CLOSED:What animal makes the best pet and why? Win a bundle of kids books.

It's cats for me always. Our first cat came home in mum's shopping bag on my brother's bike handlebars - a lovely ginger female - in 1952. Since then we have had many of these lovely furry creatures. There when we were sad - lovely to stroke and cuddle. Cats seem to respect young children - we had no incidents of biting/scratching the little ones. One of my cats slept in the shopping tray at the bottom of the pram!
Cats need feeding and sometimes grooming, and so children can learn the responsibility of looking after an animal quite easily. They also work as hot water bottles when sitting on your lap in the winter, or lying on your bed just before you go up!

They make the purrfect pet I think.

Staffie. They have a bad name but are so gentle loving and faithful. We had ours from the dogs home 7 years ago. She loves the kids and they love her. She jumps into our bed everymorning is always there to look after you when you are low or poorly. Mad as a box of frogs but will never find another as wonderful as her xx

Dogs! They are loving and protective, and teach goods emotional intelligence

I think any breed of dog that has been raised properly will be a loving and caring companion, which little ones can learn a lot from

I think a dog or a cat make the best pets for a child. However parents must realise it is likely to be a ten to twenty year commitment. Children learn so much from caring for a pet.

Slugs - I can send as many as you want. (only joking of course, it is illegal to send live animals by post)

I would say guinea pigs They are that little bit bigger and more robust than other rodents, and they are not nocturnal. They are also delightfully engaging, and very responsive - they will talk to you and are very interactive.

The Animals that live at other ppls homes, and just visit! They will be the ones we will have once the dog and the cat leave home..

Your dog will love you and never judge you so they will sit beside you and listen quietly while you read them a story. They will not make you feel nervous and you can stroke or pat them, which helps you to feel calm and happy. They never interrupt, point out your mistakes, put their paw under the words and tell you to try again or ask you about full stops and commas. Your dog is a wonderful reading friend.

Congratulations Silversand12. We had guinea pigs at the primary school where I worked, and they increased in number!!! Enjoy all these lovely books.

Tigger the Ginger Tom, a lazy prince among cats!