Can you keep a baby rat?

[Lofgh]

We've found 2 baby rats. Don't think they're mice, tails too long. They look old enough to eat what adult rats would etc.

Can I keep them? I don't want to kill them. And I don't want them murdered if all it would've taken was for me to have them.

I has pet rats as a child, in England and from pets at home, but apparently they're domesticated and bred in India?

Thank you

Wild rats are not the same as pet rats. How old do they look? You might be able to keep them until they are old enough to survive in the wild. I've known people to syringe feed baby rats who's mother has died on cat milk substitute. Are there any wildlife rescue places that could give advice?

They look about 5/6 weeks. Very babyish features still but almost the size of what id say is a fully grown rat

I know someone who kept wild rat babies whose mother had been killed. They were very friendly pets!

I rescued an orphaned baby rat and took it to a wildlife rescue. They eventually rehomed it as a pet so I assume they can be tamed.

Can we see your baby rats?

Thank you so much :) I'm going to keep them! Not sure what DS will think... He ignores any animals at all costs, the same with people. He's 2.

I am a new member so I can't post a picture but I think I can post the pic tomorrow if anyone is still around

They are vermin just leave them where you found them.

If they damage your home (rats are amazing chewers) chances are your insurers will say they're vermin and not cover you.

Also think through the fact that wild rats can carry some serious diseases. And if they happen to be a mixed sex pair, they may well mate with each other - they're sexually mature at about 2-3 months old I think.

I would speak to your local wildlife rescue for advice.

Oh yuk. Disgusting. They're vermin. You don't keep wild rats! They're not the domesticated ones people have in their homes.

Honestly - don't.

The people with the horrible cruel reactions are the vermin, not the rats. I feel sorry for people who go through life without a drop of compassion for any animal that is not cute and fuzzy. How do they think that humans got to have any pets of any sort at all? All our pets descend from wild animals we tamed. A baby rat has just as much right to live as your designer labradoodle. And a "vermin" by definition is a nuisance to the household they affect, which for the OP obviously will not be the case if they are kept in proper conditions and treated with love and care!

There is no reason at all you can't keep them. I kept wild mice as pets and where I work (petting zoo) we have kept a wild baby rat as well.Just make sure you sex them properly or get someone with experience to do it. The last thing you want is more babies to take care of!

Also they are more likely for them to be carrying diseases that tame rats haven't been exposed to. So you will need to be extra careful with hygiene, washing your hands after handling them or their cage etc. You can get the vet to check for common diseases and you can treat some of them.

Make sure you handle them every day, multiple times a day if you want them to be as tame as a rat from a breeder. If they are young enough and you are consistent enough it should be no problem. My mice were like ghosts at the beginning, I never saw them, but after a few weeks they sat quietly in my hands and nibbled on their food.

They are very lucky ratties to have been found by a kind and compassionate human! Can't wait to see pictures!

Just to make you aware any threads about cute baby animals photos are Mandatory.

Rats carry a disease called leptospirisis. (Weils disease)
Looks like flu and is often fatal.
If you are considering this get advice from a vet and follow personal hygiene rules scrupulously.

Remember they may breed and will need separate accommodation because they will fight. BAD, DANGEROUS idea, sorry.

What the last poster said. It's a bad idea.

Oh bless you @Nixee2231

I sincerely hope you'd take in a whacking great adult rat if you came across one too? Make a nice bed for it or something

I'm happy to be thought of as vermin by you for not opening up my home to disease carrying rats. And don't kid yourself that they don't carry it.

But you crack on with your bizarre ideals

I've kept pet rats- join a group on FB, there will be fanciers who will be excellent at sexing them!

Also a better place to get advice from than here.

If they are the same sex they can be kept together but will need lots of stimulation. If not, they will be lonely kept separately so that's a bit tricky.

How very Phoebe Buffay of you I get where you’re coming from but honestly it’s not a good idea I would get in touch with a local wildlife rescue for advice

It's a very bad idea for the reasons mentioned.

Also its illegal to release them outside as they are vermin.
Please read this OP www.gov.uk/pest-control-on-your-property

It’s an offence to keep or release some wild animals, for example grey squirrels - you must kill them humanely if you catch them alive.

This means rats too.

I’d have them checked out by a vet op.

My daughters friend does this, she keeps rats as pets, some of them wild, and loves them. She’s constantly at the vets though, rats are very prone to tumours, and quite honestly I don’t see th attraction but she likes them and they are very domesticated.🤷‍♀️

There's a massive difference between a 'petting zoo' keeping wild rodents - they presumably have the expertise, facilities and commitment necessary- and a well-meaning but naive amateur.

We have wild rats multiplying at a huge rate 5m from our front door. They are wild animals that carry diseases and they revolt me. I'll tell you where we live and you can adopt the 40 or so babies here. You're welcome.

I can't help but wonder if their parent broke a leg ...

If you decide to keep them then if either are female she'll need galastop to absorb any pregnancies if she's over 5 weeks as they can breed at 5 weeks old. They'll also need testing and possibly medication for other diseases.

I've seen people in the rat groups keep wildies with various results. If you don't keep them I still recommend getting rats join Rat Care UK on Facebook for advice we're all a bit mad over rats and giving them the best care we can. They're amazing pets so loving, clean and can be trained. They're like tiny doggies and the love they give back is so wonderful.

Also since you can't post photos yet allow me to show off 3 of my beautiful boys Asmodeus, Geralt and Migi the result of a rescue having an oops litter and us deciding to keep all of them!

You won't have any trouble telling male from female if they are anything like pet rats! They have huge testicles