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By Judy Endo, Citizens' Voice columnistNovember 17, 2018 GMT
When you think of rats, you might cringe, picturing sewer rats in New York City, or dirty rodents who carried the plague. But what about a domesticated rat as a pet? Unthinkable, you might say? Think again. To know more about them just might change your opinion. I personally have known two pet rats in my life. The first was owned by the manager of Petco. I was doing dog training there many years ago. Linda brought her rat into the store office as she was going on vacation, and she asked that we care for him in her absence. We were happy to oblige. Well, that little guy was missing Linda so much that he was refusing to eat for us, and we were SO happy when she returned. The second rat showed up in my friend’s yard some months ago. At first, she thought it was an opossum, but upon closer inspection, she discovered it was a white rat. He was in a fenced-in part of her yard where her terriers could not get to him, but they sure were interested. She named him Buddy and began feeding him some peanut butter crackers and dog kibble. Buddy would come out whenever he heard her voice. One day I was visiting, and there he was! He had obviously been a domesticated rat as he was quite tame and unfazed by our presence. Buddy was pristine white with a little pink nose. My friend wanted to get Buddy off the streets so a trap was set, and he was successfully captured. A family acquaintance wanted him and had purchased all of the necessary items to provide a healthy and happy life to this little homeless rat. Buddy turned out to be Vivien. Her new owner loved her. Vivi roamed her bedroom and would climb onto her bed, ride on her shoulder, etc. Shortly after her capture, Vivi developed a mammary tumor. She had surgery to remove this large growth, and the vet said she had a 50/50 chance. Sadly, Vivi developed pneumonia and did not make it. We were all so upset. Still are. Vivi was a very sweet and affectionate companion. This column is dedicated to Vivi. 1. Rats are super clean They are fastidious groomers that actually do not like getting dirty. In general, if they get something on their fur, they immediately try to clean it off. They love to groom each other and to gather and organize their food into piles. So they are actually quite neat. Rarely do they need bathing. Typically, the only rats that require regular baths are older, obese, ill or arthritic rats that have difficulty grooming themselves, or unaltered males that mark their territory with urine. 2. Rats are extremely smart and empathetic Many people don’t think of rats as being smart, but they are actually very intelligent and easy to train. They are more intelligent than rabbits, gerbils, and guinea pigs. Their intelligence is why rats are so often used in psychological studies to help understand human behavior. They can be taught to perform tricks, master puzzles, run through mazes and even solve simple problems. All they need is a dedicated trainer and some motivation (usually with a favorite food reward). It’s incredible the tasks rats can perform when they are shown how. For example, rats can be taught to play fetch and to catch a ball. They can also be taught how to drop a ball through a hoop, as in basketball. Rats will also respond to their names when called. They also show empathy and compassion for their fellow rats when they are in distress or ill - qualities that are not often attributed to animals other than humans. Rats have excellent memories. 3. Rats make lifelong bonds with their owners Ask any rat owner, and he or she will tell you: Rats recognize their owners and respond to their sight and voice. They are very social and love to hang out with human family members on the couch or on peoples’ shoulders or in their laps. They will even try to groom their human companions as if these people were other rats in their “rat pack.” Pet rats love the warmth and contact of their caretakers and are actually very cuddly! 4. Sadly, rats are not long-lived Most people don’t know this, but rats typically live only two to three years. Also, keep in mind many rats start to develop common medical problems after even just one year of life. So if you’re considering having a rat as a pet, realize that your little buddy may not be around as long as a dog or cat. You can make the best of it, though, by making sure your pet rodent gets optimal care, including regular veterinary attention. Good everyday care for your pet rat would include things like having its bedding (preferably paper based) spot-cleaned daily and completely changed weekly. Rats should be fed a base diet of pellets specifically formulated for rats, plus clean water and a small amount of table food (fresh produce, bits of cooked egg or pasta or meat, and occasional nuts or seeds). They also need exercise - running in smooth-sided toy wheels that can be placed in their cages and by having regular out-of-cage time as well. 5. Rats need preventive medical care Rats, like dogs, cats, and people, can often develop commonly encountered medical problems, such as breast tumors, respiratory tract disease and uterine infections. Some of these conditions can be avoided altogether (such as uterine infections that may be prevented by surgically removing the uterus and ovaries before 6 months of age), while others can be treated if caught early (such as breast tumors that may be removed with a mastectomy). To prevent or treat disease, rats must have regular checkups with a rat-savvy veterinarian. They should be examined initially after purchase or adoption and then, ideally, given their limited life spans, checked every six months after that to try to increase the likelihood of diagnosing and treating disease early on. Unfortunately, many rat owners either do not bring their pets to the vet for preventive checkups or wait until it’s too late to bring their pets in when they are ill. So if you want an intelligent, interactive, entertaining and easily trainable pet, consider a pet rat. Rats may not live as long as dogs and cats, but the time you do have with them will be thoroughly rewarding. As was the case with Vivi, a homeless rat who became a loving and loyal companion, if only for a brief time. Dog bless. Resource: Dr. Laurie Hess DVM/Vetstreet.com Judy Endo writes about pets. Contact her at judyendo@outlook.com.
