Odd request
 

My Cousin Jenna is very allergic to cats and dogs. Her Daughter Sam (who they adopted a few years ago, and turns 13 next weekend) has asked about getting a pet. This is my cousin's Facebook status:

Does anyone have a pet guinea pig, hamster, skinny pig, mouse (any variety) or hedge hog that you'd be willing to let us babysit at our home for few days over the next week or so? I apparently have lost my mind because we are seriously considering adding to our menagerie a new pet for Sam. However I need to figure out if I'm allergic or not like I am to cats and dogs- hence this bizarre request!!

Just thought I'd share on here, on the off chance, someone in the Edmonton area was able to help.

How about a Lizard?

Sam (my cousin Jenna's daughter) likes lizards but my cousin said she didn't want one. I think they were looking for something more cute and cuddly, like a hamster.

did you suggest fish? they're cute and cuddly...

A lot of people are allergic to the bedding materials used for small animals, so that is something she will need to consider while pet sitting. Maybe looking for animals that can do without the wood shavings, or use an alternative (I know when I used to work at a pet store you could get this fluffy paper stuff instead). She should look at spiny mice, they are very social (in my experience, more social than hamsters). I used to have a hedghog, and I never used any shaving type bedding, he was ok with a towel and I put a small area rug with the rubberized backing on the floor of his cage.

Have they considered a hairless cat? Pretty cute, no?
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GvJpsPwuKL...phynx+Cat2.jpg

Or maybe you can make one of these
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3143/2...967_z.jpg?zz=1

Worst case, skinny pig
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lu...io84o1_500.jpg

What on earth is that??????

She has a bunch of birds so she didn't want to try a hairless cat. She did say she was thinking of a skinny pig.

Excellent points I will mention them to her.

Not sure but my guess is it's the love child from kien & lastlight, it does have an uncanny resemblance.

Just an FYI, If she is allergic to dander or saliva rather than fur a hairless anything will put her in a bad way.
There have been people that are allergic to saliva or dander and have gone to a sphynx cat breeder and have left in an ambulance.
Rodent pets food is also hay based that can also be an allergen along with bedding.