Around where I live there was a massive rat rescue and now they all need homes. I would love to help, but I am wary because my cat loves to kill the mice we have living around the house? Is there anyway to "break" her of this habbit or at least discourage this? I have always wanted a rat, but like I said before I never though it would work out. Any suggestions?
2007-11-19 17:53:46 · 13 answers · asked by Lauren 2 in Pets ➔ Rodents
She's an indoor/outdoor(only on a leash..she thinks shes a dog)
She loves most other animal and shes lived in a house with snakes, fish, and birds w/o trying to kill them
2007-11-19 18:04:42 · update #1
Cats are hunters, it's like trying to raise a vegetarian lion. Not gonna happen. Unless you want to give your cat a free meal, I wouldn't adopt a rat.
And what the hell do rats need rescuing for anyway?
2007-11-19 18:02:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 13⤋
I know this is a very old question now, but I would just like to add (for anyone who looks this up in the future) that cats and rats definitely have the potential to get along. The most important thing is knowing the temperament of the cat BEFORE you buy the rat. If you have a cat that you know can be aggressive, likes to hunt, has claws, etc. you're going to need to be very careful if you decide to get a pet rat. It is by no means impossible for a cat like that to get along with a small animal. They'll just need close supervision and a lot of time and patience before they understand the rat is a pet as well, not something they should kill. I had a cat that was a big hunter, but she loved our guinea pigs and small rabbits. Now, I have two very docile (but playful) indoor cats and five rats, and they're the best of friends. We ended up getting a cage where the bars were too far apart and the rats are always getting out and roaming the house, but it has NEVER been an issue. In fact, the rats come up to the cats and turn into these little instigators, pulling their fur and jumping on their backs. They love to play together. But they're like this because we introduced them to each other slowly and with supervision. Basically the point I'm trying to make is that cats and rats can most definitely get along, but it takes work on your part as the owner. And when owning both a predator and its prey as pets, you need to be willing to accept the risk that the rat could get hurt or killed.
2014-11-17 10:15:09 · answer #2 · answered by Jodi 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have a Rat Terrier. A dog that was specifically bred to hunt and kill rats. Bringing a rat into the house would be a bad idea. My cat has been just fine with certain small critters like a gerbil, parakeet, etc. but still had those moments when her instinct would turn on full blast and she would be set on killing the creature. Same with dogs. My dog Mattress killed and ate a pet rabbit when she was a pup. I can't blame her for that. It was my fault for leaving her unsupervised with the rabbit. However, we did have a rabbit again a couple of years later that belonged to my sister. She would snuggle with that bunny, and wouldn't touch a hair on him. It really all depends. Getting a rat would not be a good idea. You cannot guarantee the safety of the animal.
2016-03-19 06:53:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cat are canivores they eat mice and rats or just hunt them for sport they are predatory animals that like to kill rats and small animals. It is best not to leave the rat and the cat unattened or you could have a dead pet rat. It can work out if you don't let the rat run free when you are not there. When you are there you can put the rat in a large rat ball so he can run around freely and exercise.
2007-11-19 17:59:17 · answer #4 · answered by Ems 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just got two rats and bf's cat is indoor, but she still tries to get at them while they're in the cage. If I'm holding one and she's being held, they're allowed to sniff each other, but if the rat moves she gets spooked.
I've only seen cats get along with mice if they're introduced to one before there eyes are open. It becomes one of their littermates.
Rats and mice are fagile and can't take a playful pounce or bat from a cat like a dog or another cat.
2007-11-19 20:07:45 · answer #5 · answered by catiwhompous 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as your rats are in a sturdy, secure cage when you're there to supervise, you shouldn't have a problem. Our cats are mildly curious about our rats, but are much more interested in our mouse (who is smaller, more skittish & smells different than the rats so is perhaps more enticing). Our rats aren't the least bit afraid of the cats-- our boys will touch noses with them (always under close supervision) & our 2 younger girls want to chase the kitties, while our hairless doesn't want much to do with cats & even grabbed onto our kitten's paw when he put it against the cage.
If your cat sees you interacting with the rats (please adopt more than 1), she is likely to realize that these are family members & may be less likely to bother them. Of course, when your rats are out of their cage you'll probably want to either hold them or have the cat in another room with the door closed (make sure the rats can't squeeze under the door).
Rats make wonderful pets. So do cats. With very little trouble, you can share your home with both.
2007-11-19 18:31:11 · answer #6 · answered by Catkin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can never know how an animal will react. My cat Dusty was a notorious mice killer, but he was actually afraid of the rats. If you do want to get a rat, just make sure the cage is secure and the cat will not be able to get the rat. And always supervise the rat when it is out of the cage.
2007-11-19 18:12:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I would have to say it is not a good idea at your house. My cat also kills baby rabbits so a rat is nothing to her. It is instinct so there is no way of training them not to do that. The only way you could would be to keep the rat in a secure cage but even then your cat would probably try and torment it through the cage!
2007-11-21 13:19:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Can rats and cats get along?
Around where I live there was a massive rat rescue and now they all need homes. I would love to help, but I am wary because my cat loves to kill the mice we have living around the house? Is there anyway to "break" her of this habbit or at least discourage this? I have always wanted a...
2015-08-08 05:34:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To start with is your cat an inside cat or out side cat if out side good if inside train them then get a large cage and put the rattsin to them and then the cats can't get them and if the cat's live with them for the rest of it's life it will get used to it and pay no atention to the rats
2007-11-19 18:00:48 · answer #10 · answered by Nikky S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My rescued cats and dogs (some were feral and live-trapped) ALL got along with my pet rats fine.
Somehow, once they're in the household, the others seem to know that they're now "family".
They watch me let rats out while I clean the cage and for exercise, they watch (but usually hardly notice) while I feed and talk/play with them.
It's a real "blended family" here.
2007-11-19 18:15:11 · answer #11 · answered by deltadawn 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