There's a mouse in my kitchen, and it's mocking me.

[MommyBird]

My kids are past the small rodent age now but we had our fair share. Most of the little furry guys are all buried in the back yard. One or two went out with the trash.
We had at least six pet store mice and they were delightful little pets. The cages are a pain but their little personalities are worth it.
We had two Gerbils.
Gerbils are a bit anti-social and hamsters are so popular the stores are usually sold out. My kids decided against hamsters after spending time with their friends'. Hamsters just were not as much fun as mice.
Cooper was our favorite. he was a little runt with allergies and he sneezed all the time. He loved to be held and he would close his eyes and lean in when you rubbed his cheeks. We honored him by giving his name to our Jack Russel.

If you think your daughter could handle cage duty, I would go for a pet store mouse. Mice are super cheap but the cages can get expensive and you have to replace their bedding often. A glass tank is the best cage option. You can get toys that sit in the bottom. A wheel without slots is a must. TP rolls are a favorite.

I'll share my country living mouse experience later.

[channlluv]

Thanks, but no. Every time we walk into our local Petco, that rodent smell assaults my senses...I swear I don't know why they think that's a selling point for anything. Mommy doesn't do the rodent thing. They're welcome out in the flower bed. Not inside my house.

DD has to be reminded to clean the litter box, which is in her room. I wonder sometimes if her sense of smell has been diminished from living in close proximity to her cat.

Roxy