Pet Rats

[DevinBre]

I dont know about the people here, but i want a pet rat I understand that many people think that its cruel to only get one rat, as it may get lonely, so i might get two. I used to have two for several years, but one had a stroke as it had a medical condition when i rescued it, and the other later on died from the shock of death of his friend we played with him for hours a day, but i guess it wasn't enough for him to shake the thought his friend wouldn't be there anymore.

I have a large rabbit cage (close wires and the doors overlap with the cage, so they cant squeeze through) that i can use. I know all about the type of shavings to use, sleeping nests, safe toys, safe rat food, and safe fruits and vegtables. I also have gotten a lot of info from Pet Rats Canada and i am now safe to say that i would be able to take proper care of two rats. And also, if the rats dont get along, i do have another cage. So, does anyone here have pet rats? If you do/did, do you have any stories?

[Kalvin]

I've had 4 rats altogether, one single, then two and then a single again. I think having one rat is fine as long as you have the time to be with it.

My first rat went everywhere with me (within reason) the shops, relatives houses, pet shops. She used to love running through the grass when she went outside and she was so closely bonded to me that she would never venture too far. If I got up from the grass she would run over and stand on my foot.

The 2 I had together were originally my brothers, he soon lost interest so I took them on. One was very loving towards everyone but the other was quite aggressive, it took a while but soon she was ok with me although others had troubles with her.

The forth I had was a totally different character all together, she was very much her own rat. She'd love to be out, explre the sofa and be with people though.

I've only ever had females, although it's said that males are more friendly and likely to sit with you, I found this true of my 4 girls as well.

Whether single or paired they all loved to interact with peopleand interact and had great characters.

To avoid them not getting on try and get ones from the same litter, or if you rescue ask which ones have been socialised and get on with eachother.

Rats are great creatures and make great pets.

[DevinBre]

Aww sounds like you and your rats have had great times together, the rats that i used to have for many years (also many years ago) used to get out of they're cage, and one day, i woke up to snowflake (my albino rat) sleeping on my pillow! i reached over, and gave him a pat, he let out a little gentle noise and crawled into my hand. I then put him in his cage and put a padlock on it so i could go get some breakfast knowing i would find him on my toast:haha . i would refer to them as little dogs, they're just that affectionate
Just out of curiosity, what type of litter do you use? I've heard yesterdays news paper based is very common, and that pine and cedar shavings are bad for them.

[DevinBre]

This is the cage i would be using, and the rats i'm getting are usually larger around here, so the spacing wouldnt be a problem. i do know that they can go unusually flat for they're size, but the spacing isnt to large, and i could always soldier some vertical bars on if they do get out, somehow, considering that most of the rat cages around here have the same sized spacing. It also has some height to it so i will be putting some ledges on it for them. anyone want to share pictures of they're cages, toys, and of course, the rats

[DevinBre]

Hey, i just noticed that instead of the bars running horizontal, the ones on my cage run vertically. I guess its a different model.

[second hand roses]

I've never had rats for pets but I have had mice and people dont give these kind of animals enough credit in my opnion. I wanted a rat till I got my birds now I'm to worried that the rats would some how get to my birds ..and well you know..

So I just stick to playing with the ones in the pet store. If I ever do get one I'm going to get a hairless one, they sell them here at Petland. My bf Jason thinks they are hidious looking I think they have personality plus. But then again he also didnt like the mice I had when we first met. I say go for it and get one.

keep us posted and of course dont forget pics.

Christa

Oh and if anyone reads this who's kids want a hamster say NO and get a mouse they're tamer more active and all around CUTE (hamster bite sleep and are big grumps IMHO)

[DevinBre]

Christa, i completely agree about getting a mouse instead of a hamster for a kid, as they arent nocturnal, and by my experience, more friendly and less likely to bite.
As for hairless rats, i found them to be really friendly when i saw one, but that was a while ago and i dont see them around anymore Even if they were still around i probably wouldnt get one as they are sensitive to light and get cold really quick (i live in the maratimes of canada), although i have seen one with a sweater :haha Im thinking of getting a pair, so when im not around it wont get too lonely (as i usually travel in the summer, and i dont want the rat to be lonely). When i get one i'll name it Socatese (from the movie Willard, not sure on the spelling) and if i get another I'll call it Ben (same movie)

[flyingduster]

I have three boys at the moment, plus one that I'm looking after over the holidays.

My first rat was a female, and I soon got a second one as a companion. The my stepfather decided he didn't like them and told me "NO MORE RATS". hehe, A few years later I managed to convince him into letting me look after a rat over the christmas holidays (the father of the rat I'm looking after now!) He (my stepfather) found he wasn't so bad, and quite liked him, so when he (the rat) went back home, the same day I came home with another rat for myself!!!

My boy (Whiskas) was so cool! He'd come running when I called him, cuddle all the time, and play. we'd go for jogs around my room too! hehehe. Then someone from our rat club needed to find a home for her two boys, so long story short, I ended up with three boys all together! (check out my website for the full length story!)

