[sivers]

Consider two pet mice instead. They're more portable. Kess could carry them in her pocket when going out to the playground and the mice are happy to stay in there. Get two girls because girl mice smell better and don't fight. My boy had three pet mice from age 6-9 and absolutely adored them. Took them everywhere out to play. To the beach, to friends' houses, to the playground, etc. And they're such a magnet for conversation. Everyone wants to come see and hold a pet mouse. They're so cute. Our mice lived to the old age of 3, and were very adored.

Rats have more personality than mice but are less portable, so better to have in the house instead of out in the playground. Kind of like guinea pigs. (A common pet where I grew up.) And their little claws can unintentionally scratch and hurt. Clipping their nails would help but that's hard. If you get rats, get two boys, and have them castrated ASAP. I have two boy rats now and love them.

To answer my biggest concern when I got them: they never ever bite. (Neither rats nor mice.)

[jraby3]

Are the mice trained to use a litter as well? Or is that just the rats?

[sivers]

Just the rats. Mice can't help themselves. To keep them in your pocket, you'd want to keep a little towel in your pocket, and a couple little alcohol wipes handy for when they pee on someone's hand.