RAT HELP..no ones answering my question?

Question

i dont want to know if there ugly...yucky... or wat ever i want 1 and im going 2 get 1 i just need help...
sryy if i sound mad..

OK so u guys r telling me to get a rat cuz its the perfect pet for me so Ill try
but i need my parents approval so how do i convince them??!?!?!
p.s if u have tips on wat kind of cage to get them and care tips i will accept..

ur help is needed and apreciated... thanx

Answer 1

It's not easy to convince parents to let you get a rat...I know I had 2 when I was growing up and it took a lot of time for me to talk them into letting me have one. First, you should head to your local library and get some books on keeping rats as pets...parents like lots of information before they make a decision. Also you should be showing your parents you can handle the responsibility of having something alive depending on you. Earn money so you can buy its food and toys and a cage. When I had my rats not too many cages existed so my dad and I actually made one..but these days a good ferret cage or guinea pig cage will do nicely, as they are bigger. The typical aquarium will not do for rats, they like privacy sometimes and room to move about. Im sure the books that you check out to help your parents decide will help you a lot too! Make sure you read them as well!!

Answer 2

For one thing, do NOT get just a single rat! They are very social animals and need the company of others of their species. No matter how much time you have to spend with them you still need to have at least 2. I can't stress that enough.

Do not under any circumstance house them in a tank. They have to have a good sized cage. A Martins cage (do an internet search) is an excellent cage, they run around $100.

You will have to mix your own dry grain rat mix or feed a lab block diet. Also supplement with fresh fruit and veggies, among other things.

Rats are prone to tumors so make sure you have a good exotic vet nearby who treats rats. Yes they are rodents, but they deserve vet care as much as the next animal.

Please do a lot of research before getting rats, they are very special pets with specific needs. And they are not cheap. I don't know how old or responsible you are, nor do I know your financial situation. But don't force or trick your parents into getting a rat. The animals will be the one who ends up suffering if your parents resent them.

Answer 3

i think rats are great...the only donw side is they live too short of lives. usually only 1-3 years. Females are less smelly then males because the males are not neutered and their urine smells. But both are great. If you get a male just make sure to clean the cage more often to reduce the smell. They usually only suffer from tumors which are very, very common with rats. Also, they are prone to colds, so be careful of where you are keeping them (i.e next to a window or near a door to the outside). Other than that they are great.


Oh also make sure you have a vet near you that has experience with rats and their systems. Goodluck and I hope that helps alittle bit.

As for the cage, two story cages are usually better than one story. Lots of room to move as well. They do sell rat cages, but if you can;t find one for a rat. Look for either a guinea pig cage or a small rabbit cage. Possibly a ferret cage! Any other questions feel free to email me ....cherrydevil119@yahoo

p.s hamsters and gerbils are much more prone to bite then rats. You can also train your rat to do tricks.

Answer 4

Well, there may not be any way to convince your parents to get you a rat, you may need to wait til you live on your own. One thing to do would be to google "rats as pets" and gather some information on care and keeping of rats, and present your parents with a "report". If they hear your arguments as to why rats make good pets, and are impressed with your research, they may "soften up" and get you a rat (or two). I have three rats currently, they live in a huge 3-level cage that I got on E-bay for about $70. Rats are very social, so it's best to have more than one - they love to hang out with each other, and will keep each other company. Imagine having to spend the rest of your days in solitary confinement... It's not fun. I found that rats do smell a bit, their cage smells even after I clean it - and I have female rats (boys smell even more, I hear). I've kept mice for several years before, and they didn't smell except when I had a lot of them. A couple of female mice doesn't smell at all. But rats certainly have more "personality" than mice, they are very cuddly, one of my rats falls asleep on my lap when I'm sitting at the computer. Sometimes I feel that they're like cats, only smaller (we have cats, too).

Answer 5

Just tell your parents everything that people have been telling you about rats: they're clean, smart, etc. Then find a book on pet rats and read it thoroughly. Then try to find a vet in your area that sees rats (most see only cats and dogs, so you may need to call around to different vets and ask for recommendations.). If you find a vet, ask him/her what they recommend as far as caging, food, yearly exams, and such. Take notes and go over everything you've learned with your parents. This will show them that you're serious, know what you're getting into, and that you really want this.

Answer 6

Be honest with your parents and provide them with a plethora of information. Prove to them that you've researched rats extensively---show them the NUMEROUS colors and fur types rats come in---show them pictures of the 'Dumbo' rats (people find them more appealing than rats with standard ears, usually).

