Rats

Hi All. I was wondering who here has rats (as companions). Any pictures of them or stories you'd like to share?
Please respect the thread and don't talk about the rats you might feed your snake.
I have two girl rats named Petso and Thora. I have had them 2-3 years and they were going to be feeder rats but I bought them and they live with me. I feel bad because they cannot roam free but they live and sleep together and have a 3-level large cage to live in. I will post pictures soon.

 

I used to have a couple of rats. They are fun little ones! My first one used to even cuddle up to our lazy cats. Even though people that I was gross for having them as pets, I loved them! I would love to have another one sometime. I hope you enjoy yours!

 

Jrpolarbear-
tell people who think they are gross that they are only as "gross" as you keep them. In fact, a well-cared for rat smells perfumey and they clean themselves constantly. I love the little rat hands!

 

i just love rats but i actually have never even held one before. i see them everyweek at petsmart (i hate that they live in that tank all the time - rats need some freedom and room to run around!) and i want to ask to hold them but its an all *male* store and their testacales are HUGE. it freaks me out so i'll wait untill i come across a female

 

i've got a rat, and he's an awesome little dude (well not so little anymore, but he was when i got him!). they're definitely not gross, and IMO, act more like dogs than rodents. i think they're definitely smarter than your average hamster or gerbil...but maybe that's just me. they love and actually need a fair amount of attention, and get bored easily if not given enough to do.

what types of rats do all of you have? my first rat was a hooded rat; now i've got an albino who i was given by a former teacher of mine.

 

I've got 2 fuzzlebutts..They are called Aisha and Tigerlilly. They are albinos and are GORGEUOUS and smell like grape soda.....

 

I used to have rats - five of them, two males and three females. They were way smarter than any other rodent, and even smarter than my ex's cat we had at the same time. At least the rats would come when you called them - stupid cat wouldn't do that unless you were shaking the food box! I liked how you could teach all the rats a trick simply by teaching it to the dominant rat while the others were watching. Funny how you could teach a trick to the smartest rat a lot easier, but as soon as you taught it to the dominant rat, they would all do it! Rats make very cool pets. Very cool.

 

one of mine just died, he fell off the table. my fault, i should never put him on the table

 

My friend used to have two rats and they were the coolest things ever! They were trained just like dogs and cats roaming free throughout the house. You could call them by name and theyd come running to you. Love'm

 

Kept them for many years, all were loving, adoreable little darlings. I miss them all!

 

HikerHauk-
I am sorry your rat died I had a rat named Lily before I had these two and I was so sad when she died. She was my litle buddy and we went shopping together.

 

you took your rat places with you? did you have a carrier or cage or something?

 

I am so glad to find a group of people who are into rats like I am! At the moment I have thirty of the little suckers and my rattery prefix is Rats Cetntral. I breed then for pet and show and at last year's Royal Melbourne Show I won three rosettes one being for Reserve Champion!(That meaning second best rat in the whole show!). I breed Rex and Standard coated rats in Topaz,Pink Eye White,Black,Agouti,Dove,Mink,Argente and Silver Fawn in Hooded,Berkshire,Spotted Down Under and Bareback. I got my first rat Charlotte in November 2001 and my latest additions are Mischeif(A Double Rex Pink Eye White),Nuts(A Mink Verigated Down Under)and Luca(A Black Verigated Down Under. I live in a one bedroon unit and are quickly running out of roon to house my little mites but I love 'em all the same!

 

I have three rats. Tobias is my satin seal point siamese, Oliver is my velveteen rex agouti Enligsh Irish, and Nathaniel is my standard beige hooded. Next month I'm getting a rat from a reputable breeder about 4 hours away -- he will be a dumbo, hopefully blue, if no blues are in the litter than it will be a blak self.

 

Aww that sounds so awesome!
I only have one rat, he's a big fat coloured rat and he's albino. They're the best pets. I dunno what I'm going to do when he's gone. His name is Mouse.

 

I like your comeback! My little guys always smelled good and were so happy. I think the hands are cool too! Most everyone that thought they (or I) were gross hated the "rat tails"! I thought they were cool!

Jess.

 

Our rats smelled perfumey too, and I found people would wince at their tails, never understood it, as i thought every little bit of them was perfect. EMMAh I love Mouse, I'd love to nuzzle his squidgy little body. I do so miss rats!

 

I first came into contact with rats when i was around 9 years old.. My brother pestered my mum for them.. Its something that soon became a hobby and despite mum saying no he got his way.. The population of our house spiralled from 2 rats to about 60 - 100 within a year all being kept in big cages out in the garage.. We paid to have the whole wall insulated and the whole area warm and ready for them.. I know during the winter and the late nights i would set my Pc up in the garage put music on and play games til around 4am the next morning..
As time went on we started to cut down on rats cut down on the breeding and also the cost of petrol went up so therefore had to stop going to rat shows and everything.. Despite having conflicts with other people at the show because alot of them were fixed and as per usual everyone took everything seriously so things got out of control.. So that killed the shows. l know that last year we had gone down to about 3 rats because we wanted to convert the garage into something else.. My sister now keeps the remaining rats who are in their second year of life so slowly the chapter is closing.. However if it wasnt for these creatures then i may not have had the experience and confidence to know what to do if come accross one how to treat them and so on...

They are by a mile the ideal pet..

Regards

The_Warden

 

I had a little carrier for her. Rats can also hang out in your purse if it is big enough. I always used her carrier or a big empty bag and had dry food and wet food (like apples) and towels for her. I would not suggest going for long outings. One or two hours at the most. And keep a carrier (like a vet carrier) in the car with a water bottle. Rats are tough little guys but you don't want to do anything to distress them or make them ill. Many places will kick you out if they see one due to health codes or simply because they don't know anything about them. But we went to the mall and the grocery store together. I can't do that now because my girls are too wiggly, but they have each other for company

 

ooh that's such an awesome idea! i might have to give it a try actually...only issue is that my little dude's not quite housebroken. any suggestions on rat potty training, anyone?