Sexually mature rabbits can be territorial or even aggressive, and may spray urine. Spaying and neutering are riskier for rabbits than they are for dogs and cats because anesthesia is a little trickier. Our daughter, who has just turned 9, has been bugging us for a pet of her own, and she wants a mouse, hamster or bunny. Yes, and it's not a mouse, hamster or rabbit. Although these have all been popular children's pets for years, I prefer to recommend a rat.
Mice are often shy, and hamsters tend to be nippy.
Rabbits are difficult for children to learn how to hold properly, and they have backs that are easily broken if their lower bodies and legs are not well-supported when held. It can even be taught a few tricks, and it's of a size that's easy for a child to handle. If you look around, you may also be able to find breeders who are working to produce rats of many different coat markings, types and lengths. The problem with pet rats is usually parental in origin. Some people just can't stand to look at those long, hairless tails and shudder at the very mention of a rat.