What do you think of a pet rat?

Question

I really want a pet rat my cousin has 3 and my sister has one, i've heard there great pets and very funny, So should I?
I really need all the info I can get on how to raise a rat.
I have had mice b4 but never a rat.

I wouldent mind a ferret but they can bite.

Answer 1

I had a rat for two years so I can tell you anything you want to know. Rats are great. They're very smart. You can teach them tricks, just like a human. They can tell who their owner is, and are very attached. They're low maintenece, and pretty cheap as well. If you have any questions, just send me a message.

Answer 2

Having a pet rat is not as odd as you might think. They are rather easy to care for and, if handled often, can be quite affectionate and friendly.
Your best bet is to get an aquarium or reptile cage for its home. Find a young rat or get one that is comfortable being handled. I'm not really sure what to feed it but I would say lettuce, vegetables and even puppy food may do (ask the pet store people). Keep the cage clean and keep food and water changed daily.
For exercise you can get it a large hamster or gerbil wheel or a ball for a ferret that it can go into and roll around the room.
Take good care of it, like any other pet, and you'll be surprised at how attached it gets to you...and you to it.

Answer 3

I have a rat (and a ferret). The rat is very clean, I keep her cage bottom covered in recycled paper (made for pet cages, found at pet stores, AWESOME odor control) I use the paper in the ferret cage too, and though I have to clean that out every few days, the smell is not overwhelming. My sugar glider was smellier than the ferret. The rat is very tame, she sits on my shoulder (likes to hide in my hair) and has even gone on car rides without ever leaving her perch. I do spend about 30 minutes a day with her. As with any pet, you have to spend time with them so they bond to you. She is intelligent, somewhat playful, and from what I understand, as she gets older, she'll just get lazier. I read up on rats by doing a google search before I got her. I had a friend when I was a kid who had two rats which were lots of fun to play with. My son loves to play with her too.
BTW, the ferret and rat are not too interested in eachother. They have met, sniffed, and then decided it wasn't too interesting. The ferret does chase my dog around the house, though, which is a hoot.

Answer 4

Make sure you read up on them, visit your library and some websites and make sure that they're the pet for you.

Pet rats can make awesome pets if they're given enough attention--they're smart, can be allowed to explore outside the cage (if you're there to supervise), and can be taught to do tricks.

However, rats are VERY smart and social, and need to be given a LOT of attention every day, otherwise they become depressed, ill, and even biters. So make sure that you have the time to commit to them, and that you give them a very good-sized cage to live in. Change it often as well, at least once a week, since rat pee is very smelly.

I would suggest getting one or two females, the males tend to be more aggressive and their cages smell more.

If you don't think that you'll have the time for a rat (be honest), I would suggest hamsters or gerbils. Gerbils are social animals that basically don't need any time to be held, as long as there are a couple in the cage (make sure they're the same gender)! I keep mine in 10-gallon aquariums (separated by gender), and they are very happy, cheerful little pets who don't need much work and cuddle time.

Hamsters are generally solitary and do need some attention, but much less attention than rats. I keep my hamster in a two-story wire cage with a wheel, and I take her out about three times a week, and she's a very happy girl.

Answer 5

Rats make wonderful pets! They bond with their owners, and yes, they do funny things sometimes. They need a lot of exercise, like any animal, so a cage big enough to run, and have a wheel in would be ideal.
Your cousin has 3? Your cousin would be a great source of information for you about this.
The pet store workers also could tell you some about them.
They like vegetables a lot, and fruit in small ammounts.
Getting a female would be your best bet, because her urine doesn't smell as strong as a males'.
Good luck !
Hope I helped you some :-D

Answer 6

A rat is a great pet. Will need a much larger enclosure than your previous mice, though.
A wire cage is recommended, for maximum air flow. It will reduce the chance of respiratory infection. Take someone with you, when choosing a rat, to help do a health check.
Here are some caresheet links:

Answer 7

They are great pets! We've had rats since my 13 year-old was 2 1/2. Right now we have 14 (13 are infants born on 6/16).

Answer 8

Rats are one of the best rodents to own ... I have owned many and I never had one bite me! They are very easy to take care of and you can train them to do things for you. They will ride on your shoulder and with enough practice you can get them to do things for a treat. They are wonderful and there are ones with dumbo ears they are very cute. I think you should get one. Make sure that you have a cage and food before you buy one though. That is very important. Go online and find out what they like to do and then supply your cage with stuff your new rat will love. Yay!!

Answer 9

i have tow female pets rats sattie is s large rex rat and sage is a smaller blcak and white one they are very smart animals and great pets and love people perfect animals foe a apartment or a place that is too small for a dot or cat. rats are also less demanding . but they can also be to smart for there own good (like getting out of there cages when i own two cats) but they are very smart and get along with orther rats very well
if you need any info on rat care try this sites
http://www.quite.co.uk/rats/
http://petratguide.com/?hop=skycforme
hopes it helps and hope you get a rat there great!!

Answer 10

The closest to a rat you should get is a hamster or a rabbit because rats eat cheese and you only have so much cheese. What if you have family or freinds who come and visit or are there previsously and they run and scream do you want them to feel uncomfortable?