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Should You Get a Rat for a Pet?

© Karen Yang

I'm probably not the right person to answer this question, since I am, after all, a bit prejudiced. But I'll try to be as unbiased in answering this question as I can!

If you are considering getting a rodent for a pet, please don't rule out rats (or buy rats) until you've thoroughly investigated them. Check books, web sites and online FAQs and talk to rat owners. What you find out just may surprise you. They do have an awful reputation, which is very undeserved. Rats are much more social than mice or hamsters and a lot less jumpy than gerbils. In fact, they are about as intelligent and just as good pets as dogs - just smaller.

Here are some pros and cons about rats that I think you should be aware of. Remember, though, one person's pro just might be another person's con and vice versa!

Pros:

Rats are loving, adaptable, friendly animals who form very close bonds to their human companions.

Rats don't require a whole lot of space or a yard or fancy equipment. Cages and toys can be homemade - they're not fussy!

Rats are fairly inexpensive to keep happily fed and housed. Cages need to be cleaned every 4-5 days.

Rats usually sleep during the day when most people are away at work or school, but can adapt to any sort of sleeping schedule that their owners have.

Rats are social animals and love human attention and interaction. They are lots of fun to play with. Most are good traveling companions.

Rats can be litter-box trained, but it does take lots of persistence.

Rats are generally good with children and very patient, but they can't take too much rough handling. Supervision around small children who might accidentally drop, squeeze, sit or step on them is a must!

Cons:

Rats do need a lot of attention - if you don't have an hour or two to spend with them a day, get mice instead! They also need a same-sex cage mate to keep them company for the times you can't be with them.

Rats will chew on almost anything - usually power cords that are connected to expensive equipment, your favorite furniture, important papers, etc. They will also hoard everything they can carry such as batteries, small toys, pens, coins, rolls of paper towels, etc. They need a safe, rat-proof place to socialize and live.

Rats can't stand temperatures above 80F. This means that in the hot summer, they need an air-conditioning or an alternative, such as ice bottles placed in their cages, cool air from fans, a cool basement to live in, etc.