FAQs
Do rats make excellent pets? ›
Are rats the right pet for you? Pet rats are clean, intelligent, enjoy human company and make great pets for families. But they do need lots of attention, so you'll need lots of time to care for them.
Is there anything good about rats? ›Rodents native to the United States play an important role in the health of grasslands and forest, and are a major source of food for many predators and scavengers, including hawks, fox, bobcats, and even wolves.
What type of rat makes the best pet? ›The Dumbo rat is the most popular variety today thanks to its namesake featured in the 2019 Disney movie, Robbins said. “A well-bred rat will be kind of like a well-bred dog,” said Chronister, who now breeds rats as a hobby and owns Dumbo rats. “They will be friendly. They will be curious.
Why are rats so intelligent? ›Even though the rat brain is smaller and less complex than the human brain, research has shown that the two are remarkably similar in structure and function. Both consist of a vast amount of highly connected neurons that are constantly talking to each other.
Do rats love humans? ›Rats make lifelong bonds with their owners Ask any rat owner, and he or she will tell you: Rats recognize their owners and respond to their sight and voice. They are very social and love to hang out with human family members on the couch or on peoples' shoulders or in their laps.
Are rats cleaner than cats? ›“People often think of rats as dirty sewer creatures, but they're actually quite clean and good about grooming,” Graham said. “In fact, rats groom more frequently and thoroughly than cats.”
Why rats should not be killed? ›As part of the largest family of mammals on the planet—the rodent family makes up more than 40 percent of all mammals—rats are here to stay. If you have a rat problem, think about investing in a quick-kill rat trap, because rats deserve your respect just as any animal does.
Why do people keep rats as pets? ›Rats are very popular family pets. They are extremely intelligent, inquisitive, interactive, and social. They can be easily trained to come when called and readily learn to perform tricks on command.
Do rats trust humans? ›Rat Are Social Animals
2 They become attached to other rats and recognize their own family members but rats also easily bond with their human owners and make for affectionate pets. Pet rats enjoy being stroked by their owners and sometimes even enjoy a gentle massage, a scratch behind the ears, or a simple tickle.
Many believe Dumbo rats to be friendlier than other types of rats. (Dumbo rats' ears are on the sides of their head rather than on top—similar to Walt Disney's “Dumbo the Elephant”.) Burmese are also often considered to be very friendly.
What is the smartest pet rat? ›
Fancy rats are generally easy to care for, and are quite affordable, even compared to other small pets; this is one of their biggest draws. Additionally, they are quite independent, loyal and easily trained. They are considered more intelligent than other domesticated rodents.
Are Girl or Boy rats better pets? ›Always adopt the same sex, so you don't end up with babies. It's always best to adopt littermates when possible. Gender: Although all rats have individual personalities, females tend to be smaller, more active, and playful, while males are often larger, more mellow, and snuggly.
How do rats see humans? ›They can only see a few feet at best and are relatively nearsighted critters, so if your pet rat is not reacting to your presence across a large room, it is because they cannot see you. This doesn't indicate they are losing their vision; it just was not that good, to begin with.
Can rats sense you? ›Rats will be able to smell when predators are nearby or when they have set up in an area. This allows them to hide, and flee before they are spotted. They are able to detect the scents of large birds, cats, snakes, and even humans.
How do you know if a rat is happy? ›The best way to tell if a rat's happy, according to a new study, is to look at its ears. A happy rat's ears hang relaxed to the sides (right), instead of perked up (left). Please be respectful of copyright.
How do you tell a rat you love them? ›- Feed them a healthy diet (….. ...
- Find new ways to play with them – Intellectual stimulation is so important for our ratties since they're extraordinarily intelligent. ...
- Give them as large a cage as you possibly can.
- Keep their cage super clean.
Nibbling On You
If your rat nibbles or licks you, he or she might be showing you affection by grooming you. Rats also have an excellent sense of smell, so your rat might nibble or lick your hand or smell you after you eat or prepare food.
(And to complete the zombie image, rats also have a real and powerful craving for human blood, which they obtain by biting primarily the face and hands of sleeping people.)
Which is more intelligent dog or rat? ›Rats are as smart as dogs
According to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), rats are: “Natural students who excel at learning and understanding concepts. Rats are considerably smaller than dogs, but they are at least as capable of thinking about things and figuring them out as dogs are.
Rat Fact - The average IQ of a rat is 105.
