Are rats cheap and easy to keep?

Question

How much would a rat cost to keep?

And are they easy to look after? Im trying to convince my mother to let me get one.

Answer 1

Okay, listen to autumn attack except for the bedding! Pine or cedar should NEVER be used as bedding for any small mammal! It is extremely dangerous for their respiratory system and others!

just look here:

http://www.ratfanclub.org/litters.html

Answer 2

Yes rats are cheap and easy to take care of. I would say monthy it would cost 30-40 dollars if you spoil them alittle less if you won't. They also need a buddy and a good sized cage. So to begin with in would be kinda expensive until you have everything.

Answer 3

yes they r and they r great fun to have i had 1 called harris he used to sit on my shoulder x

Answer 4

yes they so totally are both!!

they are quite cheap but the cage price might put you off a bit.

food- £2

bedding- £3

toys- £5

accessories- up to £10

cage- prepare for a fright...

...around £90...

... but if you go onto ebay you could probably get one for £50 yey!

you will also have to get 2 not 1 cos  if there alone they will get depressed (i know, it happened to me when i got 1... i had to go buy another from the same litter)

gosh, sorry if i'm too english for you- if you are american i'm not sure how much a dollar is in pounds and pence so sorry but yeh- are u american?

Answer 5

They are cheap but changing the bedding all the time is a pain.  

Answer 6

They are pretty cheap but read my guide to figure out roughly the coast.

http://guineapigsfriends.blogspot.com/

Answer 7

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

Oh god. My mum would freak out haha.

Answer 9

Show your mum this video of my lovely rat

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AiDSqpU-zz...

You should be able to get a cage cheap 2nd hand or you could make one. Jenny cage is best about £90 new but sometimes I have been given them free when I adopt unwanted rats

Answer 10

Rats can be quite expensive. I have raised them for 7 years and currently have 17 females. If you do decide to get a rat you need to get 2 of the same s*x. Rats are very social and need not only your company but a companion with them at all times. Rats that get lonely can start to exibit nuerotic behavior such as biting so get 2. I use carefresh bedding so with only 2 rats a $20 bag would easily last you a month maybe a little bit longer. Rats need to eat the lab blocks that are specifically for them. These lab blocks have everything nutritionally in them that the rats need. And because they all look the same the rat cant pick out what they like and discard the rest. A bag of this will cost you roughly $8 to $10 every 2 weeks. They also need extra things substituted in there diet like carrots and blueberries and greens. Be careful with the greens though it can give them horribly severe diarreah. If they become ill that is where the money comes in at. My vet charges me $20 to see one of my girls but a bottle of there antibiotics cost $40 and since I have 17 girls I have to have 2 bottles. Rats can get myco flairups very easy. Do your reserch before getting rats. But good luck and I hope I have helped you out.

Answer 11

I have had seven rats and all of them where/are extremely friendly and intelligent. Rats are cheap once you have got the cage and all of the equipment like toys and bedding material etc, the only real expense after this is when the need more food and sawdust which you can get relatively cheap depending on where you get it.  

Answer 12

dead cheap, as pets go.

You'll need two, as they're social creatures - and I'd suggest females (less smelly, although  -arguably - a little less friendly).

Their food is cheap as chips - a couple of quid should last you a month. They'll also eat scraps of various human stuff, particularly the bits you cut off greens.

Aside from their cage (which will need to be lined with old newspapers, and either wood-shavings or hay), they appreciate a peat box - any old large plastic tub, filled with peat, and a baking rack attached to the top. Link it to your cage with an offcut of drainpipe from a  builders' yard.

Hey presto; happy rats, happy wallet.

Answer 13

Oh gosh rats are awesome! lol i love them. I've nvr acctually had a rat, but i've had friends with rats, and i have had a degu and im guesssing on how to take care of them they are about the same. I would say they're really easy pets, just have a good cage thing, maybe a weel, a stucture for it for play on and food...that should have you pretty much all set, they like to be held, so make sure you will spend time with it. Im sure you're mom will learn to love it very quickly. =]

peace

Answer 14

yes, they are very cheap and easy. you have to first purchase the rat [less than fifteen dollars definitely], buy a tank or cage [definitely the most expensive part, but its only a one time fee], and then buy bedding [cedar shavings or something similar, also very cheap and a little money buys a huuuuuuge bulk bag at most petstores], and then buying food which is inexpensive and easy since its basically just pellets and seed mixes. rats are an easy pet as long as you give them enough attention to keep them friendly. also, entertain them or they will quickly get fat and sleepy all the time. but that too is easy, just throw in an empty toilet paper roll or two, or buy a few toys from the petstore.

Answer 15

Rats require a lot of care and attention, a specific diet, and lots of space to run around. You must be willing to handle them every day otherwise they won't be very friendly.

Rats are usually happier when they have a friend to play with, so I'd suggest getting at least two of the same gender (two castrated males or two females).

Taking care of rats is very rewarding but also very expensive. It's something you really need to have a commitment to.

Get a book about caring for pet rats from the library and share what you learn with your mom.

Good luck!

Answer 16

well when i bought mine i spent over £100 on them. that was for the cage, the 2 rats, food, water bottle, food dish, toys, hammocks ect.

once you have everything they arent too expensive to take care of. i use paper cat litter for my rats, which is about £2.50 a bag and there food is only £1.19 a bag and it lasts quite a while. the only time it wont be cheap, is when you have to take them to the vets if they get a tumor