Rats as Pets

I personally think rats make really good pets, however, we are all individuals and what makes rats a great pet for me won't necessarily mean they're the best pet for everyone else. It is important when considering a pet to weight up the pros and cons so here a few to consider, starting with the bad bits!

The bad points

They can’t live in a Hamster cage for a start, you need at least 2sq ft of space per rat and you should never have a lone rat, unless totally unavoidable. They should be in wire cages as tanks don’t have enough ventilation and can cause a build up of ammonia which can affect the rat’s respiratory tract. There needs to be plenty of room in the cage for climbing, as well as floor space so will take up quite a bit of space. My cage is a Tommy 82 T3 and is 82cm x 51cm x 152cm high.

Rats are very social and as I have already said need ratty company. Get at least two, three is often recommended so you don’t end up with a lone one when the other one passes away. They also need human company and time out of the cage. Aim to spend at least an hour free-ranging them a day. The area you free-range them in has to be rat proof. Rats are very destructive - they will chew wires, carpets, curtains, bedding and furniture if given half a chance. They will also scent mark when they are out - on you and your stuff. If you are house proud and don’t like the idea of rats peeing on you, then don’t get rats!

They can get quite smelly - some have disgusting habits and pee and poo on their shelves and in their hammocks, so as well as a weekly clean you will most likely have to clean their shelves every day and swap their hammocks and bedding over a couple of times a week.

Unfortunately, rats only have a short lifespan. Generally rats live for 2 - 3 years and some not even that long. They can suffer from a number of common things, tumours and respiratory problems seem to be most prevalent. Like any animal, they can cost a lot in vet’s bills.

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The Good points

Well, if you’ve got this far, you’re obviously serious about rats as pets! Now for the good things:

They are very intelligent. They can learn to use a litter tray, to come when called and to perform tricks. Each rat you meet will have a distinctive personality, some are very cuddly and are happy to sit quietly on your lap while you watch TV, others are on the go when they are out and you will be constantly entertained by their antics. Rats are very curious, they are always getting in things and on things and climbing up stuff.

They are also very friendly, when they are awake and you go into the room they’ll be climbing the cage, begging to come out, and when you open the door, there’s a fight over who gets out first. When I sit on the floor with mine during free-range time they will climb all over me, on my head and my shoulders, in my clothes. Even when they had the whole room to roam in, they still spent a lot of time using me as a climbing frame.

They are generally pretty easy and cheap to look after (if they are in good health), after the inital outlay of the cage. You can spend a fortune on hammocks that they will find great delight in chewing and toys they’ll ignore but they will be just as happy with tea towels hung up as hammocks and a cardboard box to sleep in. A good quality diet made of a dried food base mixed with good quality dog kibble, human cereals and dried pasta will cost quite a bit to buy in the first place, but the basic ingredients last a long time and if you have only a small number of rats, their fresh food quota can be simply what you have left over from your tea (provided it’s suitable for rats of course).

I wouldn’t be without them now, it’s their mischevious and friendly little personalities that have won me over.

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Rat Behaviour

Wild rats live in large colonies of 50 – 60 related rats. The members in the colony will help with raising young, caring for sick rats and finding food. Our pet rats are happier in pairs or small groups of the same sex. It has been suggested that one rat will bond better with its owner, however rats in pairs or groups will be happier and more confident. They will also need a friend to play and sleep with when you’re busy or out.

Rats are well known for their intelligence. Even people who don’t like rats have said to me, “I’ve heard they’re very intelligent”, even if they said it slightly disbelieving!! Rats are naturally cautious of new things – often sending a rat to check something new out before the rest of the pack investigate. This is one of the reasons why traps and poisons fail. You will notice this behaviour in your pet rats and once they realise something new won’t hurt them, they will have great fun investigating it. This intelligence also means as a rat owner you need to stimulate them mentally as well as physically. You will also notice they can learn to do things you don’t want them to do as quickly as the things you want to teach them!

Rats have gained much of their bad reputation due to chewing – whether it is bags of feed on farms and ships or wiring in domestic dwellings. Rats chew. A lot. Like all rodents, rats’ teeth grow continuously. Eating crunchy foods and chewing naturally keeps them the correct length to avoid discomfort and pain. They also chew for pleasure. They will chew clothing and wires, furniture, sometimes even their cages. This all needs to be taken into consideration when choosing toys for the cage, the position of the cage and the area where your pets will free range.

Rats are very agile and great climbers. Our domestic rats share this characteristic with their wild cousins. They will get to places when they’re out you wouldn’t have thought possible, especially high up. Rats feel safe up high, you will often notice they choose the higher sleeping places in their cage. Their tails help them balance. A rat will move it from side to side when walking along a narrow ledge and when a rat is moving its tail will be lifted off the ground slightly. A rat that’s dragging its tail may have injured it. They also wrap their tails around things for extra grip, such as the cage bars when climbing or your wrist when sat on your hand. You will notice how strong a rats’ tail is when you get it smacked across your face your rats are perched on your shoulder.

