and cuddly, can be held and petted. They breed well in captivity.
Cons: May escape, have short lifespans, and can occasionally bite. - Guinea pigs are relatively large rodents with calm temperaments. They are fun to watch and make amusing squeaky noises.
Care: Needs a clean cage with a shelter, specialized food, vegetables, and clean water.
Pros: Gentle and quickly adapt to being handled.
Cons: May chew on furniture or books and can have a distinctive odor. - Chinchillas are fluffy little animals that resemble squirrels. They have quirky personalities and, once socialized, enjoy being petted and scratched behind the ears.
Care: This rodent requires special care, including a large, clean cage, proper food and water, wood for gnawing (as their teeth grow constantly), and access to sand baths for keeping their fur clean.
Pros: Extremely soft and pleasant to hold.
Cons: May gnaw furniture, are noisy at night (they’re nocturnal), and are sensitive to drafts. - Cats. Probably one of the most common pets, alongside dogs, but often easier to care for. There are many breeds to choose from. People love cats because they are cuddly, purr, and quickly become part of the family.
Care: Cats are easily litter-trained or may go outdoors. They can eat special cat food or some family foods.
Pros: Independent yet affectionate. They create a cozy atmosphere at home.
Cons: Some breeds are more temperamental and may bite or scratch; long-haired cats need regular grooming to avoid fur spreading around the house. - Dogs are known as people’s best friends. It’s hard to imagine an American family without a dog in a big house. Kids—especially teens—love dogs.
Care: Dogs need protein-rich food, both commercial and homemade. Daily walks are essential. Dogs also need bathing and lots of attention.
Pros: Dogs are loyal family members, intelligent, trainable, affectionate, and can protect the home. There is a huge variety of breeds.
Cons: Dogs require devoted training and long walks. They shed regularly and often have a characteristic odor, so need regular bathing. - Fish. Many children dream of having their own aquarium. Watching fish swim is relaxing and uplifting. Properly selecting fish species that live peacefully together is important.
Care: With a well-equipped aquarium (filters and temperature controls), caring for fish is easy. Once-a-day feeding is enough.
Pros: Watching fish is soothing; they are quiet and beautiful.
Cons: Without a filter, you must clean the tank regularly. Without a temperature regulator, fish may suffer if the water is too warm or cold.
Advice:
Before choosing a cool pet for your child, learn as much as possible about the species. Consult experienced pet store staff to find the most suitable pet. To help you decide, take our unique Parenting Mentor Test. The results will suggest the best animals for your child and provide recommendations to ensure caring for the animal is a shared family responsibility.
Rare cool pets:
- Singing canary. Gentle songbirds with vibrant colors, most commonly bright yellow, but sometimes orange, white, or red.
Care: Same as for parrots.
Pros: Lovely singing and bright feathers.
Cons: Similar to parrots, but canaries rarely bite. - Decorative rabbits are playful and friendly rodents, fun to cuddle and hold.
Care: Need a cage, fruit tree branches and chalk for chewing, and straw or hay for bedding. Uneaten food should be removed and water changed daily.
Pros: Smooth, soft fur; clean animals; can be walked outdoors in warm weather with a pet store leash.
Cons: Like most rodents, they may chew wood, wallpaper, and books, require a large cage, are susceptible to disease and need vaccinations, and shed a lot in spring and fall. - Land turtle. Turtles attract families with their wise, calm demeanor and are among the easiest pets to care for.
Care: Provide suitable living conditions with a terrarium lined with river gravel or pebbles.
Pros: With the right care, turtles can live a long time, recognize their feeder, and do not need constant attention.
Cons: Equipment can be expensive. They hibernate. - Geckos are amusing reptiles that look like lizards with thick tails.
Care: Although low-maintenance, they require specific conditions. Geckos choose a specific spot for feeding and toileting in their terrarium. Water should be changed daily and they need feeding a few times per week.
Pros: Clean, have no strong odor, bond with owners, do not cause allergies, and have long lifespans.
Cons: Eat only insects; may drop their tails when stressed; their setup and maintenance can be costly. - Chameleons are fascinating reptiles that change color to blend with their environment. Their eyes can move independently of each other, making them especially unique.
Care: Care is similar to that for geckos. For young chameleons, spray their terrarium with water 2-3 times a day to prevent dehydration.
Pros: Interesting coloration, easy to care for.
Cons: Short life span, prone to illness, costly equipment, and need for live food. - Achatina achatina. While cats and parrots are common, huge African land snails are quite an unusual pet! Many adore these exotic, low-maintenance creatures.
Care: A regular aquarium with a lid, coconut fiber, and a shallow bathing dish is sufficient. Their diet is mostly fruits, vegetables, and greens—kitchen scraps work perfectly.
Pros: Unique, very easy to care for, and do not cause allergies.
Cons: Not interactive; lay many eggs, which can create extra mess. - Tarantula. Exotic pet lovers enjoy these unique spiders. Imagine surprising friends with a large spider during a visit! Many kids and teens find them exciting.
Care: Needs a small terrarium with a specialized substrate; humidity must be regulated. Tarantulas feed on live insects.
Pros: Rare and unusual, require little food, make little noise, and are inexpensive to maintain.
Cons: Venomous, though not deadly to humans; bites can cause allergic reactions.