@@@@@ PET RATS @@@@@ ANYONE?

[controlfreaky2]

dss v keen for small furry rodenty pets. ds2 (thinks he)wants a gerbil. ds1 (and me) keen to find out more about pet rats.... brief internet search suggests they are intelligent and affectionate.
does anyone have them? what are good and bad points? are they very err "ratty" (iykwim).... will i feel an involuntary instinctive shudder..... since they are, whatever fancy colour coate they have, rats?

I asked this same question a while ago - will see if I can unearth thread - if not, the general concensus was that they are very bright and intelligent and make excellent pets !

ta v much. will try and search.

Rats are FABULOUS pets. clean, friendly, loving, intelligent....

Get a pair, same sex. I found my male rats were always more sociable than my female rats, but that might have just been pot luck.

Rats are prone to cancer though, so you need to be prepared for that.

Also, they can be territorial - possessive over their cage, so fingers poking through might not be appreciated! Once you get them out though, they are always glad to see you!

They are good fun, mischeivous, and you just get so much from them. I used to like it when they'd sit on my shoulder sort of grooming me!!!!

click here

charliecat also has rats, they are really sweet

i had rats. the best ones i had were three brothers who would follow me all over the bedroom. i originaly had the father as an only pet and he came everywhere with me. and he was the most affectionate. if you are willing ot put in thetime get one but if it will be on its alone alot then suggest a pair, males tend to be more social as females can be quite shy and timid thoug hi also had a pair of girs once.
pure whites do not tend to get cancer.
they do need regular cleaning but are not as smelly as other rodents. they eat anything! they are bloody great pets and hopefully my son will want some when he is older. of course not with the dogs i have at the moment.

thanks for all this and the great links.... am getting quite excited....
any tips on where to buy my rats from? would much prefer to get them from rat lover than pet shop... how would i know they'd been properly cared for etc?

wherever you get them from, a breeder is prob better as they are handled from birth and so tame and hand friendly. i had two from pet shops and they were quite big so not really babies, more like adolescents and they were hard to handle as they were hand shy. and to break that habit you are talking alot of time on your hands! get from a breeder.

mmmmm, but how the heck do i find one????
any ratty types on here in n london??

anyone?

That site I linked you to has rats they are looking to rehome.

I have 2 male rats (Mario & Luigi) and they are brilliant. I've had gerbils and hamsters and they have always accidently bitten when you put your fingers through the bars but rats don't, they are really sociable. Mine love hammocks made out of DH's old shirts.

I got my cage in the free ads in my local paper.

2 rats with cage £10

yuk.

rats are not pets, they are vermin.

the only good rat is a dead rat .

another London

more Islington

Rats are the best rodent pets in the UNIVERSE

don't heed expat too much - they're not everyones cup of tea. 'Fancy' rats are a completely different animal to sewer rats

oooh i SO love mn.
thanks everyone.

Make sure you post pics when you get them