Do Rats Make Good Pets?
The short answer: YES! In fact, I think rats make the best first pet for children.
Rats are pretty exceptional little animals with a bad rap. There are several misconceptions floating around about rats, which we will discuss in a bit.
But first, before you count rats out, think about the ideal pet you would want for your child’s first experience with caring for an animal. Some criteria that I would want when choosing a first pet would be:
- Friendly, social animal that likes to be held
- Requires very little in order to survive and be happy
- Easy to clean up after
- Not aggressive in any way
Well, guess what? Rats check all those boxes! But first let’s address all those misconceptions that give these sweet little animals a bad reputation.
Misconceptions
Can a pet rat give my child a disease?
Not likely. Pet rats are specifically bred to be pets and therefore are as domesticated as any other pet would be. Can a dog give you rabies? Essentially, it is possible but highly improbable. It is the same with rats. Actually rats are pretty clean and spend a lot of time grooming themselves, even more than cats!
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Rats aren’t tame or affectionate.
I work in a pet store and occasionally we will get a litter of baby rats who are pretty skittish. It only takes me about 10 minutes of handling them for them to relax and start becoming more curious rather than scared. Handling your pet rat is a good way to bond with it when you first bring it home.
Rats can be very affectionate. Rats love to be around people and interact with them. You can even train your rat to sit on your shoulder! Depending on the gender you choose, you can either get a cuddly lazy rat or a fun and playful rat.
What Makes Rats Such Good Pets?
Rats are very friendly and social.
Rats are one of the few small animals that will actually seek you out for attention rather than run away. Most small animals are prey animals so it is their instinct to run away when they first see you. Rats are very curious and like to investigate their surroundings. Rats would also prefer your company over being alone.
Rats do not bite normally and the only time that they may bite is if there is something medically wrong with them and they are in pain. They do like to lightly nibble on the tips of your fingernails sometimes out of curiosity. They also might lick you and give you kisses or try to groom you.
Rats are so smart that you can easily teach them tricks like shoulder sitting or spinning in circles. Each rat has its own individual personality and it’s fun to learn each rat’s different quirks.
Rats are very low maintenance.
Rats are very easy to take care of. They require very little in order to be happy. If you keep their cage clean they are pretty much odorless.
For all these reasons, rats make great pets. Beyond that I feel that rats make the best first pet for children.
Hamsters can tend to bite and escape. Guinea pigs and bunnies require A LOT of room. Gerbils eat anything and everything. Rats do not require too much room. They will run to you, not away from you, and it is very rare that a pet rat will bite.
Which gender should I get?
I have had both male and female rats and I can tell you they have opposite personalities. All of the boys I have had have been very laid back, mellow, and sweet. Boys love to cuddle with you and can hang out for hours on your shoulder while your child is doing homework. Boys do get larger and fatter than females.
Female rats are the complete opposite of the males. Females are very energetic and playful. You can teach females how to shoulder sit but they can only do it for so long before wanting to explore all over the place. Females are also very sweet as well.
How long do rats live?
Unfortunately, rats typically only live to be 2 -3 years old. This can be viewed in two different ways. As your child grows their life changes quickly, taking on new responsibilities and becoming busier with school, sports, and friends. Interests can also change, and even though they still love their pet, that pet receives less and less attention. Small animals are usually more affected because they cannot get out of their cage to remind you about their existence. This is no one’s fault; it is just reality a lot of times. A rat’s life expectancy is less of a commitment.
You can also make your little rat’s life count by making the whole pet owning experience become a life lesson. If your rat is, in fact, your child’s first experience owning a pet, it is a great way to teach your child about the importance of caring for another life. Part of life is also death, which sounds very tragic, but it is a good lesson for children to learn.
What Do I Need To Buy For My Pet Rat?
Cage
Rats love to climb, so vertically tall cages are the perfect choice for rats. A cage with 3 or more levels is a good size for rats. It is important to pay attention to the size of your rat versus the size of the spaces between the bars of your cage. Some baby rats are so small they may be able to squeeze in between the bars of your cage if you are not careful.
Your cage will also need bedding. Paper bedding, cardboard bedding and hemp bedding are all good choices.
Rats can get respiratory illnesses easily so cedar or pine wood chips are not recommended. Try to stay away from any bedding materials that seem to be particularly dusty.
Food and Water
Regarding a food bowl, you can have a ceramic bowl or food dispenser filled with food available at all times for you rat. Ceramic bowls are good because your rat cannot chew them and they are harder to tip over. You can also just pile their food in a corner because rats like to relocate their food, usually into their house, anyway.
Water bottles are the most common way to offer your rat water because they prevent your rat from spilling water and making a mess. You must be vigilant and check your rat’s water bottle every day to make sure it is working properly and is not leaking. You can use a water bowl for your rat, but you will most likely need to change out the water once or twice daily as it gets dirty. It is also wise to have water bottles for each level of your cage, especially if you have more than one rat to avoid competition.
Rats are omnivores so it is important that your rat get a well balanced diet. You can easily feed them everything they need to by feeding rat pellets or blocks sold in pet stores. It is important you feed rat specific food so that they get everything they need. Hamster, gerbil, or other rodent food is not well balanced enough for a rat. Rats love getting treats like fresh fruits, veggies, seeds, nuts, eggs, and some other proteins, but be careful to not overdo it because rats are prone to obesity. Some healthy treats for them include berries, kiwi, nectarine, kale, dandelion greens, carrot, red bell pepper, and beetroot.
Accessories
Rats enjoy exercise wheels and they are a good way for your rat to drain some excess energy. Depending on the cage you choose, your cage may even come with a wheel. It is advised to use a wheel that is solid so that your rat cannot get their tail stuck in between the bars.
Exercise balls are not ideal for rats because they can cause damage to their feet and spine.
Rats love to sleep high in their cage in an enclosed space. Hammocks are perfect for this! Rats enjoy climbing in and out of hammocks and other various hides. They like a busy cage so don’t hold back when adding new toys and hides to their home. Each rat should have their own hammock/hide so there is no fighting.
Rats love to play and they love enrichment! Things to chew on are important for your pet rat because their teeth never stop growing, so filing them down is essential.
Some good toys for rats include tunnels and tubes (big enough for them to turn around in) that you can make at home using an oatmeal container or other large tube. Toilet paper tubes stuffed with paper, paper towel tubes stuffed with hay, sticks and branches (pesticide free), wine corks, cardboard boxes with holes cut in them, paper bags, ping pong balls, and even some small dog toys all make great toys for rats. They even have small puzzle toys made for rats! Get creative and change things up regularly to avoid boredom.
conclusion
Rats are very intelligent, sweet pets. They are one of the easiest small animals to care for and can be a great way to teach your child the importance of caring for another life and the responsibility that goes with it. Rats are extremely social and love lots of attention. They love to be with you and can even be trained to do things like sit on your shoulder!
In the comments below, let me know what your experience has been with rats as pets.