OF all those, guinea pigs and rabbits are the most social. The others are really just . . . there. Rabbits live a little longer than guinea pigs, but they also require a larger cage.

We bought my daughter a hamster for Christmas one year. After a week (like most kids) she lost interest and he became ours to deal with. With a rabbit, depending on finances latter on down the road (and how big he gets) worst case scenario you can always have rabbit stew. I love rabbits but you have to have 3-4 good size ones to make a meal (depending on how many people are there).

They are the most interactive for kids.

No matter WHAT pet you get a ten year old...it better be one YOU enjoy, since his/her care of it will end in a week or two (don't fool yourself into thinking your kid will be different then the sixty billion who came before them). Thus YOU will be caring for this pet. Be ready. That IS reality...fact, simple cold truth.

All of these have short lifespans and will break your kid's heart. Rabbits have the longest of the bunch. With excellent care and neutering, a rabbit might last as long as ten years (ordinarily, it's more like five).

For interactivity instead of just sitting there or endlessly trying to escape, rabbits and rats are both the best.

Rabbits will require a large cage, even house rabbits. House rabbits are difficult to potty-train and will have accidents every so often anyway, so a large cage is a necessity.

I have to buck the trend and go with a dog. I think every child who is able should have a dog. They not only make good companions, but they help protect your house (if you get a big enough one, I wouldn't bring a dog smaller than a Lab into the house)

BUT, they do require a lot of responsibility, that you will have to share with the child, as NO 10 year old will be able to be 100% responsible for any animal. They may forget to feed them, forget to clean their cages (and animals like rats, mice, rabbits, hamsters etc really smell when their cages aren't cleaned every day or so.) A Golden Retriever or a chocolate or black lab is a good "Starter Dog" because they make good pets and usually want to please their owners. But, don't get one unless you can dedicate at least a few hours a day to training, learning and care.

For the animals above, rabbits live the longest. Yes. But, the males smell terrible (we've had rabbits and have a male now, and he's sweet, but damn he smells) and the other animals require a lot of care and responsibility. We had a a hamster get out of his cage, fall into a vent and end up getting killed by the fan on the furnace. It was SO sad. Your child will have to make sure the animal is safe, has the right food in the proper quantities, is kept clean etc.

I wouldn't recommend a gerbil because they sleep all day and don't play until night. If they are kept in your child's room, they will keep her awake with playing, eating, drinking and squeaking all night.

Good luck.

My family had a house rabbit for most of my childhood, and I think they make wonderful pets. They're smart enough to housetrain, and can be very wsweet and affectionate.

Try a Budgie. They love to play with toys, are fun to watch, they generally stay in one spot (a cage), make cute noises, and are easy to clean after. (Especially since the make very small poops, lol!)

Another idea could be a rabbit, but it's been so long since i had one that i don't remember how to properly care for them.

As for rats/mice/hamsters, they can require a bit of care, especially in cage cleaning. They also tend to smell pretty bad if not properly cleaned up after. Also if they get out, they can run off and hide. Once had a friend who lost her hamster in the house one time and they never found it.

I am a former rabbit breeder and I have to say that what you need to get depends upon your child and what they want from a pet.

I love rabbits - we have a bedroom bunny who sleeps with us and most folks don't realize that they can be litter box trained. However, they can and do chew on cords and will chew on walls sometimes if they get bored (if they're not caged) - so its important that they have toys they can chew on. They love to have a box of dirt or sand they can dig in and they love to have old phonebooks, etc. to shred.

A rabbit can be a great pet if you like an animal that will sit with you while you watch tv or take a nap with you . Their poops are small round pellets that don't stink (unlike cats and dogs).

There are certain breeds I would recommend over others and you would do best to get from someone who raises rabbits in a home environment. A flemish giant would be great but they can get to be huge (my largest is 19 pounds) and usually live around 5 years. Polish rabbits are very small and very easy to handle and they are often considered a good "first" rabbit for a child.

If you do get a rabbit, you will have lots of support at link - a free rabbit forum where you will learn about how to care for a rabbit and get cage ideas, etc. etc.

Although I am pro-rabbits in general, I am not sure that a rabbit is the best pet for a child. Many times children want a pet they can run with and play fetch with, etc. etc. In that case - a dog is good.

Good luck with whatever you decide -if you do decide to go with a rabbit and have more questions - feel free to message me with any questions.

I own a rabbit. Got him neutered when he wouldn't leave my leg alone. It took care of the horrible urine smell too!

I would say rat, guinea pig or rabbit. You'll still have to supervise her during handling, but those are the easiest on the list to handle and the most social. My first pet was a guinea pig, and I still have fond memories of her!

Female rats are sweet, affectionate, and have a personality. From this list I've had rats, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs and a bunny but I was the most attached to Jewel and Baby, my two rats. The other animals were either unfriendly or had so little personality. For a ten year old girl, give her two female rats. Make sure you have two rats otherwise they get lonely and depressed.

maybe read this, link

None of these. I was really happy when we got our first cat when I was 8. I think they make for the best pets.

I've never owned a guinea pig, although I had a friend that did and she said they are the friendliest! I have owned a hamster and have done research on rabbits. Rabbits don't seem to be the best choice as a pet for a ten year old girl. Children may not fully understand how to handle the rabbit and the primary caretaker would be you. Rabbits also tend to have a longer lifespan than, say, a rat or a hamster. This is something to keep in mind since she'll be going away to college in eight years or so.

It may be a good idea for your family to go down to your local animal shelter and see for yourself what sort of animals work and don't work. You should get a pet that works for ALL of you, including yourself! You're likely to end up with all the responsibilities. While I did vote for the guinea pig, I think an older cat (or even a dog!) would be best as a family pet.

i do not recommend rabbits at all for children. they're often recommended for kids but they are higher maintenance than dogs and cats both. they end up living shorter lives sometimes because the amount of care needed to keep them healthy and happy is not known to many pet owners.

i would recommend a cat. they're so self-sufficient and you won't have to worry about neglect in the cage, etc. just change their water, add food daily, provide scratching post and cat bed, and change their litter every couple of days. and lots and lots of love!

the local shelter is the best place to adopt any animal, in my experience. around here you get an animal thats' already spayed for around $40, with their shots, plus a bag of food, and the animal is microchipped. you also get the first vet visit free.

I am most definitely a rat lover. Rats are so social and affectionate. Once they get to know you, they love to play and cuddle. To me, owning rats is like owning pint sized dogs. It's fun to teach them tricks as well.

I prefer dogs, really. But I second what people say about cats. They are really self sufficient and can be affectionate. My parents got me a rag doll, who was horribly sweet and playful. Unfortunately, both my dad and I turned out to be super allergic which was no fun at all. My heard really lies with dogs though. They're much better companions than any of these.

That said, of the list, I'd probably go with a rabbit.

I'd go with rat. I've had several over the years & they are definitely the smartest & friendliest of the small animal/rodent category.

I've had several rabbits neutered - not a problem for them at all as long as you have a rabbit-savvy vet who knows how to do it right.