hiya ive always liked rats and now am thinking of geting one as a pet and i just wanted to know what having a pet rat is like so if any one has a pet rat i would like to know you own experiance with them.
2006-11-19 20:33:26 · 27 answers · asked by dark_cerebrus 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
YES!
Rats are wonderful pets, I have owned rats for six years now.
Pros:
Intelligent
Cute
Rarely bite
Genuinely love your company
Quick breeders (if that's what you want)
Small
Clean
Inexpensive
Can be kept in a small apartment
Cons:
Stigma around rats
Quick breeders (if that's NOT what you want)
Only live for 2 years approx
Chew pretty much anything, including wires
Escape artists
Rats are wonderful companions.
2006-11-19 21:42:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should get at least two of the same sex. Rats are very social and need the company of other rats. We cant be with them 24/7 or do what another rat would do. Rats can go mad on their own, even you spend a lot of time with them. Its a myth that one rat bonds better than two or more. I have found that the more rats there are, the quicker they bond with me and the better they bond. They learn from each other and copy each other. My four babies have bonded better than most of my pairs and the one single rat I got. I currently have 10 rats split into two cages with 5 in each. Girls are much more hpyer than boys and dont like sitting still for cuddles, boys are the opposite once they get to about 6 months old.
Rats are very intelligent and will learn their name and your routine. Pine is not good for bedding as it can cause allergies, one of my rats nearly died as a result of pine bedding. I now use a special cat litter which is cheap and absorbs any smells. Cages are better than tanks as tanks allow the ammonia in the wee to build up quickly and cause breathing problems. Rats are prone to tumours and breathing problems, so you need to have a good rat vet and be prepared to pay for treatments. The bad side is that they dont live very long, about 2 is the average.
2006-11-20 05:33:44 · answer #2 · answered by kiffie 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
RATS ARE AWESOME! As an Animal Science Major I have had many unique pets. Like bats, rats, lizards, snakes, fish, turtles, sheep, cattle, dogs cats, guinea pigs ect. Rats are great pets. My last rat was a Naked Rat (or Hairless Rat which ever your prefer) She was outstanding. They can learn their names, and have different personalities. They are like little dogs. I would suggest a rat for anyone. Lilly (my rat) knew her name and came when called. She was even good with my kid sister! And other children. You could look at Lilly and say "kiss" and she'd lick you on your cheek. Its important to handle them often as with any pet. And if they bite your fingers it might be because you've touched something they think smells 'yummy' so they want a taste. I bring this up because many people believe rats to be mean and this just isn't true. In the wild rats have to be aggressive to survive but in captivity they are very docile. You can go to the pet store and buy a feeder rat they make great pets. The pet store should also sell rat pellets to feed it. Rats also like treats like a small chip or piece of cereal.
And please ignore disease boy, yes rats can carry diseases but dogs can aswell and we still own them. Cats also care diseases...wait Humans even carry diseases!!! The point is, wild rats do, where rats in captivity have not been exposed to the same diseases and germs as rats in the wild. Because rats in captivity do not roam the streets or trash or anyother nasty place that can be thought of. Rats also live any where from 2-4years
2006-11-19 21:13:07 · answer #3 · answered by o_state05 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Getting a pet rat is the best idea you can ever have.
From my experience, males are my personal fave to keep... They love to cuddle and are very happy to sit on your shoulder for long periods of time or even curl up in your lap while you watch tv or read a book. They are quite lazy but loyal and furry.
Females are adventurous and playful. They're more likely to use the excerise wheel and run around, down your sleeves and explore everything!
I recommend researching pet rats first, this is a really good site for rat lovers: www.dapper.com.au
People might say they smell, dirty animals etc but they really aren't. As long as you clean out their living area every few days, they aren't a problem at all, they're neat clean little critters... you can even toilet train them!
Best of luck in finding a furry new friend :)
2006-11-20 00:52:36 · answer #4 · answered by Sniknakh 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I've had several pet rats over the years. They're awsome pets. Every single one I've had has had a seperate personality. I'd recomend getting one from the pet store if it's your first time, like Petsmart. They seem to be tamer. Yes rats can bite, but I've only been bitten twice in probably 5 years.
2006-11-20 06:43:09 · answer #5 · answered by Rachel N 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Rats make lovely pets ive had alot over the years however you need to consider space for cages because they need room time to handle them and clean them daily or at least once a week without fail. The cost of wood shavings beddings and food daily thats not alot but it soon builds up.
Male rats i found tend to be much friendlier but of course you cant keep male and female together unless you want alot of baby rats. They are very intelligent and once used to being handled will crave your company so its important you have at least an hour a day to sit and play with it. I would recommend a rat for anyone wanting a clean small animal or for anyone with small children as rats are big and chunky once grown and not quite so sensitive if squeezed a bit hard by an over keen child. Note they are clean animals but they do start to pong if you dont clean the cage also always wash your hands after handling a rat to avoid catching anything nasty.
2006-11-19 22:13:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I don't own a rat personally, but I know a family who used to own 2-4. The rats weren't too bad while we were there. They'd climb all over you, and try and run away! You have to keep an eye on them. I'm not totally sure what you do to feed them or anything, but they should tell you all of that if you ask them at the store. Good luck!
2006-11-19 20:36:43 · answer #7 · answered by doggy13is 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
OOH I love rats! They're far better than hamsters and gerbils and ****, which are nocturnal. That means, if you try and handle them in the day, you'll probably get bitten. Rats are clever and sweet and have some dog-like qualities to their personalities. And rarely bite. All rodents can be smelly tho, but i had all my rats litter trained, make cleaning up easier. Dont buy food rats tho, like for snakes and stuff, they could be inbred.
2006-11-20 00:05:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have had two pet rats (not at the same time, mind) and they are actually really cute. The sewer rats that are shown on posters are pretty gross, but the pet rats are really sweet.
If you want one, then get one. Just make sure that it is well looked after. Oh, and get the white "albino" ones. They're even cuter.
2006-11-19 20:42:31 · answer #9 · answered by HiFi 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
As a student I kept an ex-lab rat as a pet. He was a great companion, intelligent and entertaining. He lived in an empty beer can, we called him Theakston! He quickly established a territory and was surprisingly clean. I got really used to him nosing around on my desk, climbing on my shoulder and scuttling across books! The only problem is that they don't live that long, Theakston died after a year or so, and I really missed him.
2006-11-19 20:39:28 · answer #10 · answered by Avondrow 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