Do rats make great pets or terrible pets?

Question

I'm working my butt off trying to earn some money to get one.

Is a rat worth the hard work?

Answer 1

i hope it not a street rat, i think it is like buying a hamster

Answer 2

2 be honest they scare me

Answer 3

rodents make great pets!

hamsters are the least intelligent, but they're fun to play with and easy to train. rats are the smartest and loyal like dogs. guinea pigs are smelly but they're energetic and fun. dwarf hamsters are just little hamsters. gerbils are cute and a little smarter than hamsters. hope this helps!

Answer 4

They make good pets. I had two white rats once upon a time. I never had a mean one, both were very nice and never bit. Both were very clean animals.

However, both did not live very long, so I would not reccomend them for long term pets. But, you may find one that is a little fighter and lives forever. It's your call.

Answer 5

They are amazing pets! I currently have 21. Yes, 21! Mine had babies because I bought her from a pet shop and she got pregnant :s. I've never had that trouble before though, so don't panic about it. The only thing you should think about is that just like chinchillas, guinea pigs, etc. are prone to bumblefoot, rats are prone to repiratory diseases and mammary tumours. Most mammary tumours are benign though, and do not cause the rat any pain or discomfort. they can easily be removed.

Just to let you know, as other pets do not react well to certain things, rats do not always react well to anaesthetics, however all pets have their disadvantages and these are just the rat ones.

Males are generally quieter, with a love of usually sitting on your lap and curling up to sleep. Their coat is usually denser aand has a slight musky smell to it. the saying that rats "stink" is not true. Males are said to smell more because they mark their territory occasionally, but this is only a few tiny drops of urine and is barely recognisable. Males can sometimes get aggresive, but almost every time this is cured by neutering; and operation well-worth having!

Females are generally more active and will roam around more. They can get very hyper when in heat (Every 4 to 5 days.) There is always the idea that females are moody, but this is usually only when they are pregnant, or protecting their young. However my two females are not moody and they have 10 and 9 babies! We love rats so much after our first one, we decided to get two this time around and we are keeping two girls from their litters!

They can be a little confusing food-wise, as to what they can and can't eat. Dairy products in large quantities when not drinking mothers milk will irritate the stomach and cause loose bowel movement. They should NOT EVER eat rhubarb, avacodo. Rats cannot vomit so it has to come out the other way, and that is not pleasant for either Rattie or Cage-Cleaner!

They love boiled egg every now and again. They like uncooked pasta as a treat, my two ADORE sunflower seeds and peanuts so I add a few to their food. Every now and again I like to give them small pieces of Toblerone Fruit And Nut. Generally just use common sense; everything in moderation!

There are loads of toys for rats to play with; I usually go for ferret toys. Hammie and Gerbil toys are too small! Make sure you give them something to do; however ridiculous this sounds, rats can get depressed! Keep the little fuzzies busy.

So definitely YES, without a doubt in the universe, rats make AMAZING pets! They are very friendly, loving, adorably playful usually, and very cute! They are absolutely worth the effort and money.

Hope you get a Rat, you will not be disapointed!

Good luck with your new fab friend!

Answer 6

My husband had a rat that he said was one of the sweetest, smartest pets he had ever had.  After the first one died he got another one and said it was mean and dumb.  ^_-

Rats can totally be worth it! They make great pets.  Just make sure that when you go to pick one out you have time to handle it to make sure that it is nice.  Take your time and don't be afraid to check out other pet stores if the first one you go to has rats that are scared of you or nippy.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Yes! Rats are very nice pets....and surprisingly, most are quite friendly. My cousin had rats for many years, and they are really nice creatures and not terribly hard to care for. I suggest you keep earning the money.....rats can make great pets if you spend the time caring for them!

Answer 8

yes! they make great pets. they have the IQ of a four year old so they are really smart and they get attached to their owners unlike hamsters. they love to be held and tooken out.  they also never ever bite, unlike hamsters again.  my cousin had a rat and it was just the absolute sweetest thing in the world. it never bit a soul and it was so cute!  it is worth it for sure! i know they are thee best rodent pet out there but some people think they are mean and smell. that is not true at all! get a pet rat! they are just amazing!

