Rats

[Dinosaurfossil]

Hello,
I have 2 questions please.

1. Where’s best to buy rats? I know Pets at Home but are there other options?

2. Can anyone advise of a decent sized cage for 2/3 rats? I want them to be happy rats but cannot accommodate one of the massive double height cages I see on some sites. Thinking of something like this one, will this be suitable? Here

Hello,

If you're new to Rat ownership, they are terrific rodents, like mini dogs and very intelligent. I foster for an animal charity and have looked after quite a few rats, and they've been very hard to give up to their permanent forever homes! In answer to question 1.

1. Please please please do not go to or fund Pets at Home / Pet Shops. Their animals generally come from Rodent Mills or Breeders who exacerbate the problem of unwanted animals, just for financial gain. You can look up Rodent Mills, but it's distressing and multiple rodents are kept in plastic trays to be sold on or disposed of if they're not healthy enough. Please go to your local Rescue as your first port of call. Rescues are currently at breaking point and we're turning animals away, because of the above, but also due to people not properly investigating pet ownership and no longer wanting their animals, the majority of which are perfectly good pets. The rise in renting is another reason, with landlords not allowing pets. Your local rescue will know the history and temperament of their rats and can advise you on correct care and housing. Most Pet Shops will not sell anything close to appropriate. If you go to a rescue you will be funding an organisation committed to helping homeless animals, rather than creating the problem.

Hopefully a Rat expert will be along shortly to talk through housing in more details (I specialise in Gerbils).

Good luck and enjoy your Rats when they arrive! :)

Thank you Annabelle for that detailed info. I wasn't aware about issues with Pets at Home. I will find my local rescue centres when we are ready for our 'guests'. Many thanks

Can’t help with questions but just to say they are fabulous pets. So much fun. You do need to invest the time at first to get them used to being handled but once they are they are lovely.

Google NFRS breeder list, this will display breeders near you, but they usually have waiting lists.
Lots of rats, including youngsters in rescues too.

The cage you linked to is fine, just check bar spacing as some are too wide for baby rats and even adult does.

There's a good, fairly inexpensive rat cage sold online called Coco Large, or the Mamble is also appropriate.

Rats are awesome pets.