Are rats nocturnal?

Question

I have been thinking about getting a rat, but one of the main things which concerns me is that they are nocturnal rodents.
If you have rats your self, I'd like to know just how much noise they can make at night, as I would have to keep it in my bedroom, which isn't going to be much fun if it starts gnawing the bars while I'm trying to get to sleep. It may disturbe other people in the house aswell.
Please reply and tell me of your expiriences.
Thanx in advance,
Rachel.

Also what is the maximum amount of time you can leave one with enough food and water, for example if you go on holiday?

Answer 1

Pet Rats are *not* diurnal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diurnal_animal. *Nor* are they always nocturnal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/nocturnal
Pet Rats are *crepuscular* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/crepuscular That is, they are most active during the dusky/twilight hours of morning and evening, and they sleep off and on during the day and the night. Unlike other rodent pets this means that rats can easily adapt to your life-style and be ready to play when you are, and sleep when you are not around.

Rats can be noisy when they are awake, at any time of the day. But of course they seem the noisiest when we are trying to sleep. Rats very rarely chew on the bars of their cage. They make their noise while house-keeping their cage, running on a squeaky wheel if you provide them with a wheel. Squeaky wheels can be remedied with a little vasiline rubbed on the axle. I have over 50 rats and they have their own room in the basement so I don't really hear them at night.

Pet rats can go, at the most, 48 hours with extra food and 2 water bottles attached to their cage. Any longer then that and you should really have someone come in once or twice a day to pet sit them.

Rats enjoy the company of their own kind
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=Rats+enjoy+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+enjoy+the+company+of+their+own+kind
"Rats are like potato chips, you can't have just one"


Sandra Beasley and the Spaz Rats
(Rattery, Rescue, and Rat-care Expert)
http://spazrats.tripod.com
"my life has gone to the rats"

Answer 2

Rats would likely make noise at night, as the others have mentioned. You could probably get used of the noises (unless you are a very light sleeper). As for leaving them alone, maybe a day or two (depending how many you have and how much food you can leave without it going bad)...if you are going to get a rat, i would suggest to get at least two so they do not get lonely. You would need to test how quickly they drink up the water in the bottle...get a big bottle if they go through it fast (i was using a Rabbit bottle for my little gerbils...talk about easy to care for!

Answer 3

Rats are by nature nocturnal. Young rats will be awake for what seems to be all the time, playing with you during the day and playing with their rat buddies at night.
They don't make a whole lot of noise unless the cage is next to your head, but they do make noise. I have never seen my rats gnaw on the bars of their cage, but then they have lots of other things to amuse themselves with.
There is a great web site full of information and toy ideas for the little beasts http://www.dapper.com.au/ check it out, I'm sure you'll see pretty quickly just why rats make such great pets.

Answer 4

By thier nature, and that of thier surroundings, urban wild rats tend to be seen more at night, but in my experience this os due mailny to there being less predators, humans, cars, and other dangers about at night.

My domesticated ratsa were all active on about 4 to 6 hour cycles, of sleep and awake. I had them in my room, and also in other ooms and I dont recall ever being kept awake. There is a level of noise but you get used to it very quickly. The most irritating niose they make at night is when they drink from a ball valve water bottle, it rattles away, and then once one has had a drink, the other is sure to follow.... but even that only lasts a few minutes.
I found I slept well listening to the little noises they make, it removed the silence from the house and made nights a lot less creepy when I lived alone.

I forgot to mention in my previous answer.... bedding... Wood shavings from a pet store are perfect, but you will need to clean them out regularly, twice a week minimum.

Answer 5

if you go on vaction you will need a rat sitter. they need human interaction and a same sex cage mate so you'll have to get two. as for being nocturnal and making noise mine are very quiet. all i hear is them drinking out of the water bottle at some point during the night and maybe having a snack if i leave their treats in there over night. other than that my boys don't make much noise.

Answer 6

First of all, I would never recommend leaving any animal unattended for longer that a day. You would at least need someone to go in and check them, refresh their food and water and talk to them daily.
Secondly, rats are naturally nocturnal animals but they do adapt to your routines. If you are around for most of the day, and spend time with your pet, they will learn to sleep when you sleep. If you are out all day, they will sleep while you are out and spend all night trying to get your attention.

Answer 7

Rats make the best pet, yes they are quite noisy at night , in the past 12 years Ive had about 20 rats (not all in one go !!!!)
They are alot noisier when they are younger but do quieten down as they get older. But they are so affectionate, and playful you are better off getting a male rat as they will sit on your lap or sit on your shoulder, they are great.
Good Luck

Answer 8

I had three pet rats and they are one of the best pets i've ever had! I kept them in the same room as me and never had any trouble getting any sleep. You don't have to get a cage with bars i had a tank for mine. Not so messy. Good luck if you decide on getting rats!

Answer 9

a friend of mine as rat.s.they do make quite a bit of noise. through the night. it depends what you put in the cage with them.if you close your door at night; no one in the house will hear them.

Answer 10

In nature, the rat is nocturnal. Pets I have seen as diurnal.