its gotten used to being handled, ids it ok to get it out, put it on the couch or floor and let my 3 yr old son play with it?(my son is gentle)
2006-11-14 07:02:53 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Yes it's fine I have to dumbo rats called Candy and Amy and they are fine sometimes they will sit on my lap and sometimes they would run around everywhere but don't worry they will be used to their owner and want to be around them.
2006-11-14 07:12:30 · answer #1 · answered by sup. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's ok to handle it. The more you handle it, the more tame he will get. I wouldn't let the 3 yr old hold the rat without you actually holding the rat, too. If the child got excited, he may squeeze the rat. The animal may panic and nip.
Be aware: rats are social animals, so hopefully you got 2 or more (same sex). Some of them get a bit withdrawn or stressed when caged alone.
Be aware if it's a male rat from a pet shop it was not bred for temperament. When he hits sexual maturity in a few months his behavior may change. Occasionally the pet shop rats get a little out of control with horomones and suddenly are nippy or no longer tolerate being handled. This can be addressed with neutering.
2006-11-14 16:26:52 · answer #2 · answered by Funchy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a two year old ratty, and my five year old is fine with her.
I'd keep a close eye on them both as kids don't always know the limits of a animal, especially something as small and squishy as a little ratty.
Also the rat, even if you have it used to being handled, it still might nip.
Ours has been handled from day one, but every now and again she gives a little bite, not sure if she's trying to groom us, or play, but she isn't out for blood.
As for everyone hating on rat owners, if you've never had one, you don't know how smart and loyal they actually are as pets.
2006-11-14 15:07:56 · answer #3 · answered by xrianya 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It's ok to put your rat on the couch, but beware ... rats love to nest inside furniture like couches, so you may have problems getting him/her out again!
My pet rats have all been very smart and you can train them to sit on your shoulder (like a parrot) and to sit up and "beg" for treats as well as the classic rat activity, running a maze.
I would be very wary of letting a 3 year old play with a rat. Not because of the rat, but 3 year olds, even gentle ones can play too roughly at times :-{
2006-11-14 15:08:48 · answer #4 · answered by Wendy D 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I would say it would be fine as long as you monitor your son as he interacts with your rat. The couch is not the best place for the rat to play as there are a lot of places it would be able to hide and many things for it to chew. A bedroom with a closed door makes a great play place for your rat and son to bond. Just make sure you have picked up or moved anything you don't want you rat to chew such as electrical wires, blankets, or lap tops (one of my keys still does not work because of an escaped rat). Have fun.
2006-11-14 15:31:43 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Speaking from experience, I think your son would be too young to handle the rat without you there. By all means let the rat out to have a play and run around, but kids can still be quite heavy handed without meaning to. (My daughter accidentally killed her rat with 'kindness', literally! She was 7 at the time, she was just 'loving' it a bit too much)
Best of luck!
2006-11-17 06:25:01 · answer #6 · answered by melfromhell001 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When we adopted Percy from the pet store (Percy's a male fancy rat) he was around a year old, and my daughter was just 4 years old. Percy and my daughter are the best of friends~ daughter loves stacking blocks for Percy to knock over, they play ponies together, share treats together, watch TV together, etc.
As long as the rattie visits are supervised (mine are!) there's no danger from a gentle toddler whatsoever. It's a great way to teach your son responsibility and caring, among other wonderful things. Just be sure there are rules in place for the saftey of the rattie.
2006-11-14 15:12:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My exes son who was three loved my rats. I recommend that you don't let the rat walk around when you let your babe touch it. hold it in you hand and let the babe pet it. then you can protect your rat and your son. No matter how gentle your son is he could still hurt the rat and I don't want your son getting bit. If you have ever been bit by your rat you will know why.
2006-11-15 09:55:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure you can. And please ignore the other comments. Let me tell you briefly about my old pet rat. Her name was hermine and my husband and my mother were not keen about her AT ALL. At the time I wasn't married and my mother didn't want her living in her house. So I hid her cage in my big walk in closet when I wasn't home and when I was she was never caged. Well my mother found her and she fell in love with her. Everytime she saw someone she would stand on two legs and paw at the cage to be let out. She knew her name and would eat from our hands. When I eventually moved in when I got married she would sit every night with us on the couch and watch tv. Do you know in 2 1/2 years she never relieved herself on us? Rats are fabulous pets....10 times better than hamsters or gerbils or any other rodents. They are also smarter! Email me if you have any other questions or want cool ideas.
2006-11-14 15:08:53 · answer #9 · answered by addisonsmom17 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
With strict superivision your rat and son will love to play together! Even my 16 month old son is great with animals. I just take his hand, pet the animal, and say nice kitty, be nice. He caught on pretty fast you need to be "nice" to animals, and his little sister! LOL
2006-11-14 15:11:50 · answer #10 · answered by dolly 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