It is these natural behaviours exhibited by rats that make them such lively, engaging and fun pets

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The Responsibilities of Rat Ownership

Before going out to buy your rats you need to ask yourself if you are truly willing to take on the responsibilities that come with rat ownership.

Cage cleaning – Has to be done at least once a week depending on the number of rats you own and the substrate they are kept on. You may need to change the litter tray more frequently and change hammocks mid week if your rats wee on them. If your cage has solid plastic shelves they will likely need wiping every day as your rats will more than likely wee on them too! Your cage should not get to the point where it smells. If you find it smelly, imagine how strong it must be for your rats that have to live in it. It is also likely to cause respiratory problems in your rats as excess ammonia damages rats’ lungs.

Healthcare – Generally rats are healthy little creatures, they don’t need regular vaccinations or worming and seldom require neutering. However, they do sometimes get ill. They need to be given access to the healthcare they require whether it is an over-the-counter treatment from a pet shop, or surgery by a vet. Any treatment by a vet will cost more than the price of the in the first place, with the possibility of a bill for £100 or more if surgery is required. You need to be willing to pay these costs and ensure a sick rat is taken to the vet when symptoms are first seen. Small animals are very good at hiding illness and can go downhill very quickly.

Time & attention – Rats are friendly, social and active little rodents and therefore require exercise for both their bodies and minds. They will need time out of their cage every day for about an hour. This gives them a chance for exercise and also to explore somewhere different to their cage. You will need to ensure they have a safe place to play – somewhere they can’t chew wires or disappear into the walls through holes in skirting boards or under wall mounted cupboards. They can get through tiny gaps, flattening their bodies to only an inch or two! You need to be prepared to possibly convert an area of a room and deal with chewed skirting boards, carpets and even curtains as well as dedicating at least an hour a day to supervising and playing with your rats.

Holiday Arrangements – What will you do with your rats when you go on holiday? You will, at the very least, have to find someone who can come to your home every day to feed and change water and check on the health of the rats. Ideally, if you are going away for longer than a few days, your rat sitter will need to let the rats out for exercise and cuddles. You will need to trust your rat sitter to take your rats to the vets if required. Other options are to send your rats to another local rat lover – that way they will get more attention than staying in your home with someone coming in – or small pet boarding facilities also exist. Whatever arrangements you do make ensure you are happy that you trust your rat carer with the health and welfare of your pets. You will need to remember to supply enough food for the whole time you’re away and to give your vet’s details to your rat sitter.

Rats and other pets – Rats are omnivore and as such are capable of killing small rodents. They should never be allowed access to pets such as gerbils, hamsters or mice. Many people keep rats and other rodents in the same room with no problems but it is worth paying close attention to any existing pets’ behaviour when the rats move in for any signs of nervousness. You may need to move either the rats or the other pets to a different room.

A rat will be viewed as a tasty snack by a dog, cat or ferret. Some people have successfully introduced their rats to their dogs and cats but they must never be left unsupervised together and everything can go horribly wrong very quickly. I personally feel it is not worth the risk. Some cats and dogs may not pay much attention to your rats’ cage while others that are natural hunters may stress your rats out. Be aware, however, that sometimes a rat will make its feelings known and bite a furry nose that gets too close to the cage! Before you get your rats you need to ensure that you have somewhere to house your rats where other pets won’t get to them and you need to be prepared to shut your larger pets out of the room whilst you free range your rats if necessary.

Rats and birds should be kept apart. A rat will view a small bird as lunch and a large bird will see the rats as lunch.

Rats and children – rats make great pets for children, though a child should never be expected to take on the full responsibility for the welfare and health of a pet. A rat is small enough to be easy for a child to handle, yet large enough to get a good grip of. They aren’t jumpy, don’t kick and very rarely bite. An adult buck is likely to sit quietly while a small child pets it, while older children and teenagers will have hours of fun playing with the rats and watching their antics.

There should always be rules regarding rats and children. It is probably worth keeping the rats in a communal area rather than in the child’s room, particularly at free-range time to ensure the rats aren’t exposed to any unforeseen dangers. It is also probably best to supervise interaction between rats and children. It is important children see rats as living, breathing animals and not a toy. They need to understand that some things will hurt the rats or scare them. However, they also need to know that if they do have an accident with the rats, you won’t yell at them. This will avoid a rat being injured and your child being too scared to tell you.

Most children respond very well to pets – they are the perfect way to introduce the concepts of responsibility and caring for others.

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Before you get your rats

Even though it is very tempting to go straight out and get your rats it is a good idea to get a number of things set up before your rats arrive home.

It is very important to do your research first and ensure your relationship with your new pets is a long and happy one and as trouble free as possible. You will need to have purchased and set up your cage before your rats arrive, that way they can settle in straight away. You will also need to have decided how you want to feed your rats and have food ready for them, though it may be better to feed your rats what their breeder (or rescue centre) is feeding them to begin with to minimise the stress of moving.

Here is my suggestion of a shopping list for your rats:

I feel that these items are essential for the rat owner. Obviously there are other things you can purchase and things such as cage toys can be added to as you go along.

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