Answer 9

I've never had one, but I've heard they are really good pets...probably the best rodent pet you could get.  But, if you want it to be an even better pet, you might want to work a little extra so you can get two (same s*x of course)...they are very social and likely to get a little depressed if by themselves.

Good luck:)

Answer 10

You should get a fancy rat (which is more like a big mouse) instead. They're big and cute and seem worth the money.

Answer 11

Pets rats are lots of fun and great to own. They are very intelligent animals and are much more friendly than hamsters, guinea pigs, etc. They are playful and love to be with humans. Also very, very cute!

Answer 12

Rats are amazing pets i have two female rats and i had one before that who died. They are kind and loving if you treat them right they won't bite (my rats have never bitten any one). They are smarter then mice and you can train them to do many things like go though tubes and use a litter box like a cat or go though mazes! They are kind of like ferrets but are smaller and cheaper. They are all around great pets! They are really worth your hard work.

Answer 13

RATS ARE FANTASTIC PETS!!!!

yes, the hard work is totally worth the rewards but its also a big job. first and foremost....you need to get two of the same s*x, yes two.  It won't be that much more work for the second but rats are social creatures and need to have companionship.    they are great, they are smart, they can be trained to do a lot of things, they display personalities and feelings, they actually LOVE you, they are very clean animals (I know people will say  But they live in sewers and carry the plague....but all animals carry risks of disease)    

They do need a great deal of attention, at least 2 hours a day, but even more when they are young to socialize.  I always spent 4-6 hours with my rats even if they were just sitting on my lap while they slept.  Their cage or tank must be cleaned at least once a week, fresh water, fresh food, a bath every so often (once a month or every two months)  you need treats and toys.

The love that you recieve back from a well cared for rat is totally worth what you put in.

Answer 14

Rats, are actually very clean animals and aren't very hard to take care of. They are responsible, but once in while you have to clean their cage, feed them and give them fresh water. Same as taking care of fish. Not hard at all. I bet you will be a great rat owner!

~Hope this helps!~ <Tailor>

Answer 15

Any pet is worth the hard work when you buy it. You intend to take care of it.

And I used to have one and I got really attached to mine. It just depends on how much time you work with it.

Answer 16

my daughter had two rats for several years and even taught them to stay inside the boundaries of her bedroom. she had to put them to sleep eventually because they developed big tumors they also smell strongly musky

Answer 17

They are great pets! They are a lot of responsibility though. Their cage needs to be cleaned very frequently - I clean mine thoroughly once a week, and tidy it daily (changed bedding, scoop litterbox, etc). They also are prone to various health problems so you will need to be able to afford a vet. I know this surprises some people, but just because they're small doesn't mean they can't feel pain or sickness. They only live for 2-3 years, so keep that in mind as well. Finally, they are very social animals so get at least two so they can keep each other company.

Answer 18

when I was a kid I had a pet rat his name was milo he was great he would sit on my shoulder when I walked around he used to snuggle up to my neck really loved him, for me it maybe a bias opinion but yes I think they make great pets and I didn't think it was hard work looking after him.

Answer 19

if you want to buy a rat one more isn't much. they get lonely and depressed when they're alone so PLEASE buy a sister for your baby when you get one :]. they are AMAZING PETS!! they come when they are called, you can litter train them and teach them all cool tricks!!

Answer 20

Rats make fantastic pets. They don't bite, are quite clean and are intelligent too.

Answer 21

Rats are wonderful pets. I have 2 girl rats myself (don't get the male rats, they have a big sagging s*****m, yuck!)

Female rats, from what I know and have seen form my own personal experience, are wonderful, smart and loving pets :3

If you do get rats, I suggest you get 2, because if you're out, and a single rat is there, they'll get lonely. You don't want your rat getting lonely :( Two rats also groom each other and play so you just have to give them at least 30 minutes to one hour of attention. (I'm starting to sound like a human pet guide)

Save 2 lives, not 1. Most people use rats as snake food :(

Two more things before I go:

They WILL kiss you, only if you're nice to them.

