Pet Rats and Why You Should Get Them

Rats have a bad rap. I never noticed how many metaphors and similes involved the word rat in a negative sense. But let me tell you: people's fears about pet rats are totally unfounded. Speaking as someone who has both rats and a hedgehog, I can say for sure that hedgehogs are MUCH dirtier than rats. My hedgehog ends up with poop underneath her nails and even in her whiskers on a regular basis, whereas my rat cleans himself more than me or my boyfriend clean ourselves. So pet rats are NOT dirty. Pet rats also do not carry disease, any more than other pets do. Sure wild rats can carry disease, but so can wild birds, feral cats, wild rodents and rabbits, etc. The rats you buy from breeders or pet stores are domesticated and not carrying anything they can pass on to you.

So, some reasons why you should own rats include:

Pretty much everyone I have ever spoken to that has had rats as pets says they make awesome pets. When I was planning on getting rats, I asked around a lot, and figured this was an excellent sign. Now that I have rats, you can add me to that list of people who know they're great pets.

Rats are very intelligent, much more so than some of the other small rodents they're often grouped in with, like mice, hamsters, and gerbils. Rats can be litter trained as well as taught tricks. Rats are capable of learning and responding to their names. The tricks they are able to perform depend on how much time you're willing to put into training them, but just know that the intelligence and the ability is there.

Rats can be very affectionate pets. In order to get the most affectionate rats, it's a good idea to buy them from a breeder where they are bred for their health, looks, and affection and are socialized from a young age. But even if this is not the case, you can still bond with your rat. It's not difficult, either; the best way to bond with rats is to spend time with them and hand feed them treats. Affectionate rats, like mine, will enjoy being petted. Mine loves being scratched behind the ears; it almost puts him to sleep. Some people have rats that will ride around on their shoulder or cuddle up in their shirt. A really friendly rat will be happy to be carried around by its owner and go anywhere its owner goes.

Rats are fairly easy to feed. They don't have a lot of major diet restrictions and will eat almost anything you can eat. That being said, it's important to not let them have too much fat and sugar in their diets in order to extend their lifespan. But a good mix of lab blocks makes a nutritious and easy diet base, then you can feed them small bits of your meals, such as fresh fruits and veggies, pasta, eggs, and more. (If you get a rat, do make sure you do a search before feeding them something you're unsure of. While they can and will eat most human foods, some are not entirely good for them.)

Rats are playful, social animals. They should be kept in pairs, and it's so cute to watch them cuddle and play together. This social aspect also makes them more likely to cuddle up to and play with you. They're also very interesting creatures. They love to nest, which involves tearing up things to line the bottom of their sleeping areas, and will often "steal" things they find exciting if you let them run around a room, such as pens. It's so funny and cute to watch. Mine untied a ribbon I was using to hold up his water bottle (just until I could get a new one), and used it to line his nest. I found that adorable.

Of course, there are a few things to consider before getting a pet rat. One is that they have woefully short lifespans, which last, on average, about two years. That's such a bummer, especially considering how easy it is to fall in love with them.

Another thing is that they definitely like to chew. Mine has chewed holes in my jeans. It doesn't bother me, but you have to be careful about it. If you want to let your rat run around a room now and then (which is a good thing to do), you have to find a way to rat-proof the room by keeping them away from any electrical cords or anything else you don't want them chewing on.

And do make sure you read up on them a little further before jumping right in. Like any pet, you want to be sure you have all the necessary information before purchasing them.

With that all being said, I just want to say that I think rats make amazing pets and I highly recommend them.