I've been keeping gerbils and hamsters for many years, and am thinking I'd like to get something different this time. I was thinking of getting a couple of mice, but as I said above- I keep hearing how cool rats can be.
2007-03-01 18:46:46 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I've had hamsters, mice and gerbils as pets, and when I had them, I loved them dearly and spoiled them rotten. They are all wonderful pets, but rats have a sweetness, a gentleness about them that I wouldn't get from the other rodents.
As responsible pet owners it is our duty to take care of our pets by providing them with a clean home, food, water, and handling. Rats are the only rodents that I have found to actually reciprocate that affection. They want to be around us, interact with us, whereas my other rodents didn't really seem to want me to be with them. They didn't need me, like the rats need me.
Rats are more content in their cages then other rodents, however, if a female finds a loop hole in your cage construction, she will escape. Adult Females are such busy little nuts compared to their more laid back, lap-rat Male counterparts.
Start-up for rat-keeping would be more expensive then for mice, as rats need bigger cages, but everything else works out the same.
I got my first rat in 1997, and since then I have found rats to be far superior in intelligence, personality, and personability to any other rodent, and this makes them very trainable. Rats combine the behaviors of 3-year old children, cats, dogs, monkies, and rodents, and therefore they can learn some of the same things that each one of the above can learn.
Hamsters, Gerbils and Mice are entertaining and amusing, but Rats are ENTERTAINING and AMUSING!
I had one boy who would stand on his hind legs and lift his arms like a child wanting to be picked up. I have rats who have learned to beg like a dog, come when called, wrestle with my hand, chase string like a cat, walk tightropes, climb ropes, etc.
I use rice crispies as inticing treats for training, and a baby food jar lid as a clicker.
http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2002b/rats.htm
Bonding with your rat and learn how to handle them so they will learn to trust you:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=Bonding+with+your+rats&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAqFmYLsucJ9Ju1A_wytuo5cazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAjrR1DDgyctRMOV346dKZz4azKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=Bonding+with+your+rats
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=Handling+your+rats&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAqFmYLsucJ9Ju1A_wytuo5cazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAjrR1DDgyctRMOV346dKZz4azKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=Handling+your+rats
Trick-training rats:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=trick+training+rats&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAqFmYLsucJ9Ju1A_wytuo5cazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAjrR1DDgyctRMOV346dKZz4azKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=trick+training+rats
There's even rat agility:
http://www.theagilerat.com/
Unlike mice, rats can learn to use a litter box:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=litter+training+your+rats&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAqFmYLsucJ9Ju1A_wytuo5cazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAjrR1DDgyctRMOV346dKZz4azKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=litter+training+your+rats
Because rats are so intelligent, curious, and active they need plenty to do to keep from being bored.
Toys can be as cheap as what you might consider trash, such as empty tissue boxes, paper towel rolls, crumpled up paper, rags to tunnel under, popsicle sticks, straws, marbles etc. Cat, dog, and bird toys, can also be entertaining for rats.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=toys+for+rats&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAqFmYLsucJ9Ju1A_wytuo5cazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAjrR1DDgyctRMOV346dKZz4azKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=toys+for+rats
Use your imagination with pea-diving, homemade mazes, hiding food so they have to look for it. Whole hard-boiled eggs in the shell and whole nuts in the shell are good for this entertainment. Play boxes of sand, or sterilized dirt, or paper and ribbons are fun for rats, albeit the first two can make your rat rather dirty.
Rat Behavior:
http://www.ratbehavior.org/
Rat Health:
http://ratguide.com/
Rat Care:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=Caring+for+your+rats&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAqFmYLsucJ9Ju1A_wytuo5cazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAjrR1DDgyctRMOV346dKZz4azKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=Caring+for+your+rats
Rats like the company of their own kind. There is no more effort, or expense, in taking care of two rats, as there is in taking care of one.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=+rats+like+the+company+of+their+own+kind&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAqFmYLsucJ9Ju1A_wytuo5cazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAjrR1DDgyctRMOV346dKZz4azKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=+rats+like+the+company+of+their+own+kind
I have to admit, meeting up with other pet rat keepers on the many Yahoo rat forums, helped my love of rats to blossom. Talking to these same people will help you learn and understand what rats are really like. I would like to invite you to my most active rat-only forum, Holistarat,
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holistarat
The bottom line is that you can have so much more fun in the company of rats then you can in any other rodent pet.
And of course I would love to talk to you anyday about rat-keeping, and how awesome rats are as pets.
