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Caring for Pet Rats

May 12th 2008 15:25
By: Big Fat Rat


Caring for pet rats is actually pretty simple once you get the basics down. Fancy rats, no matter what color pattern, are probably one of the best pets that you can have. Well, in regards to small mammal pets, that is. They're friendly, healthy, and just all-around sociable. Rats are least likely to bite when compared to mice, hamsters, and gerbils. Yes, they're a little bigger and require a larger cage, but the rewards in the long run are just so much higher than the other small mammal pets.


Ok, well discounting guinea pigs, rabbits and ferrets, rats are probably one of the best small mammal pets. Ferrets are like cats on crack and require more care and a more watchful eye; rabbits are messier, on average; and guinea pigs are quite as friendly or sociable.

Pet rats are just great pets for anyone as long as you're prepared to take on the responsibilities involved in caring for them properly. Rats aren't pets that you can throw in a cage, feed, water, and never pay attention to.

Tip: Make sure that you get at least 2 rats. If you're already going to be housing 1, you might as well get two. They'll be happier and healthier in the long run. (Healthier mentally, not necessarily physically.)




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Posted By: Whitney - Category: Rats
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Comment by Jaxon

December 7th 2008 06:37
Rats actualy do quite well singley if you hold them alot. They need lots of interaction. In fact, if they get out they will actually come looking for you to get attention. If you have more than one they won`t be as friendly as if you only have one.

Comment by Whitney

December 7th 2008 15:51


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That's actually not true. Rats are MUCH better in small groups, and in small groups they will be much more affectionate towards you because they are all competing for your attention, which means they are all trying to be sweeter than the rest.

Comment by Anonymous

December 21st 2008 02:46
BUT if you have more than one rat, they become jealous of each other if one is being held by you. That will soon turn to hatred amoung the rats and a nasty fight wil begin.

Comment by Anonymous

January 12th 2009 05:29
Anyway having a pet rat is so much that you could ask for I mean some rats are better In groups whereas some rats are better to be alone so don't choose for them let them choose!!

Comment by Anonymous

January 26th 2009 12:51
i have 3 rats, and they all love each other. i spend almost every day with them for 4 hours without fail.i love to sit and wrestle with them they love to play and never bite i hand rared mine.

Comment by Whitney

January 26th 2009 13:14


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Anonymous1, rats will become jealous over each other, but they make better pets when in small groups and pairs. Males have more problems of fighting and territory than females. Have you EVER had a pair or rats?

Anonymous3, that is one example of how they can get along in groups.

Comment by Anonymous

February 10th 2009 09:25
where are the ratteries in queensland

Comment by Whitney

February 10th 2009 18:44


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I would just do a search. I don't know of any.

Comment by RATS NEED COMPANY

February 14th 2009 11:54
to everyone that says rats are bad in groups, you are WRONG! They do far better, they don't get jealous, they are happier and when you can't be around them they have company, because they need company all the time. It doesn't matter if you hold them everyday, the yget quite lonely.

Comment by Anonymous

March 8th 2009 02:45
every rat is different i have single rats and rats in groups and never had problems. rats are like humans with their personality some rats will get jealous of the other rats and some wont. two of the males rats i ahve at the moment stress out when the other one isnt around.

Comment by lauren brierley

July 14th 2009 10:11
caring for rats is great you can talk,play and have fun with them baby rats are soooooo cute we had 3 baby rats once , my little sisters rat got stuck under the couch twice and got stuck behind the book shelf !

and my rat got stuck in our printer but after all that they were very very tired it had been a really big day


thanks


Comment by Anonymous

July 27th 2009 06:26
i have one rat and he is very happy being alone as long as he gets out of the cage once a day

Comment by Anonymous

August 2nd 2009 09:32
will rats use a kitty litter. And do they like dog pelletts to eat.

Comment by Whitney

August 3rd 2009 18:45


The Female View
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If you opt to put cat litter in the litter box, you'll want dust free litter. It's really not a good idea. You can purchase different type or pelleted litter for the litter box geared for small pets that is dust free.

Dog food is not recommended for rats to eat.

Comment by Dawn

August 12th 2009 08:29
Hi everyone, i'm getting a rat. How will I know if its healthy looking?

Comment by Whitney

August 12th 2009 18:55


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clear eyes, plump, no fur staining, no sneezing or wheezing, no runny nose, no wet bottom or stained bottom, active and alert.

