2006-10-02 05:39:40 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
rats are better pets than hamsters, main reason being they aren't as thick. Hamsters are short sighted and will bite the first time and few times after plus they are nocturnal so they wont be up when your child is up to play with it. Rats are smarter creatures and have a longer lifespan and when its used to your child then they're loyal as anything. Rats are also more playful compared to alot of other caged animal.
2006-10-02 05:42:43 · answer #1 · answered by hellraiza15 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Rats are very sociable animals and require a lot of time and attention, they also need a very big cage as they need to be able to run around, i remember when working in a big pet shop the rats were so lovely, the are very inquisitive animals and i have rarely known a vicious one, i will say that rats are prone to breathing problems, rats are scavenger critters so they will eat any tip bits you give them. Never pick a rat up by its tail as the skin will be torn off if you do choose to pick them up this way it should always been done by the base of the tail. They should also not have woodshavings as this can just irritate there respiratory system, so wooden based cat litter is best, it is also best to feed them on nuggets instead of muesli as with the muesli they will just pick out the bits they like whereas with the nuggets its just one main diet. Hope this helps : - )
2006-10-02 19:47:55 · answer #2 · answered by barmaidgirl3825 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the thirteen year old. Any pet is alot of responsobility. They have to clean it, play with it, feed it, and make sure that it is healthy. Rats also tend to be noctournal so in the middle of the night you hear them running around, drinking water, or ripping up paper. I think that if the thirteen year old is really responsible than a rat is a good pet, just make sure he/she understands how much work any pet can be.
2006-10-02 18:52:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rats are excellent pets. They are clean, and intelligent. A pet rat will also help teach your 13 year old how to be responsible for something other than himself. Rats are realtively easy to care for and are very social. Pet rats purchased from a pet store are free of disease and are generally handled. As far as the urinating issue. I have found that if the rat doesn't like a particular person, it will urinate on them...
2006-10-02 13:34:32 · answer #4 · answered by joythegreat 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We had a pet rat called George. I gained him when I gained my second husband (from his ex-girlfriend! She decided that she couldn't cope with the rat! The rat, rat, that is not the ex-boyfriend now my husband, if you see what I mean).
Anyway, George turned out to be one of the nicest pets that I have ever kept! He would run around the sitting room and literally beg for baby corn or doggy choc drops! He loved sitting in the sleeve of my husbands dressing gown watching TV with us.
I would have thought that it would be the ideal pet for a 13 year old who should be old enough to understand and take on the responsibility but not have to walk it for miles. They really don't take a huge amount of looking after apart from feeding daily and cleaning weekly. With lots of contact they become really tame.
It should also be emphasised that they do wee all of the time and they can't be trained for that - but what an excellent way to teach a 13 year old about hygiene awareness! The amount of wee is minimal and would not cause a health hazard!
As for keeping 13 year olds - I've had three and wouldn't have another one!
2006-10-02 13:15:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all rats only smell if you don't clean them out regularly, and like with most species, male urine smells stronger than female urine. Rats make lovely pets for children, and like any rodent (hamsters, gerbils, mice etc) they are capable of biting, but usually this is a fear/defence response. If you decide to get a rat, give it 24-48 hours to settle in its new envirnoment before you attempt to handle it. An animal that is dumped in a new environment is going to be very nervous to begin with, so if you start poking at it and trying to pick it up before its even had chance to settle, it is likely to bite. When it has settled in begin by intoducing it to your hand. Rats are curious animals and the chances are it will come and have a sniff at you. Try offering it tit-bits of food. After a few days it will come to realise that the hand in its cage means no harm. Make sure you wash your hands before you put them in with the rat because any food smells on your fingers might encourage your rat to bite- you don't want your rat thinking you are edible. A 13 year old should have no trouble keeping a pet rat, providing he/she remembers to wash hands before and after handling the animal. The main concern is will the child loose interest? Will there be somebody around who remember to feed it and clean it out on a regular basis? If there is nobody else in the family who is prepared to care for the rat if your child looses interest, then a rat is not a good idea- get a pet that other members of the family like too.
2006-10-02 13:11:42 · answer #6 · answered by chunniemonster 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Rats are the top rodent pet and they only smell if they dont get cleaned out! They each have their own personality, but make sure you go to a good petshop, where they have been handled, put your hand in and pick the one that comes to you :)Or from someone you know that has bred them.
Rats are incontinent, but it doesnt smell and its not loads.
Our rats are fab, soooo cute , we have bred them for over 20 years.
Rats should live between 3-4 years, they also eat anything you eat. They also prefer a bigger cage than other rodent pets as they are larger.
Hope that helps
2006-10-02 13:01:35 · answer #7 · answered by Debs 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had a rat and she was really cute, but she would get hyper and bite, sometimes, usually when I was playing with her (I used to let her loose in my bed and she'd burrow in the sheets). They weren't hard bites, though. Usually just nibbles. I named her Freaky for this reason!
Also, they are nocturnal and mine got most active at about 2 in the AM!! That considered, she was a decent pet and I think a 13 year old could handle one, provided they are responsible enough to handle feeding, watering, cage cleaning, etc. I compare owning a rat to owning a hamster, really, but my rat was more social towards me than any hamsters we had growing up.
2006-10-02 13:15:23 · answer #8 · answered by Shelley L 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Rats are excellent pets for children, especially of the age where they can take care of the pets mostly on their own. Rats do not bite (provided you buy a tame one), are very clean and easy to take care of. I've had many other small rodents in my life, and rats are by far the best.
If you are interested in learning more about rats, please read my website (link below), which has information on all aspects of rat care.
2006-10-03 20:54:07 · answer #9 · answered by Robin 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They make excellent pets are very clean .
Buy a baby to get it use to handling they rarely bite unlike Hamsters and especially Gerbils.
We had two and they were very friendly you must handle them every day they will eat food out of your hands and are really nice pets.
You must clean the cage everyday as there urine is very strong and does tend to pong if you dont change there bedding regularily.
If you buy a pair make sure they are same sex or you will have baby rats every few weeks.
GO FOR IT hope this helps
2006-10-02 12:57:19 · answer #10 · answered by tonyinspain 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