AND Sorry for the wall of text :)

Answer 22

Rats make fantastic pets.  I have 7 and I love them to pieces.  It's very important that you get more than one and that you give them the space that they need; with a companion of their own species they feel more confident and actually bond faster to humans.  

In general, rats are extremely friendly.  Most rats even if shy or abused will come around with the right treatment.  They are happy to see you when you walk in the room and will cling to the walls of the cage wherever you are to be closer to you.   They are thrilled when you talk to them, they brux (the rat version of purring) when you stroke their fur.  They boggle their eyes when they are happy and they are sure to let you know when they are pleased.

They eat almost anything you can and can share your snacks and dinner with you (though only as treats, they should be on a healthy lab-block diet). Mine sit on my shoulder and go for walks with me.  

Males (especially older and/or neutered males) often love to cuddle.  They are lazy and will spend much of the day sleeping.  Females are generally hyper and care constantly entertaining with antics.  I have both and I love each s*x for different reasons.  My neutered males are awesome for shoulder rats, and my females are fun to watch.  

Rats LOVE their owners, and the amount of love that comes from a single rat is unquantifiable.  I very strongly advocate finding a rescue in your area from which to adopt because there are so many in need of homes.  I'm absolutely certain that if you look, there's a rescue willing to get you rats.  Some will cross states to get you a pair.  There's even an expression for the stage owners go through when they get their first rats "Gotta get more rats" (GGMR) an effect of finding out jsut how cool owning rats really is.  

Drawbacks:

There are only a few drawbacks.  One, is that they don't live long enough.  They are so smart and individual that it rips your heart out to lose them.  

Two, rats will almost definately need vetcare in their lives and it can get expensive.  Always have a vet on hand BEFORE the emergencies happen.  The types of diseases that rats get cause them to linger and die in extremely painful ways so vets are a necessity, not optional.  This is the most expensive part of ratcare, and each of mine has cost me in their lifetimes.  

Lastly, the cage needs to be cleaned frequently, more or less so dependent on many factors, but at least once a week.  Choose your cage carefully, because it will determine the time and money that you will have to spend cleaning it.  Keep in mind that the initial price of a cage is nothing compared to upkeep.  Choose a cage that is best suited to your lifestyle, you can read all about cages in the Home Sweet Home section of Goosemoose.com.  I've included links in the sources to get you started with info ^_^  Ask any questions you have on the forum, people are happy to help!

Answer 23

Rats could make good pets or terrible depending on the person's point of view.

Answer 24

rats are great pets, but they arent the cheapest pet to keep. i have 2 5 month old male rats, and they are lovely. they never bite me and the dont smell as some people say they do. but if you do decide to get a rat, please get 2

Answer 25

i don't think so

Answer 26

i think so.  some people think they are gross but i think once you get one you really appriciate it.  pet rats are much cuter than street rats.  i know someone who had 2 pet rats and they really like them.  i think it is worth hard work.

Answer 27

well your opinion matters girl okay diffrent people have diffrent oopinions and if thats what  you wamnt get it and if not okay get a hamster or something else!!!..

Answer 28

I LOVE ratties, they are very sweet, low maintenance, fun to have- great all around pets :).

Answer 29

I love rats.

they are great pets.

and they arent even hard work.

Answer 30

Rats make awesome pets.

The have the same intellegence as some dogs, can be litter trained, house broken, and taught to do tricks.

The can be your best friend if you give them enough attention, and in comparison to a dog or a cat, it's really not a "long-term commitment" (they only live 3-4 years max).

If you want to be your buddy, make sure you only get one, or they will bond more with each other, and consider getting it fixed.

Answer 31

i have 2 female rats and they are the best pets i have ever had, they're very low maintenance and cheap to keep, they can never have too much attention and make wonderful pets! they need a lot of toys and lots of things to do. you must bare in mind that you have to give them at least half an hour of playtime out of their cage or in your arms every day.

i love my two rats because they are very clean and love to explore, i would recommend that you buy it from a rat breeder because otherwise they will have the stress of moving to a new cage twice.

hope this helped!

Rat TLC