Comment by Dawn

August 12th 2009 21:47
Thanks Whitney

Comment by Anonymous

August 25th 2009 05:22
i can tell you as a rat owner of 12 of the precious babies, they get along perfectly fine in groups, i have my boys seperated into 2 cages, 4 to a cage and the girls are all in one cage, ill be putting them all in one cage sectioned off into 2 cages but all just one piece, my boys all get along great. sure they play fight and they have the territory brawls but when it comes down to it they're all cuddles with each other. the girls all pile into one hammock or the little house and sleep together.. no problems to date. rats are very social animals and often do better in groups than not.

Comment by Whitney

August 28th 2009 13:25


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That is good to hear. Not all males will get along together, same with females. Even though females are more likely to get along. They are very social creatures. I miss mine very much; I wouldn’t mind another small group.

Comment by Dawn

August 28th 2009 23:09
That's good, they sound awesome, does anyone know where I can find Rat breeders in NSW SYDNEY? It's really hard ><

Comment by Anonymous

September 16th 2009 09:06
im looking at getting a rat. but not sure i want 2. i only want to pay attention to one pet not 2. i only want a small pet. so is it really that much better to have 2?

Comment by Whitney

September 16th 2009 20:46


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For the rats, yes it is better to have two. By getting 2, you're not spending much extra on bedding and food as if you only had 1. Generally, when you have 2 they will be more social to you, than if you just have 1.

Comment by Anonymous

September 18th 2009 12:24
I have two rats together - boys and one rat an older one separately. The one that is by himself had a brother with him until he died and he never got along with another rat so he is alone now. He also used to fight a lot with the other rat for food. I think when you have a rat that was bonded to another rat and it dies it is not easy in some cases to get another one for it so in that case they are ok alone. Usually rats like to live in company of other rats but each case is individual. If they are introduced when they re still young it is easier for them to bond

Comment by ooost

September 19th 2009 19:42
ok....i was in a petstore and saw pack of 4 hairless male rats in a cage and fell in love with them....i asked if i could hold one and i did....the petstore worker said that males sometimes do beter togather then females. he said most people dont know that female small rodents actualy get more agressive in gruops then male ones....and of course he said get 2 rats instead of 1 ....im really excited to get my rats wich ima purchase soon ...can anyone clear up this rat pair gender controversy?

Comment by Anonymous

September 22nd 2009 09:46
I have two male rats at the moment ive had them for about 4 months.i got them together from the same litter and i have had no problems with them fighting they havent even attempted to.they are very attached to each other and love to come out of their cage and play and socialize together. I have also had a female on her own and i completly agree that you should get two rats they are alot happier when they have a friend hope this helps abit.

Comment by ooost

September 22nd 2009 20:42
that helped alot ty so much....ya i the petstore has all the males from the same litter....so ima get 2 males from them ....i do however have another question about there amount of urinating and #2....do they do it alot? like if i were to get them out of there cage and put them in a lil paly pin area or wat not ....do they pee and poo alot?

Comment by Whitney

September 23rd 2009 19:05


The Female View
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Females are actually just as loving in groups or pairs as males. So if you get a female, get two, just like if you were to get a male, you'd want to get two.

Rats cannot control their bladder, and will urinate small drops while in or out of the cage. You can litter train them to poo in the cage, but sometimes they can't help it when out of the cage.

Also depending on the play pen, they may be able to climb out of it, so consider a lid.

Comment by ooost

September 24th 2009 00:48
ya evrytime i went into a petstore to hold one it always pees or poops in my hand ....this has changed my decision to buy them i want an animal that doesent soil evrywhere. all the time

