Calling all animal lovers! Are you ready for a face-off between two of the world’s most fascinating small pets? In one corner, we have the ever-charming pet rats, and in the other, the prickly, yet irresistible hedgehog!
Rats and hedgehogs are both considered exotic pets. They both live in cages, are pretty quiet pets, and have diverse diets. While rats are social, affectionate, and adaptable to human interaction, hedgehogs are more solitary and independent. With that said, they live a lot longer – at least double the lifespan of rats.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into their similarities, differences, and unique traits to help you figure out if you’re more inclined towards the sociable and affectionate nature of rats, or the independent and mysterious air of hedgehogs.
Similarities between Rats and Hedgehogs
- They are both considered exotic pets, so vet care can be more expensive than you might be expecting. They are also both quite prone to getting sick and needing vet care.
- They’re both pretty small and adorable, and live in cages. They’re great pets for someone who doesn’t have a ton of space, or a back yard!
- They’re both very quiet pets. While you might not be able to keep them in your bedroom at night, they’re both pretty easy to keep in an apartment building or other situations where noise is an issue.
- They both eat a big variety of things. Both pets are omnivorous and enjoy lots of different foods. While rats need more fresh fruits and veggies, hedgehogs need more protein in their diet, like cooked meat and live insects.
That’s where the similarities end! Let’s look at all the differences between pet rats and hedgehogs.
Differences between Rats and Hedgehogs
| Pet Rats | Hedgehog | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Typically 9-11 inches long. | Around 5-12 inches long. |
| Diet | Rats need a varied diet rich in fresh fruits, veggies, the occasional protein, and a high-quality lab block or dry mix. | Their main diet should be high-quality cat food, with live insects, some cooked meat, eggs, fruits and vegetables. |
| Cage | Needs a large cage with multiple levels. Bars are better to promote climbing and ventilation. | Needs about 4 square feet of cage space, with lots of decorations. (Open spaces make them nervous.) |
| Noise Level | Generally quiet, may make soft squeaking sounds when excited or stressed. | Mostly quiet. May make soft huffing, clicking, or purring sounds. |
| Lifespan | 2-3 years on average. | 4-7 years on average. |
| Smell | Moderate. Need regular cage cleaning to manage smell. | Low to moderate. Regular cage cleaning helps minimize smell. |
| Maintenance Required | High. Requires daily social interaction, cage cleaning, and mental stimulation. | Moderate. Requires daily exercise, but less social interaction than rats. |
| Grooming Needs | Rats groom themselves for most of their lives, though elderly or sick rats may need help. You can trim their nails if you want to. | May need help with nail trimming and quill cleaning. Hedgehogs are notorious for being quite messy and do need some help grooming. |
| Temperament | Shy at first, but later social, curious, and affectionate. They generally enjoy human interaction and don’t take long to tame. | More solitary. They need a lot more time to come around to you, and may never really enjoy companionship. |
| Exercise Needs | Need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation inside and outside of their cage. | Wheel running and exploring are common forms of exercise. |
| Common Health Concerns | Respiratory infections, tumors, head tilts, mites, dental troubles. | Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome, obesity, dental disease, cancer, digestive upsets. |
| Legality | Rats are illegal in Alberta Canada, the state of Hawaii and Alaska. There may be other places, so check where you live first! | Hedgehogs are illegal in California, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and New York City. Check your local laws before buying one. |
| Cohabitation | Can live with other rats of the same gender, but should not be housed with other species. | Prefer to be solitary, should not be housed with other hedgehogs or animals. |
| Training | Can be trained to use a litter box, and can learn tricks and commands. | More challenging to train, but can learn to use a litter box and some may respond to their names. |
| Sleep Schedule | Rats are often said to be nocturnal, but as pets, they’re more crepuscular (awake during dawn and dusk). Rats will adapt to your sleeping schedule over time. | Nocturnal, though some may be active during the evening or early morning. They don’t take very kindly to interruptions in their schedule! |
| Destructiveness | Moderate. Can chew on wires or furniture if not provided with alternatives. | Low. More likely to dig than chew, but generally less destructive. |
You should get pet rats if…
- You’re willing to keep more than one pet. Rats absolutely need to be kept in pairs or small groups with other rats, while hedgehogs are much happier alone.
- You’re grossed out by live insects. Although it’s technically possible to feed hedgehogs dried insects, their natural, healthy diet includes fresh, live insects. Rats can also enjoy eating dried insects as a snack if you like, but their diet doesn’t require any bugs at all.
- You want a softer pet that you can snuggle with. Hedgehogs obviously have quills, and they can be quite prickly (especially if they aren’t comfortable with you!) Their quills can even give some people “hedgehog hives.” Rats are softer to pet, and many of them are actually keen to hang out with you, once they trust you.
- You can’t keep a separate heat source. Hedgehogs need to be kept at a stable temperature between 70-80 F (21 – 27 C), or they go into hibernation, which can be deadly for them. This requires a constant heat source, like a space heater or a heat lamp. If you’re concerned about the fire hazard or don’t want to fuss with a heating setup, you may prefer pet rats.
- Hedgehogs are illegal where you live. The laws surrounding the two are pretty different, depending on where you live. Always check with your municipality to see if the pet you like is legal, and whether you might need a permit to own one.
You should get a hedgehog if…
- You want a solitary pet. Hedgehogs are solitary animals. While it’s possible for them to get along with other hedgehogs, it’s quite a lot more difficult to introduce them than rats, and they often still need separate cages.
- You want a pet who will live a long time. A hedgehog’s expected lifespan is double that of a rat, and often more.
- You want a more independent pet. Hedgehogs aren’t super interested in humans the way rats are. They will happily entertain themselves when alone and often prefer to explore their surroundings rather than snuggle with you. (This can be true with rats too, depending on their personality – but for the most part, they’re at least curious about people!)
- You have the floor space. Hedgehogs are capable of climbing, but they aren’t as into it as rats are. Hedgehogs need the horizontal floor space, while rats prefer a taller cage with climbing opportunities.
- You’re afraid of rat tails! Hedgehogs just have a cute little stub tail that you probably wont see most of the time. Their tails don’t tend to bother people as much as rat tails do.
Conclusion
Rats and hedgehogs both have their unique charms, and choosing between them comes down to a lot of personal factors.
If you’re drawn to a more social and affectionate pet, rats offer the opportunity for companionship and are more adaptable to human interaction. Sadly though, they don’t live very long.
If you prefer a pet who can keep themselves company more often (or you just think they’re cuter!) hedgehogs are a fascinating option.
Whichever pet you decide to get, I wish you years of happy companionship and fun!