Basically, come armed with information. Rats are gentle, affectionate, social, interactive, smart, easily trained pets that cost less then a cat, dog, guinea pig, or rabbit. They smell less than all of those. They don't take up much room, and yet they still offer the same kind of affectionate that any of the above do. Let them know that rats are becoming increasingly popular as pets and are nothing like 'wild rats' (which your parents will immediately think of when you tell them you want a rat).

Prove to them you're serious by saving up money and buying things to prepare for the rat---get the cage and supplies first. Locate some responsible and reputable breeders in your area. Going to a breeder is your BEST bet for convincing your parents---breeders will go on and on about how wonderful of a pet rats make and will probably let you and your parents hold some of their tamest, most affectionate rats in an effort to 'butter them up'. It works wonders, I tell ya.

As someone else stated, as far as care is concerned, rats MUST be kept in same sex pairs (preferably trios). They're very social animals that require constant companionship that we just can't provide to them. A rat kept by itself becomes neurotic, anti-social, and nervous. They need an adequately sized cage. When they're younger, you need a cage that is made for a mouse or hamster, as they will squeeze through the bars. When they're older, a rabbit, guinea pig, or ferret cage especially are preferable. You can get a ferret cage at Petco that stands nearly 4ft. tall for only $100---and it has numerous levels for climbing, a slide, ladders, hammocks, and everything else you need. It, in my opinion, is the BEST setup. You can usually find people selling cages on Craigslist for half the price you'd pay in a store.

As far as feeding is concerned...you can feed them a high quality dog food with less than 16% protein content and wholesome ingredients. Blue Buffalo Senior is the best. Mix that (or Great Choice assorted dog biscuits available at Petsmart for $3) with vegetable rotini dry pasta ($1 at Walmart), and an all natural cereal (either plain Total or Cheerios). Supplement occasionally (ie: every other day or so) with fresh herbs, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, eggs and meats. Rats are omnivores, after all and a wide variety of foods keeps their digestive system healthy, and their fur/flesh condition at its best. Food only costs me less than $5 a month (as the mixture I make lasts me several months depending on how many fosters I have).

Bedding-wise...use Aspen shavings. Absorbent, nice woody smell, and cheaper than the stuff like Carefresh. Don't use pine or cedar---it causes respiratory problems due to the dust and increases liver enzmes, which can be dangerous if your rat needs medical attention at some point.

So make sure you tell them that after you get the cage, how inexpensive a rat is to maintain. Now, if your rat needs vet care, it will be expensive, but basic care for a rat (after the initial cage purchasing) is not.

Hope that helps.

Answer 7

rats make awesome pets. They do not bite if u buy them from a responsible breeder NOT A PET STORE (those rats r just bred for feeder rats, so they r in-bred and subject to many diseases), they r smart, tehy r VERY tidy (they can be ltter trained like cats), they learn their names, and they r just like small dogs in a way (regarding their personalitys and loyalty). As for a cage, if u have a PetCo near u, they sell good cages, or if u want ur rat to really have more of eh luxurious life, u can buy a ferret cage. Rats love to have hidey-holes and logs to hid under, but a log works best for in teh first few days that ur little rat if with u, they will just hide in it constantly. With logs, they r easier to get out and socialize. They also love ramps and hammoks, but if u do get anything made of fabric, make sure it is small but durable material that makes little or no noise when stepped on (rats have very acute hearing, as of such nylon hammoks r not usually appreciated). Good luck with ur parents !!!

Answer 8

20 gallon aquarium, snap on lid, "snake straps" (they go around the cage and tighten like a belt), cedar/ pine bedding, heavy water dish or bottle. rats tend to get large, and if you get an older animal, they can be A LOT more aggressive. On the upside, they are usually very loyal, mostly calm, nocturnal critters that learn quickly and adapt well. Plan to spend a lot of time working with him/her, and keeping them amused. too much boredom leads to a rat who plays Houdini. As for the folks, good luck, if captive bred, they have fewer health problems, are not a carrier of disease, are easy to care for cage wise, and are not overly expensive for vet care.

Answer 9

if u really want a rat(even though i dont know why u would want 1)
tell them u will take care of it really good and buy its cage and all and that you'll send him to the vet to get it checked for diseases or whatever, although i really suggest u get like a guinea pig or gerbil they're way easier to handle

Answer 10

Ummm yeah, a rat isnt that good of a pet. They bite, and arnt very cudley, get a hampster or geirble if you want a rodent lol