Comment by no

October 13th 2009 09:48
well i only have one rat and i think its way better than two. i dont think i have the time to pay attention to two bevause i let her on my bed and explore my room ect ad its hard enough keeping up with her let alone 2!! i recently went away for 3 weeks and left her at a friends place that also has rats (she has one and her younger siblings have some!) they recently found one of their 4 girls was a male so she kept her rat in my cage and they fighted a bit at the begining to work out who was boss (my one one because she was bigger) everytime she would take one of the rats out they would fight later for the attention and her rat ended up with a constatly bleeding ear. i felt really bad but luckely its all healed now. i am getting a bigger cage soon and mum said maybe in the near future i can get anouther rat (i begged my parents for a pet rat and after LOTS of negociating they said i could have just 1) but i dont no if i will have the time. it cost me enough as it is and i have to pay for everything my selfe so it can get hard. i personally prefer the one on one relationship and i dont think we would be as close if there was anouther rat because i would be worried i would give more attention to one. i do feel for her because she has no one to play with while i am at school but mum gets her out and she is usually getting new toys and her cage rearanged! FOR ALL THOSE RAT OWNERS OU THERE 1 RAT IS FINE AND EASIER 2 ARE A BIT MORE PRICEY BUT PROBABLY SHOULD BE THOUGHT ABOUT FOR THE FUTURE!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Anonymous

November 1st 2009 00:48
Ive always wanted a rat but was never allowed one. But mum reconcidered and I got my first Feamale rat YAY!!!!!! And she is soooo gorgous. But I was tossing up on wether to get 2 but the pet shop owner said if i got 2 they would compete for my attention so she said i was better of with 1 cause then she would get more attached 2 me. Wat do you guys think should I get 2 or just stick the one?

Comment by Whitney

November 2nd 2009 13:56


The Female View
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When you get to yes they compete for your attention, and this makes them more socialable and loving towards you. Both will be attached to you, just as though you had one. They are better in pairs as they are social animals.

Comment by Anonymous

November 8th 2009 03:21
OOOST!

Rats poo and pee pretty much anywhere at first. By the 4th day, my 2 ratties were potty trained. I have a little box thing in the corner of the cage and that's where they poo and pee. Nowhere else. They'll even hold it in when they're out.

I use newspaper and puppy pads in my cage. It makes cleaning them SO easy and less smelly.
I clean them once a day and they never smell.




Oh, and I had one male while ago. Gerald was his name. He was so miserable. He would climb up to the top corner of the cage and hang there all day. ( minus when he ate and drank )
He started to outgrow his cage so I had to get rid of him
Now I have 2 beautiful ratties. ( all my rats were naked ) I have them in a bird cage, actually. They have a lot more room to climb ad whatnot. They're both girls. Eleanor and Opal. Gerald's babies, actually. They're so happy and lovvvve to play. Eleanor likes to run around and climb, while Opal likes to cuddle and give me kisses

How many rats you get really depends on how much you're going to play with them. While I'm in school, mine play and cuddle with eachother. Gerald, on the other hand, was just a lonely fellow when I wasn't with him. Not very sociable either.

I definitely recommend having 2.
Even better, from the same litter.


Good luck

Comment by Whitney

November 9th 2009 13:20


The Female View
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Rats actually can't hold their bladder and will pee little drops while out.

Why didn't you just get a bigger cage? That makes more sense.

I'm quite surprised they don't destroy the puppy pads. If they do the dust can cause pretty bad problems, being their respiratory system isn't equipped for that.

Comment by Anonymous

November 9th 2009 14:02
They like to cuddle in it and it keeps them warm.
They never chew it and it's actually recommended for them.

and I didn't get a bigger cage because the cage was already huge and I didn't have the money or room for another one.

And yeah. My rats dribble when they're out but they never poop unless they're in the litter box.

Comment by Anonymous

December 11th 2009 11:50
My Rat Has Bumps On Her Ears.. Shes Healthy, but i havnt had her for long.. i think she has lice too. ;/ What Should I Do....

Comment by Whitney

December 18th 2009 14:56


The Female View
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The bumps may or may not be normal. As for the lice, I'd seek veterinary assistance. It may be mites.

Comment by Thunder

December 19th 2009 14:45
Do rats and Gerbils get along if i merged them into one big cage? it is twice the size of the other two conjoined but im unsure what to do! any assistance?

Comment by Whitney

December 31st 2009 18:57


The Female View
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No. You do not want to put rats and gerbils in the same cage, no matter what size the enclosure is. A rat cage will have bars that gerbils will be able to escape from. Plus, rats are cannabalistic, as are gerbils. You do not want to mix species.

Comment by Anonymous

April 1st 2010 13:58
hi guys ive got jus the one rat/male pepper my boyfriend brought him wen i was dead against it,like alot of people i was scared and grossed out by it, within a few days i fell inlove wiv him and defend rats to those naieve people who i once was. im happy to have found this page as im learning lots about pet care, can u still toilet train them wen theyre abit older,also how and wat do you use. anyone thinking bout getting one go4it animals are always the best medicine and rats are cute n fun!

