Which one is a better pet, and which one stinks the least?
2007-12-04 07:43:15 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Rodents
Rats ! They are so intelligent. Almost like little puppy dogs. They can be trained and show affection.Rats actually learn. A hamster; not so. Hamsters bite often and like to be alone. You can pick up a rat and pet it and it you can just tell they love it. They will hold still and tilt head. A hamster usually gets really mad if you try to pet it.
Also rats do not have a strong odor. Especially females. The male rats to to "mark "their territory more but still don't smell quite as bad as a hamster.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/157423/rats_vs_hamsters_which_is_the_better.html
http://www.ratballs.com/RatTails/Tails079.html
Make sure you ask to pick up different rats and choose the one that seems to suit you.( I don't usually choose squirmers). I like a nice calm personality.
Get the youngest one you can comfortably manage so you can bond. The life span is only a year or two.
Have fun! I am excited for you.
2007-12-04 07:52:05 · answer #1 · answered by For Sure 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
RATS! They are definitely the better pet. They are more friendly and actually WANT to be with you. Hamsters would rather be off in their own little world. They couldn't care less if you are there, besides the fact that you provide them with food and water.
Neither of them stink unless you don't clean the cage often enough.
Seriously all hamster biases aside, rats are more fun to play with and definitely more social. You can litter train them and teach them to come to their names.
Rats are more of a responsibility because they are social and need your attention at least an hour a day. Their cages are more expensive and they need at least one buddy. Hamsters are solitary and their cages usually cost between $15 and $40.
2007-12-04 07:58:40 · answer #2 · answered by KityKity 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well it really depends. If you like playing and holding animals, rats are the way to go. They are very smart and entertaining, and are very clean. THey like to sit on shoulders and are very fun. They are social, so you will need at least 2. I would choose rats over hamsters even though I have both. Hamsters are sweet, but harder to tame. They sleep most of the day so you wouldn't be able to play with them as much. Syrian hamsters must live alone or they will fight, possibly to ones death. Dwarf live in pairs or packs. Neither pet really stinks... Rats are really clean, but so are hamsters. Rat poop is a little nastier though. But its worth having them!
2007-12-04 08:32:02 · answer #3 · answered by Laura P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rats are friendlier & more interactive with you, but it's better to have 2 of the same sex so they can keep each other company. If you only want 1 small pet you might prefer a hamster.
2007-12-04 08:58:41 · answer #4 · answered by Catkin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rats are better, they stink less, and hamsters stink very bad they urinate and it builds up. But sometimes rats are ugly and hamsters are cute!
2007-12-04 09:09:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends really, I have both and I love both kinds equally.
Rats need a special diet that seems to be harder to find where I live.
If you want something that will sit on your shoulder, and is easy to tame, it'd be best to get a rat, if you want something to play with once and awhile get a hamster, rats need a lot of stimulation and attention, hamsters are content being fed and cleaned, even if you never hold them they can live quite a happy life.
2007-12-04 07:49:02 · answer #6 · answered by killedbyapenny 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ive never had a rat and dont really want to.Its not that there unclean because I heard there very clean but if someone asked you what kind of pet do you have do you really want to say "oh i have a rat!"
I love hamsters and they are very clean to.There about the same in cleanliness really!I think they are cute and furry and bond to you effortlessly!
2007-12-04 09:06:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
rats are more playful, get along with others of the same species better, smell less, clean more often, arent as picky, and are very playful when you want them to.. plus they like to just sleep on you when you pet their sides, they just sprawl out and let you rub their tummies while they brux their teeth (grind their teeth) it so cute... but hamsters actually can be very mean sometimes and often eat their cagemate or babies.. but rats dont
2007-12-04 07:52:17 · answer #8 · answered by Andy Terror 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rats are friendlier and they stink a lot less!
2007-12-04 13:33:31 · answer #9 · answered by airforcewolf 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
rats stink less
2007-12-04 11:22:14 · answer #10 · answered by nudiebob 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