Pet Rats: Yay or Nay?

[citygirl]

found our dog and cat were more curious than anything else...bit too big for one mouthful, but too small to pose any real threat, sort of thing...

 

[subversplat]

well there's two sorts of rat (iyswim) wild rats, which are verminous, and pet rats which probably originated from lab stock and are freindly, cute and disease free

Nah they're all the same animal, just that wild rats have grown up on the mean streets and pet/lab rats have grown up on smarties and bits of hamburger. I bet if you could find a rat nest and kidnap a few of the baby ones they'd grow up to be just as cuddly and friendly as shop bought ones.

 

[subversplat]

I can't believe people keep rats as pets!

My old rat used to sniff around in my mouth in case there was any sneaky bits of food that hadn't been eaten properly

Termite Man used to take his rats shopping in Tescos

 

[scifisam]

Yeah, pet rats are all good. I would suggest that if you get a wire cage, try getting one that is 'long' rather than 'tall' as one of my last pair took great delight in pissing off the top platform onto the bookcase, and nothing would persuade him to do otherwise.

I think it's only boy rats that do that, though.

My first rat was probably my favorite. He was called Montague, and was HUGE. Knew his own name, and had the run of my room. Only used to go back to his cage for a piss/shit. Used to collect 'useful' things too, mainly anything shiny. And eat spiders. Good rat, that one.

He sounds fabulous

 

[Thora]

Are there any rat owners left on Urban? My children have been watching youtube videos about training them to do tricks and are now desperate for some fancy rat pets. We'd need at least 3 - how big a cage should I be looking at?

 

[ice-is-forming]

Are there any rat owners left on Urban? My children have been watching youtube videos about training them to do tricks and are now desperate for some fancy rat pets. We'd need at least 3 - how big a cage should I be looking at?

For 3, one of the sides ( either vertical or horizontal ) should be about a metre long. Obviously if it's vertical then ladders, shelves etc are needed. Rats like to have a dark covered sleeping/hiding space, eating space and toilet space. Mine really like rat hammocks too.

Male rats are usually loyal lap rats and easier to tame and teach. You can't mix up male and female unless you want an ever expanding rat population. You could keep different sexes in seperate cages but they get lonely.

I've found that looking on Facebook or the tip shop for cages is the best bargain, currently we've got a 3 foot by 2 foot bird cage, the vertical type. And it's on a stand which both let's the cool air circulate better, and keeps it off a cold floor. There's 3 males in there and they have a top sleeping floor, a middle eating floor and a bottom toilet floor + their individual hammocks inbetween. This keeps it really easy to clean. But I get that not everyone has the space.

There are a whole lot of different models of rat and theres a whole thing about if a rat has other rat mates they don't connect to their human and learn tricks so well. Don't become as domesticated .. but with three little humans I dont think that'd be an issue. It's a great project for kids my kids always had a rat about their person somewhere, in a pocket, on their shoulder...

I've always found it best to get a couple of males, the babies are called kittens, from the same litter.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

I'd love to have a rat - had great fun looking after one of the school rats during summer holidays. Sweet, friendly cute little things.

 

[ice-is-forming]

I'd love to have a rat - had great fun looking after one of the school rats during summer holidays. Sweet, friendly cute little things.

Pygmy puppies...Its never too late

 

[Chilli.s]

My friend had a rat, beautiful thing, called Titania. White with pink eyes. It was very tame and could be taken out all the time. She would stay under your clothes with her head in your armpit and body hanging down inside yuor sleeve or next to your body. If she was put on the ground every now and then for a piss it was all ok.