I do agree that rats need to be kept with a freind. It may be ok for you ratty41, because you have other rats around still, it's not like your rats that are kept single are actualy deviod of seeing or hearing other ratties....
But still, I don't want to ever have a single rat again, unless it was the type that really does just shun other rats. As much fun as Whiskas was, and as much time as I spent with him, I really noticed a difference when I introduced the two new boys in! (once they'd sorted out the pecking order of course!) He was just so much happier! He was getting old by that time too, and it was just really neat seeing him cuddled up with the two others when they were asleep, instead of him being all alone. I still played with him, and let him out and spent time with him, but I didn't worry so much if he was left in the cage, as he had company.

Starting out, I'd get a pair (or more!) from the same litter, it makes it so much easier, as they just grow up together, used to each others company and no need to introduce them to each other, and sort out the pecking order or anything! Otherwise, get two babies at the same time, as when they're little, they are much more likely to just get along with others. If you get an adult or older rat, (like Whiskas, and the other two boys were!) it is much easier to introduce a baby to it than an adult, they tend to just accept babies without too much dominating, as opposed to two adults!

As for male or female, I am definantly more hooked to the males! IN GENERAL, males tend to be more cuddly than females, and females more active than males. BUT, females are cuddly too, and males are fun and active, it's just the opposite sex tends to be more so! I like my big cuddly blobs! hehehehe.

Whiskas and one of the two others has since died, but I've got another two again, one is maybe 6 months old now, the other about 3-4 months old. They all get along great, and it's so much more fun having three little fur balls run around after you than just one! hehehehe.

Your rabbit cage should be fine. Do be extra careful if you get a baby rat though, as it'll quite possibly be able to get out until it grows a bit! It should be ok, but just be careful! I'd definatly get some levels and a hammock or two in there though, they make it much more interesting and makes use of the space!

here's what my cage looks like (sorry, not a very good pic!)

(that's 'taz' at the top, with Whiskas behind him, and 'Joey' down the bottom)
It's a purpouse built rat cage. It came with two moveable levels, I added a third, and a hammock. Though in that pic I don't think I have the third level in, and right now they've chewed thier hammock off again, and I haven't gotten around to hokking up a new one, so they just have levels! It has a pull out tray underneth, and two doors on one side. The only thing I don't like about it is that all the floors/levels are the wire mesh stuff that the cage is made out of. I have put a piece of wood in the ground level, so they don't have to walk on the wire, and I've used coverseal stuff for books to cover the levels. Walking on wire isn't good for thier feet. But you're ok, with the plastic base!

I LOVE rats, and highly reccomend them as pets. I think they're even better than mice! Mice are cool, but Rats are just like little ity bity dogs! hehehehe.

good luck, and I hope you do get some rats, and enjoy them!

[Kalvin]

I do agree that rats need to be kept with a freind. It may be ok for you ratty41, because you have other rats around still, it's not like your rats that are kept single are actualy deviod of seeing or hearing other ratties....

I no longer keep rats, but when I did have them I had them in the order as above, one on her own, then the two, when they passed on I had the forth. So they didnt have the noise of other rats.

My rats were happy whether single or paired, the single ones seemed more friendly towards people, whereas the pair would do more between themselves.

I always used to use wood shavings, but paper based cat litters are preferred by every these days because there's no dust, it's hygienic etc.

Enjoy your rats

[DevinBre]

Thanks guys the stories and the info are greatly appreciated. I was just wondering if there is a difference between feeder rats and pet rats, i've heard its just colour markings, but im not quite sure. If they are the same, then i might as well rescue some

[second hand roses]

Feeder rats may not have had alot of human socialization where as pets probally have. Though I bet some pet stores sell feeders as pets just so they can charge more. I dont know this for a fact but yah I think its just coloring as feeders are usually just white??

I seen the movie Willard i didnt like tha part where they ate the cat though. Poor kitty it was sad watching him try to get away but rats will be rats expecially when they're led by BIG BEN. I didnt see the end though I downloaded it twice and both copies didnt have the very end on it. Going to have to rent ti so I know what really happens after his boss kills his rat. (sorry if I gave away parts of the movie for those who havent seen it)

Christa

the critics rated the movie as funny...did you find it funny? I didnt.. black humor perhaps but no funny

[DevinBre]

I found it as a good movie, but not one that i would call funny

[DevinBre]

I saw rex rats labelled as feeders the other day so i guess the staff sorts them out randomly

[OAustin]

I had a rat once. He was smart, quick and friendly. My two parrots liked to joke on him. These creatures are awesome. They are loyal to people and love their masters. one can find information on how to deal with pet rat.

[DesertDweller]

I had pet rats. I started with feeder rats for my snake. But I couldn't bear to feed the rats to the snake so I rehomed the snake and kept 3 female rats as pets - 1 was mama, the other 2 were her daughters. It was so long ago, I really don't remember what happened to them.

Later I had a little female rat named Susie. She loved to race around on my bed for me to chase her. I used to roll her on her back and tickle her tummy. She loved that. She used to go in my purse to get my chewing gum. She was a real sweetheart. I loved Susie.

I wish rats had longer life spans. That would be cool.