Anyone keep rats?

[sausageandpickle]

My 11 yr old son would like to have some pet rats - I'm not totally against the idea, but was looking for some advice/tips as the best way to do it, and any possible financial shortcuts (for example P@H only advise/stock one suitable kind of litter/bedding which as far a I can see will cost approx £16 a month - is there a cheaper alternative out there?)

At the moment we have given him a maybe, and if we do agree it won't be straight away, we are going on holiday next week, and he is starting secondary school, so would want him to be settled into his new routine before taking on the extra responsibility of his own pet.

We have had hamsters in the past, and currently have a cat and a fish - and I had guinea pigs as a child so we do understand the responsibility/work a pet is. Thanks in advance for any hints or suggestions.

Rats make fab pets!

They do need a decent sized cage and they are generally quite social so a pair would be good.

I've had 5 rats and used standard small pet sawdust for all of them with no problems. They are smart to so will need something to keep them entertained - a treat ball for example that you hide some food in.

As with most rodents the females are a bit more active and smell less than the males so it depends which would suit you best. In my experience rats love riding around on your shoulder or down your sleeve so be prepared for that!

I've never been bitten by a pet rat they are really friendly and a lot less skittish than hamsters etc. as you can see I'm a big fan. Good luck with whatever you decide

Great idea! Don't have any at the moment but I have owned several. They are easier to handle than little rodents and not nocturnal. I didn't use special bedding. Google fancy rats for info from the experts re food, bedding etc.
Jealous now and remembering the escapologist who liked beer but loved Baileys (never recommended) and came when called!

I used to, and agree with what Strawberrypenguin said.
Much better tempered than hamsters, and amazing jumpers and acrobats.Beautiful little paws and tails like silk.
I'd get girls though, males tend to have a stronger smell IME.

Thanks for your advice.

re the male/female thing - P@H advised that males are generally more placid? or is it worth having less placid females for less smell?

dont have mine any more but i've have males and females in the past. in my experience males love a cuddle and are calmer - but boy their musky odour does pong abit! females are more lively and definately smell better.

they truely are great pets, they do need a fair size cage and alot of human contact. one thing your son needs to remember is they dont have the best bladder control - so he may get messed on!

something my boys (alittle younger than your son) didnt like so was reluctant to play with them. but they wasnt bought for the kids interest - it was for me

i used the expensive bedding only because with 3 kids it gave me an extra couple of days before having to change the bedding. but you can use cheaper stuff - with regular cleaning. no harm in that.

you wont be disapointed, your going to love them.... i say them because rats thrive best with company good luck and im abit jealous

I've kept both before and they were amazing wee pets.

It is great to give them as big a cage as you can with lots of things in it. Check out a rat forum for ideas. They do need handling everyday but mine all loved it and would do tricks or sit on my shoulder cleaning my head

Boys do smell more and tend to be bigger and they prefer groups rather than being on their own.

They are my favourite wee pet as they have their own personalities

I'd get them direct from a breeder/rescue though

never kept rats.

DD and I were in a Pet Shop {not Pets@ Home) that had 2 female rats in a cage with a perspex divider and mesh wire at the roof.
They were Hanging Tough holding onto the wire with their little front paws, diving into their rat nest. And leaping through the space in the perspex wall.
They have got the most amazing paws, like little skinny hands and feet!
I would certainly train them to answer to their names because if they took a mind to escape, I don't think a mere mortal could catch them.

This was the female rats.
The males, in a seperate cage, were curled up sleeping.With their mahoosive rat bollocks in full view .

I think I'd go for girls if it was down to choice.

I say do it! Haven't really got anything to add. I had 2 girls and they were lovely. The friendliest one would sit on my shoulder while I went about my business. I was told boys are friendlier but their mahoosive balls scared me a bit

Females are a bit more active, depends what you want really. I've kept both and they are all just as friendly it's just the females are a bit more responsive and curious whereas the males are more sedate (and bigger)
Males do smell more but I don't think it's a bad smell as long as you clean them regularly which you should do regardless of gender.

Here are loads of up to date articles, pretty much all the info you will need.

Rats make brilliants pets but they are quite a big commitment, they need lots of exercise and stimulation. I have four boys and love them to bits

Check out the Fancy Rats website, all the good, up to date info you'll ever need. Especially about cages and the sort of bedding, litter to use or what not to use!
I kept rats for a few years, they make brilliant pets, but are quite labour intensive as they not only need cleaning, but lots of time out of the cage each day too. I preferred boys, but it's a very personal thing. A good idea would be to visit someone who has rats or go to a show and talk to the owners and handle the rats.
Also, I'd recommend not buying from a pet shop - the rats are rarely handled from birth and can be jittery and a bit nippy (a rat bite is rare but not nice). Fancy Rats has breeder info and rescue info too - I never had a problem with rescue rats only with the 4 I got from pet shops.
Enjoy them, they're fab pets!

Thank you everyone for responding. Sorry i didn't reply sooner but been away on hols - think the initial idea to wait for a bit was a good one, as now he is asking about snakes ..... I need to know he is committed to whatever type of pet he ends up with, so another wait is in order...

hi sausage,

just remember no child is 100% committed to pets, theres always friends to play out with, cartoons to watch, game consoles to play etc better things to do then clean out a smelly cage!

what ever he decides to get, keep in mind that it will be left to you to look after does he loose interest. think YOU will need to have more of a say about what he gets depending on what you prefer to end up with.

my boy wants a snake - but as a mice keeper i couldnt possibly feed it a pinky mouse so we went for rats :)

YY child commitment- my DS is nearly 13yo and my DD is 10.
We have 2 guinea-pig boars and TBH DS is a bit meh with his pig. (Originally I would've had GP2 but he said he wanted one)

DD and I do everything for the GPs (I do all the cleaning. DD helps feed and is very hands on with them- checks them over, helps to bathe, cut nails).

GP2 doesn't miss out because the hogs are cleaned/fed/cuddled together and 99% of the time I cuddle him.

DD is surgically attatched to her boar. I have had to apply for permission to care for him when she goes on her school trip

Another thing to bear in mind with exotics- it's more difficult to get someone to look after them when you're away. And any good retile retailer will want to know that you know enough about them before they sell them . (How do you know if a snake is ill ? )

Does your school have animals? My DD helps out with the school rabbits and chickens (but her guinea-pigs are much nicer )