I have a pet rat named Scabies! He is the sweetest critter ever. I’ve trained him to ride on my shoulder or in my purse. He makes me very happy. 4 years ago

And now that the kids are grown, I think it’s time to have rats again. 6 years ago

I have two pet rats. They are really smart and make great companions but they need a lot of care and love so if you decide to have some, make sure you give them plenty! They are just too cute to be true! 6 years ago

Rats make great pets, alot like small dogs. Mine all know their names and come when I call them and they love to snuggle. Generally, rats are low maintenance although they do best with lots of regular attention so don’t get one if you plan to leave it in a cage all day (and try to get 2 or more, as they are gregarious). There is tons of info about housing / bedding / toys do’s and don’ts (no cedar chips under any circumstances, for instance) – a good site is The Rat Fanclub.

The only down-side to rats is that they are prone to tumors. The incidence of tumors can be dramatically reduced by having the rat spayed or neutered, whcih costs about the same as removing a tumor and is alot healthier.

Veterinary costs for a rat are the same as for other animals such as dogs or cats (except no shots) and it can take some effort to find a good vet. There are a surprizing number of vets who will claim that they treat rats when they actually know nothing about them. Rats do not have the same physiology or needs as a dog or cat.

A good test question for a prospective vet is to ask how long your rat should fast before surgery. The vet should know that rats are unique in that they do not need to fast (they have no gag-reflex) and in fact, fasting can put them at risk of hypothermia during surgery which can kill them.

Hope that helps. 6 years ago

Yes, I am Queen Rat. As a newspaper article once gave me the headline. If I allowed Flickr to show pics on 43 Things, you’d see nothing but rat pictures!

I run a rodent rescue. That is my non-profit. I started with rats, and expanded according to foster homes. I have both rats and mice. I also have a bonded pair of bunnies who are still hoping for a home, though they’ve been with us a long time, and they’re not rodents.

I strongly disagree with the person below who said “never get second-hand rats.” (“Gee, if you’re a teacher, what do you think of second-hand children?” it makes me want to retort.) For one, ALL animals need to see a vet at some point in their lives. And ALL animals can be rehabilitated by proper care, treatment, handling, and it is up to us to be flexible and learn how, too. And for three, rehabbing and socializing an animal is an incredibly rewarding experience! I have 5 brothers who were hardly handled as youngsters, and though I do not have the time to walk around cuddling them as some do when they have only 2 or 3 pets (when given the choice, try to get pairs and trios, or else prepare yourself for integrating singles into groups – rats are social creatures!), I’ve always handled them consistently and routinely, and three of them have turned into the biggest snuggle bears you’d imagine, at 1.5 years. The fourth isn’t bad, and he and the fifth love to explore.

I don’t advocate ever getting a pet if you’re not prepared for it. But preparation isn’t as big a deal as some people may think. Look into it. And go to your local pound, shelter, or rescue group, or join http://rmca.org

My site: http://mooshika.org 6 years ago

I love my sons! They’re extremely cute.. I’ve had 3 so far, 1 unfortunately had bad respiration problems after 1yr and had to be put down, but the other 2 are in great shape, both being 1~1.5yrs. They’re absolutely adorable!

Voltaire (passed away)—Named after the musician
Allister—Different spelling, but named after Crowley
Morgenstern—German for “Morning Star”, from Rammstein 7 years ago

I got my first rats when I was 11. Cinnamon, Lottie and Luz.
Then I got Chloe and Maisy, then Iola Nui and Smartie. <3 them.

Will hopefully have rats when older too becuase they’re great companions. 7 years ago

I had rats, greatest pets ever! (together with dogs)
But unfortunatly I had to give them away due to allergic reactions of my mum (and I’m still livig at home). But once I have my own place, I get new ones right away!! 7 years ago

During my many years as a preschool teacher, I was designated “creature teacher”. I’ve inherited fish, newts, frogs, iguanas, guinea pigs, wolf spiders, praying manti, gerbils, metamorphing caterpillars, and, alas two rats. I am fond of furry creatures of all kinds, but these two were cast offs from people who didn’t want them, and were not used to being handled. Needless to say, they weren’t very friendly. Taz stuck around for almost a year, and Skid eventually went mad. (I suspect he was much older than we were told.) They’re both in ratty heaven today and the little nips I incurred healed long ago. If I was to get a rat again, I would be sure to raise it from a young age and be sure it gets a lot of physical human contact. They really can be great pets! 7 years ago

Smarter than a gerbil and doesn’t smell like one either. 7 years ago

Just try to get 2 or 3 as most get very lonely by themselves. 7 years ago

Just dont tell my dog 7 years ago