Rats are one of the best start-up pets for young children. They are smart and very friendly, and can even be taught to do little tricks to impress your friends and family when they come over for a visit.

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Some Advantages of Keeping Rats

• They are really cheap to maintain.
• Their pet-related mess is contained in their cages, so there isn’t a lot of cleaning up to do.
• They’re not fussy, so are very easy to please.
• They respond very well to petting.
• They have wonderful temperaments and won’t get angry and snap at your fingers.
• They don’t need walks.
• They don’t need cleaning out every day.
• They’re pretty and will become domesticated (tame) very quickly.
• They’re fun to have around and love doing tricks to impress.
• They’re not as quick as hamsters and love being taken out of their cages and stroked.

Some Disadvantages of Keeping Rats

• They smell slightly.
• You will need to learn new skills in order to clean and feed them.
• They need a big cage because they like to play and roam about. They hate confined spaces.
• Captivity-bred rats can’t live outdoors like rabbits and guinea pigs.
• If left to their own devices to roam about, rats will chew books, electrical cords and wooden furniture. They have to be contained.
• Not all wooden chippings are suitable bedding for your rats’ cage. You always have to make sure you buy the right one.
• Rats are cheap to maintain, but are known for occasionally contracting serious illnesses. Vet bills may be high.

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Decisions To Make Before You Buy Your Rats

• Can you commit to looking after them for about three years?
• You will need a large cage. Have you got enough space in your house for this?
• Rats are happiest with each other. You will need to buy at two of them if you want contented pets. (Males may fight with each other).
• Males (Bucks) grow larger. Females (Does) tend to get a bit lazy when they get older.
• Will you have enough time to play with them to keep them happy?
• Are you willing to love a pet which will die in (maybe) three years?
• Are you prepared to take care of them if they get ill?

Preparing For Your Rats

• Rats require a nesting place in the cage. Hammocks and hideaways are ideal.
• They need toys to play with and chew.
• Your rat likes to live in a place that’s room temperature. The cage should be kept out of direct sunlight and far from sources of heat like radiators or home appliances, but should never get too cold.
• Rats love climbing most of all. Make sure they have ample opportunity to do this with the toys you provide in their cage.
• Keep in mind that while hamsters are fine with a running wheel (their spines bend backwards), rats don’t care for them much. Invest in some good ladders and chewing toys instead.

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Caring For Your Rat

• Let them get accustomed to their new environment after you bring them home and be patient with them. Talk to them so they get used to your voice and your smell. Handle them as much as you can.
• Hand feed them, especially at first. Rats are smart and will soon work out that they get fed when they approach your hand.
• Check daily to make sure they have enough food. Remember that they hide food around the cage too.
• Practice calling your new pets by their name. They’re smart enough to learn it after a while.
• Give your rat fresh food, alongside the pet-shop’s rat mix. Remove uneaten pieces the following day.
• Clean the cage twice a week in accordance to your pet store’s instructions. Rats like their own smell, so don’t clean more often than this.
• Clean the food bowls regularly.
• Leave something that smells of your pets inside their cage. A stuffed toy or little chewed blanket is ideal.
• Top up food and water every day. Rats like eating.
• Rats hate being picked up by the tail. Don’t ever do it.
• Rats love to ride on your shoulder. Once they get used to you, teach them to do this.
• It’s best not to feed a rat treats through the cage bars. Because it’s a clever animal, it will soon get used to the idea that everything outside the bars is food. This may cause it to nibble on the wrong things like your fingers. Open the door and feed it instead.

If this is your first time keeping rats, read up about them and ask your pet-shop or breeder for more advice. Rats are great animals for pets because they’re smart, but they need your attention if they’re to have happy lives. Enjoy caring for your rats and teaching them tricks.