by MotherMother » Sun Jun 24, 2018 7:10 am
On the topic for recommending rats as pets, as a rat owner myself I will say that rats are one of the best pets you will ever own. They are clean, playful, smart, and very affectionate. They are different from other small rodents in the way that they are more engaged and interactive with you, they actually want to play and cuddle with you. I know some small rodents tend to just like to hang out and explore on their own, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that! Everybody likes different types of pets so whatever suits you! Rats are not the only rodent I've had so this is just something I've noticed. So if you'd rather have a more interactive pet, rats are the way to go! That's not to say other rodents aren't amazing, though <3 If you're just starting to think about rats, you have to do lots of research. I can help you with the basics, but different sources are important when learning about something new <3
For basics, rats must always be kept in same-sex groups (or male and female only if they are fixed) of 2 or more. Rats are incredibly social and will be depressed without a ratty brother or sister. Even if you could spend 24 hours a day with your single rat, you still wouldn't be able to communicate, groom them, or go to sleep with them like a rat would, which is why it is so important to have at least 2 even if you can spend a lot of time with them so they won't be lonely.
When choosing a rat, first consider if you want males or females, because they do have different personalities. I've personally only owned females, but to my knowledge the females are more playful and active while the males are more happy to chill on your lap while you watch TV or something. As they get older, both genders will slow down and become lap rats.
When you get rats, you need a large cage with lots of toys. I believe the amount of space needed is 3 square feet per rat, so if you get two rats you'd need at least 6 square feet of space in the rat cage, which is achieved by multiple levels. It's really important to get a good cage since they will be spending a lot of time in there when you are not home. As a side note, I think wire cages are the best because they have fantastic air flow, and I'm not a fan of tub cages or tanks. If you get a wire cage, make sure you cover the floors with something (I use tarp) so that the rats do not get something called bumblefoot, which is caused by walking on wire cages too much.
Also, I'll say that rats are not a lot of work, but they are a lot of time. You should take your rats out of the cage to play for at least one hour per day, though I recommend taking them out more than that. I spend at least about 2 to 3 hours a day just playing with them, and then occasionally an additional 5+ hours (with potty breaks) chilling with them while I work on the computer. That's a lot of time, and nobody expects you to have your rats out for 8 hours a day, because it's understandable that you are probably too busy for that. I am lucky I'm home a lot so I have the option, but many people have work and school to tend to. My point in saying this is that though many people recommend at least 1 hour, you can always do more! You can have them chill in the hood of your hoodie while you do your chores, they can fall asleep in your lap while you watch tv, etc. Always try to think from your rats' perspective, and I personally wouldn't enjoy being cooped up all day and going out for only an hour, so I assume my rats feel the same way.
The only time you have to do work with your rats is when you clean the cage. That can be pretty difficult since after all it is a chore. I like to wipe down the tarps daily, and then fully clean out the bedding every week, and occasionally as I see fit scrub down all the wire bars and re-fit the tarps. Cleaning used to take me almost 2 hours! However over time I've gotten much faster and I can casually knock it out in 1 hour, or 30 minutes if I'm in a rush. You'll get good at it over time, and it's really worth the effort to have your rats live in a clean environment.
You can potty train your rats to use a litter box, and if you don't they will naturally choose a corner of the cage themselves and use that. However, though it may look like all of the mess is in one corner to you only need to clean that corner, you should actually clean the whole thing every week because litter trained rats will poop in the litter box but they will pee wherever they want. However very important, they will pee wherever they want inside their cage. So don't worry about any accidents outside the cage! I would be more cautious in the very beginning of owning your rat, because their cage has not yet been established as their home, and therefore they might mistakenly go potty outside the cage. Take them out for small amounts of time (10-15) minutes, then put them back in the cage so they can use the potty if they need it. Then repeat that until they've have enough time outside the cage that day, gradually increasing the time between potty breaks. This is just to make sure they don't make a mess outside the cage. If they do, their scent will remain and every time in the future they come to that spot, they will smell it and be reminded that they went to the bathroom here before, so they might do it again. After a few days they'll be in the clear to roam around for as long as they want, and they will return to the cage themselves for bathroom breaks.
The biggest issue with rats is their short lifespan and health problems. Most female rats will get mammary tumors. These tumors are not cancerous and the rat can live happily for a long time, however sometimes the tumors gets too big and starts interfering with the rat's movement. If you get a female, considering spaying her. It will cost less than it will to remove any tumors she gets, and spaying drastically reduces the risk because mammary tumors (the most common) are caused by their hormones.
A tumor on a rat is not a death sentence. They can live happily and fulfilled for a long time until it starts to get in the way. They tend to get tumors in their old age, and usually they will pass away naturally before the tumor gets too big. Talk to your vet because every case is different. As a side note, make sure you have a vet that can properly medicate a rat. They are considered exotic, and exotic vets cost more than a dog or cat vet.
Rats' lifespans are only about 2 years, which is tragically short. Everyone you ask will say something different because there are plenty of surprising cases where the rats will reach 3, even 4 years! Some people say 1.5, others say 4. However from what I've seen and experience, the average is about 2.
Finally, think about where you will get your rats from. I recommend rescuing as there are plenty of rats that need homes. If your local shelter does not carry rats, check online in your city. "Used" websites often have owners who can no longer take care of their pets, and you can adopt that way. In this case, the owner will usually give you the cage, all the toys, and any remaining food, too, so you'll be all set to take the rats home.
If you choose to buy from a breeder make sure you research them, and only buy from breeders whose ethics you agree with. Some breeders will kill some of the rat pups to "help" the others survive, which they call culling. I personally am against that so I would recommend you make sure you know what the breeder is doing behind the scenes, and if you are comfortable with that. Secondly, many breeders in-breed or line-breed, which has horrible health problems. Some do it to get rats with certain looks, like curly fur or perfect ears. Again make sure you know who you are supporting and the consequences of getting an inbred rat. For many species, getting from a breeder is better but I'll just honestly say that in my heart I do not believe 'breeder is better' in the case of rats.
Your other option is to go to a pet store. Just like with the breeders, make sure you agree with the pet store's ethics. Every store has different policies and providers. I wouldn't buy from a store that carries live rats to feed snakes, since I feel that shows that the store doesn't the care about rats and which ones go to homes and which go to snakes. Overall everybody has their own set of ethics and morals, and make sure you are aware of who you are supporting so that you don't help something you are against, and don't have to carry the guilt of contributing to something you don't agree with. This is a very personal decision and everyone will decide different things. Breeders will say breeders are great, pet stores will say pet stores are great, etc. So you have to be picky about who you listen to and find within yourself your comfort level with these factors.
So before you get your rats, ask yourself:
Can I handle 2 or more rats?
What gender should I get?
What cage should I get? Where should I put the cage in my house?
Is there a rat-proof room they can roam safely?
Do I have enough time?
Am I willing to clean their cage every week?
Am I willing to spend hundreds of dollars in vet bills?
Am I prepared for their short life span?
Where will I get the rats? Do I support these ethics?
I'm not a rat expert but these are just things I've learned from having rats and researching them myself c: remember to check out other sources as well, since it's always important to get lots of opinions before deciding on something! I wish you the best in deciding if rats are the right fit for you <3