Even the most caring rat owners sometimes find themselves in a situation where they need to rehome their rats. Maybe you’re moving to a place that doesn’t allow pets, or you’re just not able to give your rats the care they need anymore. Maybe you’re down to your last rat, and don’t want them to be alone. Or maybe you brought a new rat home, only to end up with a litter of surprise babies!
Whatever the reason, naturally you want you make sure your rat(s) find a loving and caring new home. In this blog post, we’ll go over some of the options you have for rehoming pet rats and how to make sure they go to a good home.
When to Rehome Rats
There are all kinds of reasons that people might choose to rehome rats, usually in the best interest of their pets.
- When you only have one rat left, and don’t plan on owning more. Rats can sometimes outlive their cage mates by months. That’s a long time in the lifespan of a rat! Because rats can get depressed without friends of their own species, it’s usually best to consider rehoming the remaining one. That way s(he) can live out the rest of their life with rattie companions.
- When you don’t have the funds to adequately care for your furry friends. There shouldn’t be any shame at all in recognizing that you can’t afford to give your pets the best life. All kinds of things can suddenly change your financial situation. Especially when it comes to enrichment and vet care, pet care can be a lot costlier than people anticipate.
- When you need to move somewhere that doesn’t accept pet rats, or your landlord doesn’t agree with you having them. In these situations it’s best to find a new home for your rats, rather than risking them finding out and wanting the rats gone ASAP.
- When you find yourself with a litter of surprise babies! This is an extremely common scenario, especially when you bring a new rat home from the pet store. It happens to a lot of people, so don’t feel too bad.
- If you have allergies and have already tried dealing with them with no success. Sometimes allergies can develop over time and even become more severe. It’s understandable that you wouldn’t want to handle your rats or clean the cage anymore.
Where to Rehome rats
Here are some options you might not have considered:
Friends and Family
If any of your friends and family have taken an interest in your rats, you could try reaching out to them. Even if they aren’t willing to take them, they might be able to suggest someone else they know who likes rats!
I’ve had to rehome a rat before. At the time, I was keeping both male and female rats separately and didn’t want to keep worrying about accidental babies. I was super lucky to have a friend nearby who had her own mischief.
When I was down to my last male, I brought him to her and he took to her right away! I think he was so much happier being introduced to a new group than he would have been staying with me, alone in his cage.
As an added bonus, if your friends or family take in your rats, they will definitely keep you updated!
Return to a breeder
Most reputable rat breeders are committed to the well-being of their rats and are often willing to accept them back at any age.
Even if you didn’t originally get your rats from a breeder, they may be able to help you out by connecting you with potential adopters.
Try reaching out to one and explaining your situation. Many will be more than happy to help!
Social media is a fantastic place to find other rat lovers in your local area. Here, you’re almost guaranteed to find somebody who can give your pets a good quality of life. People in these groups are some of the most helpful and willing to do what they can to ensure the welfare of rats.
Rat Rescues
Some areas of the world have dedicated rat rescue groups who will foster rats and help them find new loving homes. Try doing a Google, Instagram or Facebook search to find one close to you and explain the situation to them.
Humane societies
Some humane societies and animal shelters accept pocket pets. The staff may want to know more about your rat’s personality and behavior so they can prepare their next owner. You may have to pay a fee to surrender them, but it’s worth it to know your rats will be taken care of while looking for a new home. When searching for the right shelter to bring your rats to, make sure you choose a no-kill shelter!
Online classifieds
Online classifieds like Kijiji can sometimes be a decent option for finding a new home for your rat.
Because they’re strangers, you’ll want to ask potential adopters about their experience with rats and their plans for taking care of them. Be aware that some people use classifieds to find rats for snake food!
Charging money for their cage and accessories, or an adoption fee can help to screen out people who are just looking for free snake food.
When meeting up with someone you don’t know, always meet in a public place and bring a friend or family member along.
Can you release a pet rat outside?
Pet rats don’t have the same instincts as their wild cousins and don’t have any idea how to survive outside. They totally rely on us for their food, water, and shelter. Releasing rats outside will expose them to predators, disease, hypothermia, and starvation.
It’s also illegal in many places to release domestic animals outside, because there’s a risk they could breed and threaten native species. Instead, it’s important to find a new home for your rat where they can be cared for.
How to scope out the new owner
Sadly, a lot of people are just looking for free snake food when they see pet rats being surrendered. To prevent that kind of scenario for your rats:
- Try to place your rats with someone you know, or find a new owner through rat lover groups, breeders or rescues.
- Ask the adopter if they already have pet rats, and if so, ask for pictures of their cage set-up.
- Charge an adoption fee, or charge money for the new owner to take the cage, food, toys, etc. along with your rat.
Conclusion
Rehoming a pet isn’t easy, but sometimes it’s necessary for the well-being of our favorite little friends. It’s totally understandable to feel guilty, or a sense of loss. Just remind yourself of the reasons that you chose to rehome your rats. If you think it will help, ask the new owners if they’ll share updates with you.
By considering the options and finding the best new home, you can make sure your rats can live out the rest of their lives in comfort and care.
