Can I keep a pet rat if there are wild rats in the house?

Question

i want to have a pet rat and have researched them and think that i am ready to care for one. i would keep it in my room but i dont know if that would attract the wild rats that live in the unfinished part of the house. i have never seen a rat in the main part of the house but im sure that they could get in if they wanted to badly enough.

Answer 1

yeah, it's fine. even if it did the rts woud be in cages, probably on shelves. but, if you plan on puttingout anyyy kind of poison to get rid of the wild rats, make sure it's not in the room with the pet rats. and make sure it's no where that the rats go. you reallyyy wouldn't want to hurt your own rat. and after puting down the poison, if you do. me sure to wash and washyour hands. because all rats will l**k any new smell on you.

I do thank you for getting a pair. most people only get one, even when they knoww the rat shouldn't live alone. depression in a rat will actually shorten it's life spand. and no one seems to care. so thank you for getting a pair. I just feel too bad for the ones that are alone.

Answer 2

it is good thta you are getting a pair! that always makes me happy knowing thta people are going to go about caring for rats the correct way. i really don't think it would attract wild rats... food may though. i am sure they would come in over time anyway.... but i don't think your rats would haev anything to do with it.

Answer 3

Yeah they probably could. I have reserched on this and wild rats can carry a number of diseases. Also parsites. Im not sure if they would attract wild rats but when the female goes into heat they might. You maybe should call a exotics vet and talk to them that are very knoligable in pet rats behavior. But if you want one one of the steps you could take would be to get a cage where there is no possible way the rat could escape.

Answer 4

You can but be very careful. Wild rats can indeed breed with domestic rats.

Answer 5

I would be busy trying to poison the wild ones not bring in pet rats.

Answer 6

I hope you mean a pair of pet rats, since, if you researched them, you know that they should not live alone. It's possible that your rat may attract them, especially if you get unspayed females. Males will come and try to mate with them, and if they're successful you will have quite a load of rats on your hands. I'd recommend males in this situation. Make sure your cage is sturdy and they won't be able to get in, maybe put it somewhere difficult for them to climb to. And of course, work on ways to get rid of the wild rats. Shake Away is a good option.

http://www.critter-repellent.com/