Do rats fear cat smell? ›
Cats may eat rats, but they also deter rats from coming near by, as cats mark their territory, not with urine, but by simply rubbing up against things. Even this scent of a cat can make rats scatter.
What smell kills rats instantly? ›The smell of ammonia is very pungent that it instantly kills rats.
What does baking soda do to rats? ›It turns out that baking soda catalyzes some form of reaction inside the rat's stomach. Baking soda combines with the stomach acids to produce carbon dioxide gas which rats are unable to tolerate. In turn, it builds up within their system and eventually causes internal blockage and rupture.
What kills rats instantly? ›Electric Traps
These battery-powered traps are easy to set up and deliver a high-voltage shock that's lethal to rats but won't harm humans or larger pets. They step on the metal plate, which delivers enough voltage to kill the rat instantly.
Rats are friendly and outgoing pets who really enjoy human company. Unlike most small pets, rats love being picked up and handled by their human owners. While rats do enjoy human interaction, they'll need to be picked up and handled from a young age so they're used to it.
What happens if a pet rat bites you? ›The main concern with rat bites is that you will develop a specific type of bacterial infection known as rat-bite fever (RBF). Humans can contract this illness if an infected rat bites or scratches them. Petting or handling an infected animal can transmit the bacteria, as well.
What is the lifespan of a pet rat? ›Average Rat Lifespan and Aging
Rats typically have short life stages. Domesticated pet rats normally only live 2-4 years–but the longest living rat in captivity lived to be 7 years old! A pet rat's life expectancy is much better than their wild counterparts, though, who typically live less than a year.
These experiments establish that rats can communicate fear and induce specific odor fear learning via pheromone information.
What does it mean when a rat wags its tail? ›Tail wagging may involve the whole tail or as little as the tail tip. The function of tail wagging is unknown in rats, but it appears to be associated with excitement and tension. For example, rats may writhe their tails during aggressive encounters with each other, or when facing a predator.
Why does my rat vibrate when I pet him? ›Quivering/Vibrating
This behaviour is literally the rats feeling something too intensely for them to express. It can be a sign of nerves, but can also be a sign of intense excitement or apprehension. To try and judge what exactly your rat is feeling so intensely you have to look at it's overall body language.
What is rat scared of the most? ›
Rats are afraid of human activity, mostly because humans are so much larger than they are. Rats also fear predators such as hawks, eagles, and other birds of prey. Other animals that rats are afraid of include your cat as well as rat terriers and other dogs that hunt rodents.
What food is irresistible to rats? ›- Fruit and berries — Out of all the foods rodents consume, their top two loves are generally fruits and berries. ...
- Nuts — All rodents love nuts, from peanuts/peanut butter and walnuts to almonds and hazelnuts. ...
- Plants — People often ask, “Do mice eat plants?” The answer is yes.
The most cuddly rodent pet is the rat. Rats can develop strong bonds with their owners, and they enjoy being stroked and held. Gerbils are also sociable, but they rarely sit still for cuddles. The least affectionate rodent pets are chinchillas and mice, as they are more shy and timid small animals.
Do pet rats like to cuddle? ›They are very social and love to hang out with human family members on the couch or on peoples' shoulders or in their laps. They will even try to groom their human companions as if these people were other rats in their “rat pack.” Pet rats love the warmth and contact of their caretakers and are actually very cuddly!
What kind of music do rats like? ›Scientists have found that rats enjoy the rhythm of Mozart's music and will bop along to it when given the chance. Rats have a sense of rhythm according to a new study conducted by scientists at the University of Tokyo.
Is it OK to kiss your rats? ›Do not kiss, nuzzle, or hold rats close to your face. This can startle your rats and also increase your chances of being bitten. Bites can spread germs and can make you sick. You don't have to touch pet rats to get sick from their germs.
What is rat best food? ›- Give them some variety - rats are omnivores, so you can supplement their diet with small amounts of fruit, vegetables, cooked egg, grains and seeds. ...
- Avoid harmful foods such as onion, citrus fruits, walnuts, rhubarb, grapes, raisins and chocolate.
- Avoid sugars and high-fat foods such as dairy.
After you bring your pet rat home, give it a day or two to adjust to its home. Once it has settled in, you can start hand-taming the rat. Begin offering a treat once a day for a few days. This lets the rat associate you with food, which is positive reinforcement for the bonding process.
Why do my pet rats smell so bad? ›Smelly rats are most often caused, unintentionally by insufficient care and cleaning. The so called smell is usually ammonia from their urine which can be quite pungent when left for long periods.
Can rats hear humans talk? ›So, for example, from the human audiogram you can see that people hear pretty well at 1,000Hz; here, the threshold of hearing is a scant 2 decibels. For rats, however, the threshold is more like 24dB. That means that a 20dB sound at 1,000Hz would be easily audible to you but would be entirely inaudible to the rodent.
