Will keeping pet rats attract wild ones to my property ?

Question

I keep rats. This is one of them.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AiDSqpU-zz4

One cage is inside and one is outside in the garden. I am worried that my pets may attract wild rats. What is your opinion?

This is the sort of visitor I do NOT want!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=EmwqPvjDb0k

Answer 1

The one inside won't attract them, but i don't know if you were worried about that one.

I REALLY wouldn't keep pet rats outside, they are extremely prone to climate changes and aren't as hardy as wild rats. Plus in the spring when there's pollen around the pollen can get in the rat's lungs and give them a mycoplasma infection, which is horrible and kills quickly, i know that from experience. (I'm talking noticing your rat is breathing funny one morning, and the next she's gone :'( )

Answer 2

pet rats shouldnt be kept outside, they would most likely die from the weather.  

Answer 3

It could...but I really wouldn't be keeping your rats in your garden. That's not safe on so many levels.

Answer 4

I dont feel it is safe to keep your rats outside. Domesticated fancy rats arent able to withstand the extremes of weather wild rats can.

I have had many years of keeping rats as pets and i would never leave them unattended outside.

They will attract male wild rats if you have females.

Any food spillages will also encourage wild rats and other pests. Also contact with a wild rat could result in weil's disease (leptospirosis) which could potentially kill humans - see http://www.leptospirosis.org/

check out http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk its a great site.

Answer 5

I never had any problems like that when I had rats but they were inside the house not in the garden

Answer 6

i sould not think so i have rats and ever ad this problem before mind you i have cats 2

Answer 7

wild rats are scared creatures so they wouldn't dare go near anything moving that they are unsafe about. they travel in colonies which is why they say to get more than one rat. have you ever seen a colony of rats scamper across your back garden? there's your answer.

i also don't think its a good idea to keep a rat outside, if its in a liftable cage, please bring your rat somewhere inside. it could die of heatstroke or pneumonia depending on the weather. maybe you could move the outside rat in with the cute one on your video

hope this helps.

Rattieluv