I'm thinking of getting one...do they make good pets?
2007-03-19 13:52:32 · 13 answers · asked by Hammie Lover 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Rats make the best rodent pets and I can give an honest opinion because I've also had mice, gerbils, and hamsters as pets..........until I fell in love with rats.
Pros:
The most personable of rodent pets
Easily adapt to your life-syle so that they are awake when you want to play and sleep when you're not.
Two rats are very easy to take care of and are not expensive at all, (yes I can remember way back then, before I decided to keep 30+ rats at any one time)
Two rats (male or female) are virtually odorless if you keep their home clean. Males are a little muskier
They remind me more of small dogs or children rather then rodents.
Rats rarely bite even you have just woken one up. They wake up happy and ready to interact with you.
Rats are happiest living in same-sex pairs
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
Cons:
Short life-span. Rats live on average 2 to 3 years.
Rats get illnesses and diseases just like any other pet does
Destructive if they are allowed freedom of the house. They need to be caged while unsupervised for their own safety.
Males mark their territory with urine. Females to a lesser degree, also mark their territory
By far, however, for those who have fallen madly in love with pet rats, the pros far outweigh the cons, and the cons don't bother us.
For more on caring for your rats, please feel free to e-mail me (see profile). I love helping out new rat-keepers.
spazrats
"my life has gone to the rats"
2007-03-20 20:14:56 · answer #1 · answered by spazrats 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ok, first of all, rats do NOT eat babies. Yeesh.
Rats make wonderful pets. They are smart, interactive, friendly, social and unless you hurt them, they generally will not bite. Rats are very clean and are not stinky unless you neglect to clean the cage. Any animal is stinky if you neglect to clean their habitat, including humans.
Rats are very intelligent and can learn tricks or even their names. They come to be very attached to their humans, so they are not "furry fish" like hamsters; they actually enjoy human handling. I have one that loves to hang out on my shoulder while I clean the house. She's not even scared of the vacuum!
Rats are social animals, though, and are happiest if kept in at least a same-sex pair. This will keep you from ending up with lots of little rats. Females are a bit smaller and more active. Males grow larger, have stiffer coats and tend to be more content to lay in your lap for a good scritch.
I would say the only cons to rats are that they don't live very long, and in the few short years they do live, they steal your heart and it can be very sad when they pass.
Things to consider before getting a rat:
Do I have time to devote to care and play with this animal? Because they will get very attached to you and trust me, they will want to come out and play with you every day.
Do I have the money for a proper cage? Rats are active and need a large cage. This will be your biggest expense.
Can I afford food, bedding, toys, etc for my pet? These costs are generally quite low, as they can eat a lot of what you eat to supplement the food you buy.
Where will I get my rats? Pet stores generally have them for a few dollars, but these are often not well socialized or healthy. Look for a local rescue or breeder.
In summary...rats are great. It's true some people don't like them, but they really are wonderful.
Check out the following sites for more information...
www.ratfanclub.org
www.quite.co.uk/rats
www.petrats.org
2007-03-20 16:38:31 · answer #2 · answered by ratgrrl 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They make very good pets if you get then when they are very young, and then handle them a lot. Pros: they live in cages, so they don't hurt your house, and are easy to maintain. They are sturdier than smaller rodents such as hamsters. Cons: a lot of people really dislike rats. Also, if you have more than one, you may end up with a whole lot more rats than you had planned on.
2007-03-19 20:59:55 · answer #3 · answered by Nanneke 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
YES rats make excellent companions . Really the only cons i think of is getting one from a shoddy pet shop. these usually have been overly inbreed and have numerous health issues. So if you decide to go for it. check your pet shops reputation for quaility rats. Most shops only keep them for feeders now days.
2007-03-23 18:29:28 · answer #4 · answered by baronvon b 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I find it funny that the majority of people who answered this question have obviously never owned a rat before. .....so why are you answering? Rats do not carry diseases, Rats do not stink, they dont rip their babies in half, or any of the other ridiculous things people are saying. Please don't listen to people who say they're gross, or people who start their answers off with "I once knew someone who knew someone who knew someone who had a second cousin once removed whose daughter owned a rat and he ate people!" I think half these people are comparing wild rats to tame rats. Obviously you cant go out into a field and catch a rat and turn it into a pet, that wont work. But we're not talking about wild rats, we're talking about tame rats, born in captivity.
