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Small pets

Mumsnet does not check the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you're worried about the health of your pet, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

I WANT A PET RAT

16 replies

Fanargadeb · 08/01/2008 15:55

i have a puppy of 15weeks a rabbit of 10 months and a baby of 8months but i really want a pet rat, my dh is dead against it always has bee but i ve wanted one for years the closest i got was a cuddly toy rat from ikea which he bought me to shut me up for a bit!!!!! any advice shud i go behind his back and get one, should i have one? or shud i just give in and accept i ll never have one? advice pleeeeeeeeeze

OP posts:

CountryGirl2007 · 09/01/2008 14:08

I say go for it! They are very cute and are supposed to be very intelligent as well. I don't know much about pet rats, but I'd say they'd probably like company? i.e. 2 rats.

You should also consider contacting rescues before you go to a pet shop, there are a list of rescues that rescue small animals as well on www.animalrescuers.co.uk

Oh, what sort have puppy have you got btw?

madamez · 09/01/2008 14:14

I am not sure that a rat and a puppy are the greatest of combiations. Also, if one member of a household seriously objects to the idea of a particular pet, what makes you think you've got the right to over-ride that objection when you've quite a menagerie anyway.

Now I wouldn;t dream of living with a 'partner' anyway, but if I had to share a house with another adult, pets of any kind would be a complete dealbreaker for me, I won't have them in the house. SOunds like your partner has compromised enough as it is.

wannaBe · 09/01/2008 14:14

vermin.

seriously though how much time will you have to spend with the rat, allowing it out to play etc, esp with a puppy and a baby as you won't be able to let the rat run about unsupervised with a puppy or a baby around.

I would maybe wait a few more years?

LittleB · 09/01/2008 14:14

I'd say perhaps wait a while and then get one, it can be your babys pet too when they're old enough to handle it. It sounds like you've probably got enough to keep you busy at the moment anyway! What sort of pup is it -I'm sure it will keep you busy for a while anyway.

wannaBe · 09/01/2008 14:15

erm I hardly consider one dog and one rabbit to be a menagerie!

singyswife · 09/01/2008 14:18

Hi, I have had rats for years (at one point we had 5) and they are great. Your dh doesnt have to deal with the rat he can just give it house room. I was against getting one and my dh wanted one so I compromised on the condition that they were his rats and he did everything for them. Now he has a job stopping me buying them everytime we are at the pet shop. As for puppies etc, I have 2 dogs (got one at 7 weeks while I had the rats) and I have a rabbit. They are no more work than anything else in your day to day lives. I say tell dh you are getting one but he doesnt have to deal with it, I guarantee you he will come round and love it, I did. Would just like to add though, dont just get one, they really like company.

binklegoestoLondon · 09/01/2008 14:18

rats do make fantastic pets - they are friendly, sociable and of course highly intelligent so very interesting. Also very easy to keep.

Sparkler · 09/01/2008 14:20

I have a couple of friends who own rats and they love them. But on the other side of the coin I have another friend who is a vet and she told me that they aren't very nice pets and are not clean. They don't appeal to me in the slightest.

singyswife · 09/01/2008 14:25

They keep themselves very clean and as for where they live, that depends on how often you clean them out. mine are done once a week and I dont have a problem with smell.

Original poster

Fanargadeb · 09/01/2008 16:13

my partner (nearly husband btw) loves animals its just anything with long tails he doesnt like! my puppy is a bit of a hinze variety mix! it looks like his mother was a staff cross jack russell and his father a rottie or doberman cross! a man was trying to dump him in the river behind us so we rescued him and named him Colin. my rabbit is named Neville!! and they get on great as my rabbit is a house1, they play together and everything! the baby loves them both he s always pointing at them but prob thinking what the hell is going on!!!

OP posts:

paulaplumpbottom · 09/01/2008 16:13

To each their own

Original poster

Fanargadeb · 09/01/2008 16:18

OP posts:

rdk · 09/01/2008 19:19

im waiting on pest control coming to my house as ive got something in my loft and walls you can hear it running round they think i have mice or rats waiting to find out, if i have a rat i will let u have that . i will let u know.

Lara2 · 16/02/2008 10:26

Rats are the most lovely pets! Anyone wanting to keep rats, or needs more information, go to www.fancy-rats.co.uk It's the best website I've found - I've had rats for a long time - 12 was my biggest number in 3 cages. I've got 3 girls now after years of having boys - very different!
Rats should always be kept with another rat, or more than that if your cage is big enough - they're sociable animals who will suffer by themselves.

CountryGirl2007 · 17/02/2008 02:35

They are supposed to be very intelligent, I think I'll get a couple of them at some point, as well as some degu's lol.

madamez: you are missing out on a lot by not sharing your life with some animals!

ArchiesMama · 17/02/2008 02:38

pet rats r coool

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