Hamster or dog? Which pets are best for kids - The Mommy Files ...

All kids love pets, but not all pets love kids. Which fidos, fifis and other furry (or fur-less) friends are best for families?

An increasing number of people are being infected with salmonella linked to pet turtles, the tiny varieties with shells less than 4 inches long. A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that the number of cases increased from 66 in March to 127 in May, according to Examiner.com. Two-thirds of those infected are under 10 years old.

Yikes, suddenly a cool, little turtle isn?t sounding like the best family pet. Maybe a more traditional dog or cat is a better bet, but you have to consider that not all breeds are kid-friendly. While a mellow and social cat might tolerate being dressed up in doll clothes by a little girl, a timid and skittish one might rush for the closet at the sound of little feet. And while certain breeds of dogs love nothing more than to have their ears rubbed and pulled by tiny hands, others are likely to snap when a child touches the wrong spot.

And then there are those pets like hamsters and rabbits that seem easier for kids to care for because they?re small and live in cages. But when it comes to cleaning the cage, these animals suddenly become burdensome. And many of these little rodents like nibbling on fingers.

Every kid wants a pet, but how do you decide on the right one for your family? Let the slide show above from the Houston Chronicle?s ?Mom Houston? blog help you.

Do you have pictures of your kids cuddling the cat or playing fetch with the dog? Submit photos of your kids and their favorite pets in our gallery and we will feature them in a slide show on SFGate.

(Source and inspiration: Mom Houston and Examiner)

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