Rats or guinea pigs for Christmas?

[Impulsesealer]

Ds has been bugging for a pet for ages so I’ve decided to get him one for Christmas (don’t flame me! They will be well loved) but we can’t decide between rats or guinea pigs, or is there any other small pet I should be considering?

Also where do you get these pets from if not pets at home? I’ve not heard great things about them but I might be wrong?
Would you get the pets ready for Christmas Day or give an I.O.U voucher?

Personally I'm a traditionalist and go for turkey.

Very sorry op couldn't help myself quietly sneaks out the back door

Geva snake really easy to care for minimal care needed

Rats are amazing pets

But don't get one, you need at least 2

A decent breeder might not sell near Christmas.

Go to a rescue centre. There are loads of unwanted guinea pigs who would make wonderful pets. I’ve had lots over the years.

Make sure you get at least two and properly research the costs and practical things involved first. I wouldn’t make it a Christmas present though.

I would definitely get two.
Can gpigs life outside or are they better indoors?

I’m not desperately hung up on having them for Christmas Day but it would be nice to see his little face light up. I like the thought of rats but don’t they wee everywhere when you handle them?

Guinea pigs are wonderful pets. They need to be inside or in a warm shed when it's very cold.

My last rats are rescue; there are rescue centres for ratties.

How old is DS? Rats are a little more robust but also more tempermental. Rats don't live as long so a much smaller commitment. I'm leaning towards ratties, but need to know the age. GPigs are a bit dull, but sweet.

I'd get 3, but that means huge cage. They need time outside cage (most people say 1/2 hour) playing every day. They are as much commitment as having a dog. They will chew your house to bits if running free. They are also clever enough to know their names & come when called. The keen ratty people just give them a bedroom as playroom where damage can be limited.

i've had more wee on me from cavies than rats. Most GPigs live outside very well in cages kept dry & draught free, but MNers will shout at me what else is new never seem to let them live outside year-round. Cavies MUST HAVE HAY at all times. Sorry to shout. I get and when I meet cavies with no hay in their cage, sigh.

Rats! Fantastic pets, smart and friendly, affectionate and great company.
Look up a Fancy Rats club. They'll have a bunch breeders listed that are reputable. Get your name on a waiting list.

They also have Rat Shows . If you want to meet some breeders and have a go at handling rats I recommend going to one. It helped us decide on bucks or does and and make sure that yes, my son really did want them.

We have both guinea pigs and rats. Baby guineas are adorable but they become staid old things and prefer being left alone. The rats run to the cage door to greet us, so I know which pets I'd recommend.

Also, the lifespan is more manageable in rats. Our elderly guinea pigs have long since been ignored by the kids who were so keen 7 years ago! Luckily we parents are always on hand ;)

He is 8 so around the age where I feel he could handle some responsibility for cleaning the cage etc. Although I’m sure that novelty would soon die!

I could be tempted by rats. I looked after some when I was a teen and loved them! They were boys and constantly weeing everywhere though.

Any recommendations on cages? I think we would start with 2 of them. Happy enough with them needing a lot of attention, we have a ragdoll cat who can’t be left for too long so we are used to pets needing us.

Rats are much more entertaining, but wee everywhere and nick stuff. Guinea pigs are sweet and abject little beasts with very little brain, but a great deal of heart. Guineas tend to live longer.

Both will need to be kept in (at least) a pair, and both can be found in rescues (although Guineas provably easier to find). Good luck whatever you decide!

Rats make excellent pets.

Rather than buying from a pet shop you could buy from an official breeder via the National Fancy Rats Society. <a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.nfrs.org/breeders_list.html&ved=2ahUKEwiSqPqilIvdAhUKK8AKHSfKDH4QFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw1SUNd6pJs3RSEi3ty9EqsQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NFRS

People who breed rats breed for health and temperament as well as different markings. They'd also be able to advise on diet and ways to interact with your pets. Pet shop rats are far more likely to have health problems eg tumours or respiratory disease.

Rats are surprisingly intelligent and affectionate and sort of (toilet trainable).

My pigs came from a local farm, they take in lots of rescues. Also check facebook for rescue places, there is at least one other in my city.

Personally I think guineas only make good pets if you are prepared to keep them indoors in a high traffic area. I've had my boy in the kitchen since he became a singleton and he is now really interactive. Yells at chats to us all the time and is in full possession of the fridge right by his pen. His personality has really come out and he's become a great pet.

However, he's more work indoors as we clean him out at least once a day. It may also not be possible with other, bigger pets around!

Sat at the end of the garden in a hutch I think guineas become reclusive and shy and really quite forgettable.

My 8yo DD got 2 male rats from PaH for her birthday in June. We did look at the breeders list from the NFRS but there were none in our county. We'd done loads of research, bought huge cage, lots of toys for enrichment, but she's terrified of them after one of them bit her finger quite badly. She'll give them treats, read them stories and makes lots of toys for them out of cardboard tubes, but she won't handle them. I play with the biter every day wearing gloves...

I read about letting them play in the (empty) bath so they are a bit more contained. They can jump out of it

Anything that is left anywhere near the cage gets destroyed (you live and learn). They live in her bedroom and she accidentally knocked her duvet off the bed in the night, the whole of the bottom of it was shredded to pieces by the morning.

They are so noisy at night as well I don't know how she sleeps. I have to wear earplugs in the next room..

But, they are such little characters I adore them - they know their names, play really well together and I wouldn't be without them now.

Rats. More affectionate and trainable. More rewarding (imo)

Rats! You need 2. I'd go for girls as they smell less. Id give the cage and a book on how to look after them for Christmas and let him choose his own once he'd read the book and agreed to the responsibility. We did similar with my DS and a Giant African Land Snail last Xmas. Santa doesn't bring animals you see.

You asked about cages:

They have to be BIG. Far taller than you'd imagine, ideally with plenty of levels. Rats are climbers and explorers, they need space and stimulation

Pets At Home are notorious for selling "rat cages" better suited to hamsters. The ferret cages are closer to what you want.

Definitely rats! Amazing pets. I really miss ours.

We had girls and they didn't see out of the cage but I noticed one would scent on me and on the sofa. Watch it if one is a jumper as well. We used to put them in a massive cardboard box as first to play but soon stopped when she started leaping over the side. Then we got them out in the bathroom and she would climb up the towel rail and leap over into the sink, usually getting wet in the process, she liked the water. We used to put water into a tub with peas in and she would splash about getting them. The other one would sit very delicately on the edge and try to grab the peas without getting wet.