Thinking of getting a pet rat

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We have six, one neutered male and five female. All of them are really friendly and cuddly with loads of personality and get on great apart from the odd scrap. We had to get a massive cage though to avoid the territorial wars, they soon outgrow a small cage and just look so much happier with more space. Shame that they have such short lifespans.

They love to lick soup off my finger, terrified me at first as I though they would just chomp it off like a hamster would.
 
porushinobu said:
lol i found myself contimplating this thanks to this thread lol
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Yeah they are great pets, I've always enjoyed the ones i've owned that's why im debating it because i'm a lonely loser and would love a pet really. A rat is the most realistic thing I can get right now. I'd probably get good size cage and get 2, wouldn't mind 3 but I think that is overkill lol.
 
aaron said:
I've currently got 3. Absolutely amazing pets and quite honestly did not think I would fall for them as much as I have. I'd compare them to puppys in regards to their inttelligence, playful nature and loving character. It'll be a very sad day when they eventually go. Sucks that they have such a short life
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I was reading a reddit ama by a animal behaviour expert, she's been studying empathy in animals for a long time and someone asked her do you think rats feel empathy? she basically said she has seen anecdotal evidence that suggests yes they do feel empathy when their buddy dies. But she said verdict is out but in her opinion it is quite possible rats also fall into small group of animals also known to feel empathy.

That's how I consider them, they are like little miniature dogs and have a lot of love to give to their owner.
 
CREATIVE!11 said:
I was reading a reddit ama by a animal behaviour expert, she's been studying empathy in animals for a long time and someone asked her do you think rats feel empathy? she basically said she has seen anecdotal evidence that suggests yes they do feel empathy when their buddy dies. But she said verdict is out but in her opinion it is quite possible rats also fall into small group of animals also known to feel empathy.

That's how I consider them, they are like little miniature dogs and have a lot of love to give to their owner.
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There was another study conducted (don't ask me to referance haha) where a rat was confined in an extremely small see through cell. One of the original rats cagemates was taught to open the cell with the press of a button. The second rat was released into a larger outer cell with a load of treats and the second rat instead of gobbling all the treats to itself went over and deliberately opened the smaller cage to let the other rat out so it too could enjoy the treats.

Obviously it was a lot morev scientific than how I explained it but if that doesn't show love and empathy at a basic level I dont know what does.

They also get to know you inside out. For instance my youngest one (the agouti/brown one in the photo) knows when I've had a crappy day and will just come and cuddle into me and play with me, whereas usually he's off on his own adventures.
 
arc@css said:
It's a shame they don't live long. I never realized how short the life span was.

Nice pics btw. :)
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Thanks haha, that is the only bad thing about them though you get attatched and boom it's over before you know it. There is a breeder in Newcastle who's trying to breed longer life rats and is connected to Newcastle university but I don't know how successful she has been.

In regards to taking pictures of them though they really are little buggers as they are always off doing their own thing. I've had these boys for about 10 months now and still havn't got a good pic of the 3 of them together lol.
 
aaron said:
There is a breeder in Newcastle who's trying to breed longer life rats and is connected to Newcastle university but I don't know how successful she has been.
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This is how it all starts. Then next thing you know we've got giant, immortal, super rats taking our jerbs!
 
Saw this and was holding off on posting, but I say go for it.

As others have said they are the most loving and intelligent little creatures ever. We are currently rat free as the last pair left us back in September last year after 2.5 years with us. As has also been mentioned, they do have a very short life span which makes it so more difficult.

Following on from teh empathy points, fully agree with them all....the last pair of boys we had (see pic below) would know when things were wrong and come over and offer cuddles and kisses and once George (the fawn one) was sat behind my sister in law while she was having as sob at something and was grooming her hair to comfort her.

I would say go for it, you will not regret it.....

Oh, here is the piccie

 
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thanks ocuk, thats now a pet rat added to the list of things i want (y) :D shame the girlfriend outright so "no chance" and "not in a million years". :(
 
Tauren said:
thanks ocuk, thats now a pet rat added to the list of things i want (y) :D shame the girlfriend outright so "no chance" and "not in a million years". :(
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My sister in law was the same when we first got them and now she is a convert, loves ratties to bits. In fact 90% of the people we know who said they don't like them are converted after actually getting to know them...there will always be those who can't get over their dislike, but you will find that most people are only aware of the bad press that rats have had and not how great they actually are

EDIT:- Oh and forgot to add, like a dog, they are a big committment. You will have to invest a lot of time and love in getting used to them and them used to you...but it is time very well spent. Try some pea bobbing for a right royal laugh......ours never went for it and would just sit and scoop the peas out of the water...very clever
 
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how about a gerbil?

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Shelster said:
Saw this and was holding off on posting, but I say go for it.

As others have said they are the most loving and intelligent little creatures ever. We are currently rat free as the last pair left us back in September last year after 2.5 years with us. As has also been mentioned, they do have a very short life span which makes it so more difficult.

Following on from teh empathy points, fully agree with them all....the last pair of boys we had (see pic below) would know when things were wrong and come over and offer cuddles and kisses and once George (the fawn one) was sat behind my sister in law while she was having as sob at something and was grooming her hair to comfort her.

I would say go for it, you will not regret it.....

Oh, here is the piccie

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Also great pic btw :)

Making me want a pair more now. I was sort of on the fence about it at the start of this thread.
 
Get some.

I have a mate that had 20 odd at one point (made the mistake of unknowingly buying rats that were not neutered)..he loved the little critters. They do need cleaning everyday!!! They do smell, no matter what anyone with rats says.
 
My ex owned a few rats. We lost one when we suspect it jumped onto the toilet upstairs when the lid was up! The only reason why we suspect it went down there was that there was rat poo in the water.
I was put off rats when one died overnight and the other 2 ate some of it. Hell of a mess to clean up.
 
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