2007-12-20 07:45:17 · 51 answers · asked by Rainbowsssss 4 in Pets ➔ Rodents
YES!
Rats are by far the best rodent you can possibly get. They are as smart as a cat or dog, and just as social, if not more. They love people, but you need to get at least 2 at a time, for they are so smart they get bored quickly and solitary rats would require A LOT of attention. If you have them in pairs, 1-2 hours a day of playing is all they will need. Rats are also very inexpensive. The food would be $5-8 once or twice a month, a cage would be $60 when they're babies, and you will want to make it bigger when they're older so it can be up to $90 for a GIGANTO cage. I got my rats "The Rat Mansion" and they're going in there tonight. It was $90. It was 12''X24''X43'' and it looks awesome. An ABSOLUTE MINIMUM size for ONE rat is a 12''X24''X12'' for a cage. You will need a water bottle, as you would know from your guinea pigs (I have 2 guinea pigs and 2 rats and i'm as happy as a clam =D ) which will be another $5. Both my pets, the guinea pigs and rats, take up a huge amount of bedding, for their cages are huge, so I go through a bag of bedding in about 2 weeks. So, you will need about one bag of bedding a month, about $5-8. Also, I forgot to say, in the cage, the bars must be 1/2'' apart or less, or else your ratty may want to squeeze through. Rats also need chew toys, preferably 2, for my rats have 2 chew toys and they love it. I recommend "Snak Shak" brand edible logs and huts- rats love them. Also, try getting a big wheel so your rat can "work out". I just got my rats a wheel and I regret it- they're scared of it and they have to get used to it. Also, you will need a food dish, another $5. Also, of course you will need rats. You can choose male or female. Males are much larger- bigger than a guinea pig maybe if you get a big one, and they have big nuts. Females don't get much bigger than 8'' long excluding the tail. Males are more of "lap pets" and females are hyper and hardly stay still to be pet- they just want to play. To pick a rat properly, before you but, put your hand in the cage with the rats in a pet store. The rats that come up to you and start licking you or liking you, you should pick. Get at least 2. The price of a rat ranges from $2-3 to $6, so they're very cheap.
Also, I forgot to say, but its important, the rat bedding should NOT be pine wood or cedar wood shavings, for it can poison your rats. You should get paper pulp/ stuff like that instead. I prefer Carefresh brand bedding- its very good.
If I missed anything, if you like to know more, etc... email me at Horcrux979@yahoo.com
(Please best answer me if you like!)
2007-12-20 08:16:36 · answer #1 · answered by Horcrux 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I had two rats up until a few months ago when they unfortunately died. I loved them as pets, used to walk around with one of them sitting on my shoulder. They are so intelligent, and give so much back that they make great pets. I may get rats again in the future, just don't have the time to socialise a rat at the moment.
Oh and for everyone who calls them vermin, humans carry more diseases than rats do, they are actually quite clean animals.
2007-12-20 20:08:45 · answer #2 · answered by Scottish Buddha 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not right now no, as I have two cats and a terrier! But I have kept two rats before. They are the most adorable, intelligent creatures and make great pets. Though they don't live very long and are prone to tumours. My rat had 3 ops in her short life to remove them.
I think I'd like some more, perhaps in a few years when my other animals are too old to care!
2007-12-20 07:50:12 · answer #3 · answered by Flit 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There's a huge difference between finding a rat in the street, taking it home and putting it in a cage, and having one as a pet that was bred in captivity. These rats in the pet store have never known the "wild" so if someone were to set them free chances are they'd die. Honestly though, if the cage you saw was relatively small, and had more than 2 rats in it, then they were being sold as feeder rats. Rats that people buy to feed to snakes. To answer your question, it would be cruel to take an animal from the wild and put them in a cage. But when you think about it how do you think we got "domestic" cats, dogs, guinea pigs, chinchillas, birds etc..... Somewhere along the line, somebody took them from the wild and started breeding them as pets.
2016-04-10 10:01:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. They are the sweetest little creatures that I have ever met. I've cared for all sorts of rodents and I'd have to say that the rats are my favorite so far. That could be why I curently care for eight that permanently live here and babies that can go to other homes. I'm always willing to take in a rat in need to. I think they need a different name though because when you say rat most people think oh gross. They are just like little kids to me.
2007-12-20 08:57:03 · answer #5 · answered by MommyCaleb 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have kept rats in the past. If you get them as youngsters they make cracking pets. Super intelligent and enjoy human company. Even nervous rats don't try to bite, which is more than can be said for hamsters.
2007-12-20 07:50:43 · answer #6 · answered by Jeffers 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
100% yes. i have 2 boys and i've had them both for over a year. they are the best in the rodent family. they don't bite (unless you're cruel to them) and smart, loving , clean animals. people who say no hasn't ever owned one or been able to get gutter rats out of their heads, not the case.but before ya get one read up on them as you would any other pet you're getting for the first time.
2007-12-21 01:51:04 · answer #7 · answered by N M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep,
I did for a long time.. they where great pets... i had two females and they lived very happily together and were very friendly and playful... we used to take the swimming in the pool and they had a hamster ball which they loved to roam around the house in... but they dont live long... and so when they both died of old age we decided not to get any more...
MUCH better pets then mice...
2007-12-20 08:39:31 · answer #8 · answered by Johnny's Girl 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
yes. Rats make excellent pets. Contrary to popular belief, they are very clean (nothing remotely like sewer rats), and are intelligent, easy to handle, easy to feed (they like a variety of foods). They do need a LARGE cage/enclosure, and several things to "play" with.
2007-12-20 08:17:34 · answer #9 · answered by shutyerfaceup 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Rats make brilliant pets, especially the males.
2007-12-20 07:51:04 · answer #10 · answered by Witch 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