Can rats see themselves in a mirror? ›
Rats can process differences among mirrors, video-recorded images, and still images as visual information; however, they are unable to use this information to distinguish between the sexes.
Do rats remember where they live? ›They have great memories, so once they map out a room they will remember all of the routes for a long time. However, rats do have poor eyesight, so they have to use their whiskers to get around. They use their tails for balancing purposes and to regulate their body temperatures.
Will a rat run if it sees you? ›Rats are more aggressive than mice when it comes to having contact with humans. While mice will run away if they see a person, rats are less likely to flee. In fact, they can become threatened and may attack you if they're cornered.
What do rats do when they see you? ›Do rats get excited to see you? They will look up at you while squeaking and vocalizing, and they might be more inclined to make these noises when they are waiting for food or when they are out of their cage. Rats will also make happy little chirrups while you stroke them and give them attention.
Why do rats get the Zoomies? ›Excited rats may also jump, hop, or “popcorn” when they are happy. They may run excitedly at full speed around the house or enclosure—just like how dogs get the “zoomies.” While rats are capable of activity during the day, especially with their family, they are basically nocturnal animals.
Do rats have a favorite person? ›Affectionate animals, rats like to groom and lick their favorite human companions, and they can easily differentiate between different people.
What does it mean when a rat chatters? ›Rats can also chatter their teeth, which is similar to bruxism but may be louder with more sharp cracking noises. Chatter may occur when a rat is having an intense encounter and is torn between the physiologic fight or flight modes. Rats also chatter with some illnesses—especially respiratory disease.
Do rats make better pets than mice? ›Mice and rats are both low maintenance, cute pets. However, they do have different needs and personalities. Choose a rat if you're looking for a more social, active and clean pet. If you're on a budget and want a pet that requires little to no handling, a mouse is your best bet.
Do rats like being pet? ›Rat Are Social Animals
Pet rats enjoy being stroked by their owners and sometimes even enjoy a gentle massage, a scratch behind the ears, or a simple tickle. Rats have also been known to return the affection by "grooming" their owners.
Rats are very low maintenance pets to own. They are very comfortable in their own environment and can go long periods of the day without much attention. If you are the type of owner that is away for long periods of the day then pet rats may be a good choice for you.
Are pet rats hard to take care of? ›
“Rats are active during the day, which make them fairly easy to take care of,” Hoppes said. “They also don't have special dietary needs or sensitive stomachs.” Therefore, compared to other rodents, rats are fairly easy pets, but this doesn't exempt you from the typical pet-owner duties.
Is it better to get a male or female rat? ›Always adopt the same sex, so you don't end up with babies. It's always best to adopt littermates when possible. Gender: Although all rats have individual personalities, females tend to be smaller, more active, and playful, while males are often larger, more mellow, and snuggly.
Are rats the smartest pets? ›Rats are highly intelligent
Did you know that, along with chimpanzees, bottlenose dolphins, elephants, dogs, pigs, pigeons and octopuses, rats are considered by experts to be one of the smartest species on the planet?
Nibbling On You
If your rat nibbles or licks you, he or she might be showing you affection by grooming you. Rats also have an excellent sense of smell, so your rat might nibble or lick your hand or smell you after you eat or prepare food.
Rats may "wag" or writhe their tails on the ground. This action has many names, such as tail wagging, tail swishing, and tail writhing. Tail wagging may involve the whole tail or as little as the tail tip. The function of tail wagging is unknown in rats, but it appears to be associated with excitement and tension.
How intelligent are rats? ›Rats and mice are highly intelligent rodents. They are natural students who excel at learning and understanding concepts. Rats are considerably smaller than dogs, but they are at least as capable of thinking about things and figuring them out as dogs are!
Do pet rats bite a lot? ›To my knowledge, rats are the least likely pocket pet to bite. This makes rats, in my opinion, better pets than hamsters. Even wild rats, despite their bad reputations, are not likely to attack humans.
What is the friendliest rodent pet? ›The friendliest rodents are either gerbils or rats, while hamsters, guinea pigs, and gerbils are the most popular. We feel that gerbils as the best rodent pet for children. They don't smell, and they're small, playful, and fluffy. Gerbils are intelligent small pets that can be trained to do tricks.
Are rats smelly pets? ›Rats are in fact incredibly clean animals. They frequently groom themselves and should not smell. If you are encountering problems with your rats smelling or you're concerned about this as a potential problem, rest assured it can be avoided.
What are the disadvantages of rats? ›Rodents can infect humans directly with diseases such as hantavirus, ratbite fever, lymphocytic choriomeningitis and leptospirosis. They may also serve as reservoirs for diseases transmitted by ectoparasites, such as plague, murine typhus and Lyme disease.