Sandra Beasley and the Spaz Rats
(Rattery, Rescue, and Rat-care Expert)
http://spazrats.tripod.com
"my life has gone to the rats"
2007-03-02 16:21:21 · answer #1 · answered by spazrats 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rats are fantastic pets. I started out with two girls and then had two more girls and now I have a rat pack of four boys. If you love your gerbils and hamsters I think you will enjoy a pair of rats very much. I'd get my first rats from a breeder and get a pair of babies.
Rats are like little puppy dogs, so affectionate and sweet. They hate being caged though and need to come out for hours a day, if possible. Or have a very big cage with ramps and toys. Every time you pass by the cage they we jump and cling to the sides begging to come out.
Rats are much more stinky than gerbils or hamsters as they are omnivores. Mine use a litter box in one corner, but the cage still needs spot cleaning every few days and full cleaning once a week.
One bad thing about rats - they only live 2-3 years and get tumors. If you are a sap like me that means expensive vet visits for surgery. Many of my rats have had to be put to sleep in the end due to tumors in inoperable places like the throat.
2007-03-02 03:49:08 · answer #2 · answered by ABC Gerbils 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We have had several rats and they are very smart and friendly. Mice are not very social, they just want to get away. Rats have personality and they sure love spaghetti!!!! We've had ferrets they are fun but you really need time for them to get them trained, otherwise they will poo in every corner. Oh and they love feet!!! If I were to ever get another small pet again I would probably go with a rat before mice, gerbils, hamsters or ferrets.
2007-03-01 19:15:05 · answer #3 · answered by JLS 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ratties make wonderful pets. Unlike hamsters and gerbils they actually LOVE their humans and want to hang out with you (not just try to escape). They are smart and can be taught tricks, will come when called, and can recognize their names.
They are easy to keep, but do require much more space than a hamster/gerbil. It is also better to get 2 because they are very social creatures and unless you can spend time with them 24/7, they are unhappy.
http://www.petrats.org/whyrats.html
http://www.petratscanada.com/
2007-03-01 23:49:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rats are great pets! More social and friendly towards humans than about any other rodent. If you keep a single one they'll beg to be handled by you for the social interaction.
I had a lone female once, and she would break out of her cage and climb into my bed at night and sleep on the side of my neck under my hair. Scared the crap out of me once when she sat on my chest and looked at me... I woke up and saw her face and freaked.
But... you can teach them tricks with food bits, they'll watch TV on your shoulder, and they're nosey and curious which leads to them being a good pet.
They're not biters like hamsters, gerbils, and mice can be.
Pick out a young one from the snake food tank at the pet store and you'll be doing it a favour too!
Or go the exotic route and get a hairless one, or one of rare coloring like a blue and white or something.
Feed them a base diet of rodent food, plus anything else they'll eat as a treat. Mine liked ice cream.
2007-03-01 20:54:41 · answer #5 · answered by mandelyn_82 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Rats are great pets!!! You have to make sure you get rats that are specifically BRED for pets-Hooded rats-and then train them and spend lots of time with them. They are very smart and very lovable and like to be handled and loved. You must be aware however, they have a tendency to develop tumors rather rapidly in some cases. I didn't have too big of a problems with it most of the time and their company was worth the possible problem. Hope this helps!!
2007-03-01 19:02:55 · answer #6 · answered by roritr2005 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rats can make great pets they are very fun. I had two hairless rats they were so cool. They were feeders but i felt sorry for them so i bought them as pets. I worked at petsmart at the time so i brought them to work with me i carried them on my shoulders as i helped people. They are very easy to take care of, i think they are more docile than hampsters (i have bred and raised them) i have never had gerbils never liked them as a pet (chewed on stuff too much). They can be very affectionate and playful.
2007-03-01 18:59:21 · answer #7 · answered by deutchtiger 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
OK. If you walk your Rat. I doubt there are many girls who would run up and ask to pet it.
Just some food for thought.
addition: I suggest a cockatoo. You get a great line with them. I can't say without getting a violation. E-mail if you don't have a clue.
2007-03-01 19:05:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Ask Michael Jackson about Ben. Look how they both turned out.
2007-03-01 18:57:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
rats are big.. mice are small... id like hamsters..
2007-03-01 18:51:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
they smell so you have to keep their cage clean, but i would end up getting a ferret as they can be trained just like dogs.
2007-03-01 18:53:11 · answer #11 · answered by Me 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