Rats, the full story, please!

[Italiangreyhound]

Hi, one of my kids is very keen to have two pet rats. I am not so keen. We have had a few pets (hamster and cats, not at the same time).

I am quite keen for my child to get experience of handling rats before we actually buy one, teenagers don't always know what they want.

Any advice about where to get contact with rats, be able to handle them etc before we take the plunge?

No friends have rats! Loads of friends with hamsters and none with rats!

Many thanks.

I agree rats are lovely pets, much friendlier than hamster, gerbils etc and very entertaining.
They really bond with you, so intelligent.
My DD’s used to follow her around the room & sleep on her lap.
We had lots over the years, best small pet for children, never seen one bite.
I was unsure about them when the children asked for one initially but soon fell in love with them.
As another pp said the only problem is their short life span ☹️
I’m with you on not liking wild rats, we loved dumbos, Siamese would be nice & definitely not wild looking 😊

@Italiangreyhound that cage is suitable for 4 female rats or 3 male rats (maybe 4 if they aren't too big). Pets at home says it's suitable for 6 rats but I would disagree with that. I don't know why '2 Max' is in the name!

When you go to a breeder, spend time with the rats. One of my rats in particular is a colour I really would have said I didn't like (dark grey, a bit like wild rats!) but she was particularly adventurous and friendly and liked snuggling in my neck/sitting on my shoulder when I was at the breeder's and so I was sold! There was one rat that was particularly cute looking, and at first I thought 'that's the one', but her personality wasn't quite right for me. I really think when you go to meet some, colour will go out the window!

@Italiangreyhound the second cage you posted I also considered. But it doesn't have very good reviews and is apparently quite flimsy.

"I don't know why '2 Max' is in the name!" I wondered if it is w max for ferrts or something bigger. The second @houseofrabbits is that the 80 something pound one?

@italiangreyhound The Savic Zeno one which you sent an amazon link to. I think the bar part is collapsible which sounds useful but I think is a bit of a pain when you try and clean the cage!

We've decided to go for three rat baby boys.

SQUEEEEEE

Oh well done!!!

You do know it's the law to post pics when you get them

Well, we've not got them yet! Two or three. Very excited. DD said I would fall in love and I have!

I love white rats and Siamese, Bintheredunthat.