Rats & Mice as Pets

Why Rats make great pets.

It is claimed by some that rats have the intelligence of a dog (and you won't have to take it for a walk). A rat can be trained to come when it is called, sit on your shoulder or in your pocket, play games and wrestle. They are affectionate and make good companions. Rats are mostly nocturnal so they will be most active in the evening when you are home. They are also cheap to maintain and you can go away overnight and not have to arrange for the neighbours to look after them. As with all pets, vet bills may be considerable. If you can't afford vet bills you should not get a rat. They keep themselves clean and, provided you make sure the cage is cleaned on a regular basis, they do not smell. Rats rarely bite unless hurt or frightened. Rats are around 50-60cm from nose to tail and can weigh between 200g-600g.

There are a few minor drawbacks to these "pocket pets". They may chew objects such as electrical cords and furnishings. This behaviour cannot be changed. To avoid this happening, never leave your pet unattended when it is out of the cage.

They also tend to mark their territory by leaving urine trails. This behaviour is mainly found in males, however, some females may also do it. This behaviour is difficult to change however some males may improve with neutering. The last drawback is their short lifespan - rats live on average from 2-3 years.

Choosing a Pet Rat or Mouse

It is recommended that you purchase rats that are 4-6 weeks old. Only purchase your animal from pet shops or breeders that have the males and females separated. You will need to spend some time with the litter before making your choice. You are looking for an animal that is interested in you and does not appear to be too afraid. Frightened animals may not be well socialised. Put your hand in the cage and let them smell your hand. Some may even climb on to it. These are the ones that you will make your choice from. When you have selected an animal, let it investigate you - if it appears to be shivering, this animal is scared and may not make a good pet.

Now it's your turn to investigate the rat. Make sure it has bright shiny eyes and appears alert. The fur should feel soft and lay flat along the body. Feel the skin to make sure there are no lumps or abrasions and check to see that there are no lice or fleas. Also check that there are no lumps or bumps on his legs or feet. Listen to the rat's breathing - there should no wheezes or sneezes and no discharge around the eyes or nose. The rat should not bite. If it does bite, choose another one.

If the rat or mouse appear to be listless, sitting in a hunched position, has a dull coat, runny eyes or nose (discharge may be reddish in colour) or have lumps on any part of the body, do not purchase this rat.

Males are larger than females. Males also tend to be less active and placid and usually just like to hang around whilst females are usually very active. Male rats can be neutered to allow them to be kept with females or to reduce aggressive behaviour toward other males.

We recommend purchasing two rats instead of one. Make sure you purchase animals that are the same sex. Rats are social animals. While you are home, the rat has someone to play with but if you work or go to school, there are a lot of hours when the rat will be left on its own. Having two rats is just as easy as having one. They require no additional space and will give you hours of pleasure watching them play together.

Having two rats will not decrease the rats' interaction with you.