Comment by Anonymous

April 10th 2010 19:43
Hi everyone, my dad has 2 pet rats. They seem happy, but I worry he doesn't know all that much about looking after them, so I thought I'd ask on here for advice. I'm going to be responsible for them over the next few days whilst my family are on holiday. He has constructed a large and perfectly safe hutch with a ton of bedding, and the weather has been quite nice lately. Is this enough to make it OK to keep them outdoors over-night? An informed opinion would be much appreciated. Thanks, Nicola x

Comment by Anonymous Ash

April 13th 2010 03:35
well, i have two rats and i dont think they would be anywhere near as affectionate and playfull if i only had one. I think keeping one rat is cruel unless you are prepared to play with your rat all day and every day.A rat can become deppressed being alone which is why two rats is better and two rats are easier to keep than one because when you cant play with it they play together. If your thinking of getting a rat make sure you get two of more.

Comment by Ebil

April 13th 2010 12:58
I recently went to the pet store and purchased a wonderful Beige Berkshire.I went there to get two mice, but there where only male's from different litter's. My mum urged me to get my Chico, as my parent's have bred and rescued rats in the past, and he's the most wonderful thing. We got him today, and all ready he's clinging to me. He was raised in a school, and is used to kids, but still, he'd rather attach himself to me and will squeak when anyone tries to move him. Yes, he is alone, but I'm home schooled, and we will be getting him a companion as soon as possible. I'd just like some tips, and maybe how I should train him? Also, is their a reason why he'd rather stay with me than anyone else? -- Ebil

Comment by Anonymous

April 16th 2010 13:17
well currently i own 3 male rats an i find that all of them are quite sweet and loveing and affectionet to both me and my girlfriend as well as anyoneelse that comes along and wants to hold them and they for the most part get along very well accept when there realy hyper and want to playfight the trick realy is to hold them everyday and bath them lots it not only keeps them clean and happy but it gives them time with you and a little bit of trining as they don't normaly like baths and cuddleing after bathtime well they LOVE that and in the end they will be very well socalized and happy cuddley rats.

Comment by Anonymous

May 1st 2010 10:29
Hey
I'm about to get 2 rats, and ive had some before (2 females).
But my friend says that male rats have a much better personality and are lazier. But i like active rats that i can play with.
What sex should i get?

Comment by Ebil

May 1st 2010 11:21
*I* think males are nicer. But thats up to you. Males are lazier, and more likely to snuggle and get close to you, while female's are more active and less cuddly, but don't smell as much and are better together with other rats that areen't related ~ Ebil

Comment by Whitney

May 4th 2010 16:08


The Female View
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The gender will really depend on you. I prefer females, but many prefer males. Get whichever you want.

Comment by Male or Female

May 21st 2010 09:30
hi dudes
i am soooooooooo troubled about what sex to get. i want a rat that will cuddle up to me and will enjoy a bit of 'quiet time', but also will play and be active and energetic. im thinking female because i dont want little dribbles of pee all around, and because females are more tidy and less smelly. i really dont know. any advice?
thanks,
olly

Comment by Ebil

May 21st 2010 09:59
Males; it also depends on the rat. My rats haven't peed much since they KNOW the area (Free range rats in my room ;]) and don't have a reason to mark their territory (as one is big and the other's still tiny as a mouse). The biggest boy LOVES playing and exploring, while the littler one sneaks out of his cage and comes up and sleeps with me. He'd love nothing more to snuggle. As I said, it depends on the rat!

Comment by Anonymous123

July 12th 2010 07:54
hey guys i recently just got a single female rat and she seems quite happy just to chill out with me and sit on my shoulder or in my lap or even go for a bit of exploring around my room and what not, but im thinking of getting her a companion. the thng is im worried about not giving both enough attention if i have 2. i have my girl out for at least 1 hour a day minimum and im worried i wont be able to keep up with to of the little scallywags. also she is about 3 months old and im thinking about getting a youger female .. about 6 weeks old.. is that ok? or will mine become over dominate? opinions will be gladly appreciated..

Comment by Whitney

July 12th 2010 13:54


The Female View
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You'll want to do a proper quarantine period and a slow introduction to be sure.

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