Congratulations on considering a pet rat! You’ve probably already heard that they’re friendly and affectionate, and easy to look after. But is there anything else you’re missing? Here are some other factors you might want to consider before you commit to buying a pet rat.
Rats can be amazing little friends – if you spend enough time with them.
In my experience, rats are a lot more similar to dogs than they are to other pocket pets! They’re actually interested in humans and can become affectionate with you as they get used to your company. They’ll lick your hand and even groom you like another rat! They love to play games and can learn tricks. Some will even play fetch with you!
Rats also need as much attention as dogs!
Many people think of rats as an easy, low maintenance pet. But they actually need quite a lot of time and attention. Especially if you just got new rats, you’ll have to spend time bonding with them if you want to build a trusting relationship.
How to Get Your Rat to Trust You: Bonding 101
Rats shouldn’t be left inside their cage 24/7 – they get bored and depressed. They need daily playtime in a rat-proofed room to roam, sniff, and explore. They definitely aren’t the type of pet that you can leave for a week or two when you go on vacation!
Rats should always be kept in pairs or groups.
Rats get lonely without another rat to groom, play and snuggle with. Even if you plan to spend a lot of time with your rat, they need at least one buddy of the same species.
It’s not that much more expensive to keep two rats instead of one – they can share the same cage, bedding, and don’t eat a whole lot more. (Although the extra vet fees are a consideration in how many rats you decide to get.)
If you’ve never had a rat before, your best bet is to get two right from the beginning who already know each other. That way you don’t need to worry about introducing them. For more information:
Introducing Two (Or More) Rats
Rats need a bigger cage than you think.
Most of the one-level cages sold in pet stores are way too small for even a single rat. Rats need to be able to move around and climb, so at least 2′ of cubic floor space and 2.5’ of vertical space is a necessity. And more is better!
Cages designed for hamsters or rabbits are definitely way too small – a ferret or chinchilla cage is actually ideal. (Just make sure the bars are close enough together to keep rats from escaping – they can squeeze through a smaller space than you’d think!)
Rats need enough room to gather and hoard things, scuffle around, climb, dig, sleep and play. They also like somewhere to hide and feel safe.
Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a ton of money on cage accessories. Simple things like cardboard box houses, egg carton forage toys, and old towel hammocks will keep your rats happy.
Guide to Buying Your First Pet Rat Cage
New rats might take awhile to warm up to you.
Many people hear that rats are loving and affectionate and assume they’ll be that way from the day they take them home. But rats are also very cautious by nature and there’s some effort involved in bonding with them when they first arrive.
Sometimes you’ll get a particularly curious and confident rat, but most are a little shy at first, even if they’re already used to humans. It can take a couple weeks for you to get to know each other, which makes it extremely rewarding when you do win their trust.
Because of the way rat social dynamics work, you’ll almost always find that with a pair of rats, one is particularly dominant, curious, and adventurous, while the other is a little more “shy” and might prefer to stick around their cage, or close to you! This dynamic becomes even more interesting if you have a group of rats.
Rats can get bored and need variety.
This goes for their diet, toys, and play time with you! Because they’re so intelligent, rats can get depressed if they live in a small, empty cage and don’t get enough time to play with you outside their cage.
It’s pretty easy to rotate the fruits and veggies you feed them each week, and replace their toys as they chew them to smithereens. There’s also tons of tricks and games you can play with rats to keep their minds (and yours) occupied!
Rats need to visit the vet just like any other pet.
Rats don’t need any shots, but they can suffer from some common health problems that are easily treatable with the right medication.
Common Health Problems in Pet Rats
It’s best to find a vet before you bring your new rats home – it’s no fun trying to find one in an emergency! Many vets don’t treat rats at all, or don’t treat them very often.
When searching for a new vet, make sure to ask if they see rats regularly and if they’re knowledgeable about common rat health issues like respiratory disease and mammary tumors.
Every rat has a unique personality!
I’ve had rats who were super loving and affectionate, as rats are famous for. They followed me around, slept inside my hoodie pockets, licked and groomed my fingers, and loved to hang out on my shoulder as I did things around the house. They would leap at the cage bars when I came home to play with them and gaze at me lovingly from across the room.
I’ve had other rats who didn’t love snuggling or even being touched. Instead, they loved their freedom to run around and explore the room.
One of my male rats always felt it very important to do a couple laps of the perimeter of the room to check for threats before coming to play with us. He took his job very seriously!
One of my female rats was a little daredevil and climbed everything she could, giving me a mini heart attack every time she got stuck somewhere.
One rat was super laid back and preferred to hang out, eat snacks and watch movies with me. He was so lazy he didn’t even like to sit up to use his water bottle. I only saw him run one time in his life!
One of the most fun parts of owning pet rats is watching their little personalities develop over their lifetime. Rats also have extremely complex social dynamics and will fascinate you to no end with how they interact with each other.
Should I Get Boy or Girl Rats?
Rats pee a lot and their cage can get stinky.
I’ve seen things on the internet saying that rats don’t smell at all. It’s true that rats themselves don’t have a very strong smell, but their pee definitely smells! Both male and female rats tend to “dribble” as they walk.
You can litter box train rats to minimize the dribbling, but it can be hard for some to completely break the habit. Be prepared to wipe down or cover any surfaces they play on, and to deep clean their cage once or twice a week.
Most rat fanciers don’t mind the smell of rat pee – kinda like dog and cat owners don’t mind the smell of their pets. But if the smell bothers you, it might be hard to avoid it.
Female rats can start having babies – and lots of them – around 8 weeks old.
I point this out because many a brand new rat owner has been surprised with a pregnant rat they brought home from the pet store. Pet stores often don’t separate males from females, and they’ll tell you that your rats are all the same gender when they’re not!
(I’m speaking from experience here! Fortunately, I noticed that one of my “ladies” was actually a boy and separated them as soon as they got home. But I had to buy another cage and get another companion for the odd one out…)
Not only can rats procreate when they’re young, but they can have big litters – sometimes up to 18 babies at a time. Make sure the rats you bring home are actually the same gender!
To sum it up
Did you learn anything about rats that you didn’t know before? Do they still seem like the right pet for you? Let me know in the comments 🙂
