RATS vs RABBITS?

Question

Okay which do you think make better pets? (Rats or Rabbits)

Please include whether or not you've owned one or both and why you think one or the other is better.

Or whether it is just an opinion as to which you think would be better and why.

Answer 1

I've owned many, many rabbits and fostered rats.  My personal preference is for rabbits, but I see the draw of rats.  They are intelligent and more naturally social.  I enjoy watching my rabbit dance and play during play times, but I enjoyed interacting with my foster rats.  For me, the biggest draw of rabbits comparitively is the lifespan.  I rescue adult animals, and rescuing a 2 year old rabbit means I have 6+ years with them.  Rescuing a 2 year old rat means they are at the end of their natural life and I'd probably only have them for another 1-2 at the most.    They both have their positives and negatives, so I think you can't go wrong either way as long as you are doing your research and deciding which pet best fits your lifestyle.

Answer 2

I loved my rabbits madly.  I felt like I was in a magic forest when I saw them hopping around the house.  They are very sweet, intelligent, funny, and have very distinct personalities.  They do not eat carrots.  They eat hay.  Great gobs of hay.  Hay is very messy.  I have easy access to it, but the stuff in pet stores is not sufficient.  They will use a litter box.  They must be in pairs, preferably both neutered and spayed. Rabbits have a lifespan of about 8 years.

Rats have become my all time favorite pets.  First of all, you can take them out and about and they will sit on your shoulder or ride in your hoody (requires many wardrobe purchases and mad dashes if there is a hoody sale anywhere).  Second of all, they do not eat hay.  In fact, they eat anything you want to give them.  They do not bark.  They do not talk back.  They are very clean and it is pretty easy to keep their cages clean.   They are extremely intelligent, hysterically funny, loving, adorable creatures.

They come in many varieties.  They have distinct personalities.  #1 drawback is the short lifespan, only about 2-3 years, and the predominance of tumors in females.  

Vet care for both is outrageous.  They are both considered "exotics."  Vets with "exotic" experience are difficult to find.  Those with the experience are very expensive.  I vote for rats forever.

Answer 3

100% rabbits

Answer 4

rabbits r better because they r cute and they r very calm unlike rats. they r very good around people too.

Answer 5

I have pet rats.  They are by far my favorite pets (second probably to a dog) and I've run the gamut with animals.  They are friendly, clean, you can let them wander around supervised and they don't p**p or pee on everything.  They are highly intelligent.  My one rat can find food anywhere in a room.  I watched her once jump from the floor to the top of a dumbbell to a low table, to a desk chair to the desk and grab a jelly belly.  

They will soon learn you're their owner and will want to play with you and recognize who you are.  You should definitely get two rats (either two males or two females) as they are very sociable animals and need someone to entertain them while you're not around (especially at night when you're asleep).

Other plus sides, cages are usually taller but have a smaller base.  My cage for 2 is about 4ft tall with a 1.5x3ft base.  I'm not sure what people spend on average for a rabbit, but for two rats I spend probably 15 bucks a year on bedding (I potty trained mine so they just have a bin of bedding vs covering the whole base with it) and about 40 bucks on food.  I get my food blocks from Kim's Ark online because they are better designed for rat health than what you normally find at pet stores.  There's obviously a bigger expenditure for when you first get the animal (cage, toys, etc).

Whatever you do decide, please consider getting your pet from a animal shelter vs a pet store.  Rats and rabbits usually spend many months at a shelter before they are adopted (very sad) and they are usually along the same price as what you would find at a pet store.  Plus you get the satisfaction of saving a buddy from the shelter.

Answer 6

Studies have shown that weather it's a domestic rat or wild thy still have a high chance of carrying diseases.  I'd go with a rabbit.  My mom has one now that I'm moved out, it's HUGE and she taught it to go in a litter box like the cats.

Answer 7

Rabbits are better!!!! I have four and they are asome. I run with them, cuddle with them. I share every moment with them. They are so funny when they strech out and when yawn. They only come to me bec they love me. They come when called and give me kisses 2!

Answer 8

umm.. i own both right now.. and i think tht rights r nicer but to own rats u need to keep at least two cuz they r very social.. bunys r sweet but they have to have huge cages and have to have excersise.. they are both great pets though.....

Answer 9

Definetly a rat. I have owned them for years.

Rats are small and easier to tote around which makes them better companions than a larger rabbit.

Also, rats are less smelly and take up less room than rabbbits.

However, unlike a rabbit, rats should be kept in pairs of males or females as they are social animals.

Please choose a rat as they are truly amazing. Mine know tricks!

Rats can also be trained to use a litter box.

Answer 10

RATS!!!!

They are far more friendly and don't smell as much as most rabbits do. They will develop a strong bond with there owner unlike mist rabbits. They are much nicer.

♥Sarah♥

Brandy W. you are WRONG!!! There are no diseases in domesticated rats!!! I HATE it when people think rats have diseases. Only the wild ones do and that is because people are putting dead animals and spoiled food and stuff in there that they have to eat to survive. So basically all of the wild rats that have diseases are all our fault!

Answer 11

rats are better. i owned a rabbit a few years ago and she was pure evil, you couldnt get near her. and just like you said, domesticated rats dont carry diseases,

Answer 12

Rats! I have owned 6 in my lifetime. They are very social intelligent animals. They like human interaction and are fun to be around. You can teach them tricks if you want to and they even can learn their name! I had a friend that had a rabbit and it would let you hold it but it didn't play or anything. Rats actually have a bond to their owner and like riding on your shoulder and just hanging out.

I read an answer that said that domestic rats carry diseases and that is NOT TRUE! (for the most part)They wouldn't sell them if they did. Some rats will have respiratory diseases at birth when you get them but you can easily treat them for a small price...and this does not affect humans...only other rodents! If you get a rat I suggest getting two because they are very social animals...and they only are about 5 bucks! Make sure you spoil them if you get one because they are truely the sweetest animals!

Answer 13

Male neutered rats make wonderful companions. They are easy to train, affectionate, highly intelligent and don't p**p as much as rabbits. (I've had both) Their personalities are quite similar to little dogs in a lot of respects.

My favorite pet rat used to accompany me out and about town on my shoulder. He was quite the conversation starter :) If you get a rat, get it as a baby from a breeder and make sure that you choose one whose personality is what you are seeking. Going by looks alone is a bad idea.

Oh and Mycoplasmosis is the only common disease found in pet rats and mice (with the exception of lab rats who have never been exposed to pet rats) but it only affects other rodents and not people.