Are rats good pets for a 5yr kid?

Question

Are rats good pets for a 5yr kid?

Answer 1

Yes! I had a rat when I was younger. If you are buying one, get a male since they like to be held more. Just supervise the play time if you are very worried. Rats are easy pets that just need to be fed and given water. It can teach your child a lot of responsibilty and really they dont live more than a few years. ^^

Answer 2

No, not really. Rats need a lot of attention and handling to be happy and can get aggressive and bite. They need exercise and socialization and if they don't get that they can get depressed. If you want a pet he can care for himself/herself, try getting them a mouse, or a dog that someone can help them care for.

Answer 3

What? Rats aren't good pets for anyone. They are nastiest animals ever.

Answer 4

I really don't understand these people who think rats are disgusting but hamsters are so wonderful.  They are all rodents!  Anyhow, I think rats are great pets and would be good for a young child as long as the child is supervised.  I have a 6 year old and he absolutely loves our rats.  And KT my PEW loves him, too.  Abby is a little more skittish, but bear in mind I did get "feeder rats" from a pet store so they were most likely not handled well before we got them.  (Next time I will go to a breeder).

Good Luck!

Answer 5

yes if you don't buy one from a pet store where they are raised to be snake food.  you need to get one from someone locally who has a pet rat with babies that are used to being touched by humans.  they are extremely smart and don't bite like hamsters and gerbils will.  you can let them run around and play with them.  they will sit on your shoulder or in your shirt and are usually friendly if raised by humans.  the only drawback to letting them run free is that they love to chew cables.  all cables!  and the boys grow big balls.  i like the females myself.

Answer 6

no

Answer 7

my friend had rats and mice as child. We'd always play with them and we never had a problem.

Answer 8

don't listen to people who say they are nasty creatures let me tell you they are twice as clean as most dogs (if you keep their cage clean) ,they are great pets! but I would wait a few years because they can scratch by accident and they are small and can be dropped and squeezed,but they are a great pet just wait a few years..

Answer 9

I recommend hamsters.  Rats are just...gross!  They are too big and nasty for kids to have.  Hamsters, on the other hand, are small and cute and easy to take care of.  And they are small enough for 5 year olds to hold, if you buy a teddy bear dwarf hamster.  Those are the best.

Hope that helps!

Answer 10

I would actually say that having a rat would not be good for a 5 year old because they bite a lot and you never know when they have rabies.

I would say that a hamster or a rabbit would be better then a rat.

Answer 11

no way.

not even fish. they will try and cuddle it.

Answer 12

I own four pet rats and my sister asked me if I thought it would be a good idea to get her daughter one.  She's the same age.  We supervised her while she played with my rats, and even though she enjoyed it, the rats weren't as thrilled.  If you're willing to spend time with the rats and make sure they are handled when they are young, they should be a good pet.  However, do not buy mature rats, as they can be more sensitive to sound and sudden movements.  If the kid is crazy and hyper, I wouldn't recommend it.  My niece moved around a lot.  I was afraid she was going to step on one of them.  

I do agree that you should get a male rat.  They are more loveable and less prone to biting.

I don't recommend getting a hamster for children, as they are often solitary and can bite.  I also don't recommend gerbils, as they tend to scurry off as soon as you take them out of their  cage.

Honestly, as long as you raise the rat from a very young age, and get it used to the energy of a five year old, it should be a great pet.  But, if you leave it in the cage and ignore it, it's not going to take to anyone very well.

Answer 13

definitely. i mean u will have to supervise her when shes playing with it, but u would have to do that with any other pet anyway. they're great pets, ive had three. they are very easy to take care of, they are not messy, and of all the ones ive had, they have never bitten me once. the only thing it will do is squeak if u pull its tail. just know that they usaully dont live more than about 3 years, but they are way better than guinea pigs, hamsters, or gerbils.