by Troy Tarro

Created on: January 21, 2009   Last Updated: June 17, 2010

The Lovable Pet Rat

When people discover that I love rats as pets, the first question is always the same why? As predictable as their question is, so is my answer. A pet rat is like a permanent kitten; they just want to be held and loved. Contrary to other pocket pets such as hamsters, gerbils and mice, rats do not tend to bite. Rats are highly intelligent and can even be given a small measure of independence.

Picking Out Your New Family Member

In choosing your new rat, you really should double your efforts. Rats are social animals by nature and selecting a pair will not only improve their social behavior, but also has positive impacts on their health. Unless you have previous experience, I would recommend that the rats you select be of the same sex. By selecting young rats, you can most likely encourage the behaviors you desire. Young rats should appear clean and active. Their fur should be well groomed and free of any bald patches. Their eyes should be clear and vibrant. A young rat, while perhaps a bit skittish, is as anxious to meet you as you are to meet them.

Once home, your new family members should be kept out of breezes. While rats can take lower temperatures, they do not do well with drafts. Any home that keeps moderate temperatures is fine for a rat. Most pet stores keep a selection of paper-based bedding material for which to line the bottom of their cage. While pet store also offer wood shavings as a bedding option, the shaving often contain mites which will itching and hair loss in your new loved ones. Add a small clean towel or rag to their home and you'll find they will make a fine nest out of it. When the time comes to change the bedding, make sure to launder the towel also.

While at the pet store, you can also purchase their basic diet. Select a mixture of seeds and dried fruit designed for mice and rats. This basic food will supply the full range of nutrients needed for their health. Once back home, you can supplement this food with fresh fruit and vegetables. Rats particularly like blueberries, cantaloupe, grapes and cauliflower. Make sure their water bottle is always supplied with clean, fresh water. While bottled water is not a necessity, if you prefer it, they probably will too.

Life At Home

Your new pet is a social animal. They love to be held and played with, though they will also want to do some exploring on their own. Try at first to play with them in a confined space; so that once they leave you, you'll be able to keep an eye on them. You'll find that the rat will venture out and then follow its steps back to you. As time goes on, both you and your rat will discover the distance will increase, but that they will always come back.

A well adjusted rat can be taught some simple tricks, like walking between chairs on a roll of wrapping paper or climbing stairs. Your rat is looking to explore their boundaries and if they see it makes you happy, they'll be glad to try. While you as their loving provider may worry about them falling, due to their skeletal structure, a rat can walk away unhurt from a fall of ten feet or more. This of course is still likely to bring a scare, but it is definitely survivable. Afterward, you may sooth their worries (and yours too) or reward them with a little kiss another trick they can be taught.

In time, your new pet will become a loving member of the family. Both you and your rats will come to realize that their cage becomes a home and protector, not means of keeping them captivated. The love you give them will be given back and then some. Ideally when someone asks you "why a pet rat," you'll have an immediate answer.

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