Rats are very smart, clean, affectionate, funny animals. Once your rat is tame, you'll have a pet who will sit on your shoulder while you're doing other things (unlike hamsters who'd fall off if you let them...dont get me wrong, I love hamsters, but rats are definitely smarter). They figure things out like nobodys business, they can turn anything into a toy. Jack hannah referred to rats as "the dogs of the rodent world". I use this quote a lot when answering questions about rats because it couldn't be more true. They smell MUCH less than other caged animals I have/had, like hamsters, and after you've bought the essentials (cage, food dish, water bottle, wheel, etc). Owning a rat usually wont cost anymore than owning a hamster or gerbil (unless a trip to the vet is needed, but you should be prepared for that if you own any animals)
Male rats are generally said to be more "laid back" while females are more fiesty, but I've had my share of lazy females and hyper males.
a few cons are that they don't live very long, and female rats are sometimes prone to tumors. (they dont all get them, but I've had to have a few of my girls put to sleep because they developed tumors).
If you decide to get a rat you should get a decent sized wire cage (Nothing made for hamsters, thats WAY too small), a rat wheel, and something for them to sleep in. (Mine have a big plastic igloo, and they love it). Also, it's fun to let them sit on your shoulder while you're reading, watching tv, surfing the net, etc, but until your rat is tame, and loves being held by you, dont let him/her go for your shoulder. An untame rat will head right for your shoulders to get away from your hands because its scared. Alot of people let this go on because they think their rat is tame and just wants to sit on their shoulders. I made the same mistake. Make sure your rat likes you first, and then if he wants to sit on your shoulders, that's fine.
I say if you're considering getting a rat, and you can put up with some peoples negative reactions, you should definitely get one. They're the best pet I've ever owned by far. (and I've owned a lot of pets).
2007-03-21 15:19:06 · answer #5 · answered by Dani 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I had one years ago as a teenager;
Pros -
easy to look after
they are not aggressive, do not bite or nothing, they will happily run up onto your shoulder etc.
Cheap to buy and cheap to feed
Cons
Like most small cages pets, they can get pretty smelly, even when you clean their cage out regularily
They only have a short life span of a couple of years or so
2007-03-19 20:58:06 · answer #6 · answered by SonicSon 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Pros:
very smart
affectionate
fun to watch
pretty easy to take care of
Cons:
cage gets stinky if you don't clean it often enough
can make a bit of a mess
not easy to have around larger animals (dogs, cats, etc.)
As long as you can handle daily feeding and handling (playing, training, etc.), it's a good idea. I think they make great pets (I've had 5 through the years).
Internet search is a great source of information on rats as pets.
2007-03-19 20:58:02 · answer #7 · answered by Spex 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
If you decide to let your rat run loose periodically, they could wind up in weird little holes in your house or behind appliances, like the stove or fridge. And forget it if you have a fold-away couch!!!! These are deadly to them. Get them a clear "exercise ball" designed to let them wander about without getting into tight spots you can't reach. Plus, it's super cute!
Another con is that many, MANY people have rat phobias, and will feel terribly uncomfortable around it even if it is in a cage. Even those you least suspect could harbour a deep seated fear of rats. (Unless, of course, you want to thin out your social circle!)
Really young ones can still bite, too, though, so exercise caution.
2007-03-19 21:18:09 · answer #8 · answered by mithril 6 · 0⤊ 6⤋
you need to keep them in same sex pairs. they love to be with you as often as they can be. they are intelligent and meticulously clean. they need plenty of toys to keep them stimulated.
2007-03-19 23:23:43 · answer #9 · answered by MommyCaleb 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pros- They're kind of cute in a weird way.
Cons- They carry Black Plague infested fleas... well, used to.
2007-03-19 20:56:05 · answer #10 · answered by gothicducks 2 · 0⤊ 6⤋