Rats As Pets

Are you looking for a new addition to the family that doesn't require the
maintenance and work of a dog or cat yet returns the affection and
intelligence of larger pets? Why not a pet rat? You may think of rats as
plague-spreading pests that will destroy your home along with you. But the
truth is that Fancy Rats are extremely clean and affectionate animals with

many variations from their wild cousins that you may see in ditches and
drains along the street or in the subway. The modern Fancy Rat is much
smaller than their wild relatives with variations in colors, tail
thickness, and fur types just to name a few. A common misconception is
that rats cause disease, however it was not the rat but the fleas on the
rats that carried the Bubonic plague. Also the domestic Fancy Rat that you
see today in pet shops, are smaller, friendlier, have softer fur, and
slimmer tails than their wilder ancestors. You will soon notice the
difference between males and females such as does (female) are smaller and
more playful than their scent-marking male counterparts. The buck (male)
is sometimes much larger, has coarse and oily fur, and is much more relaxed
and enjoy lying in your lap to be rubbed while you work. The Does may be
more interested in exploring your shirt, bra, head, pants, and any other
area that they can squeeze themselves into. Not to say that bucks don't
like to do the same. Most of a rats day is spent grooming and licking
itself to make sure that all of its hairs are in line and that their fur is
clean just like other furry pets. Still it is a good idea to give them
regular baths and grooming when you are able to do so. You may also want
to trim their finger nails often as one of their liabilities as a pet is
sharp nails that the rat will extend to grab onto clothing if it feels
insecure. Plan on trimming weekly if they are able to trim as they would
in the wild by climbing, digging, and hunting. Rats will chatter as sign
that they are content and happy which helps keep their ever-growing teeth
from becoming too long and in need of a trimming. Their teeth may also
need to be trimmed by a vet if they do not have enough toys and items to
chew on. Tooth color should be an orange or yellow that darkens as the
rat ages and matures. Fancy Rats can learn many simple tricks such as
learning their name, coming when called, alerting you to when they are
ready to leave a play spot, riding on your

shoulder, and even running up
and down your side until you get up and put them back. They can learn how
to get in and out of their locked cages at night, taking treats from your
hand or mouth if you let them. They will usually lick and kiss you as a
form of grooming once you have bonded with them, much in the same way as
dogs do with a member of their pack. Often times your rat may try and go

inside your mouth and remove morsels from your teeth so you may need to
keep a good handle on them. In the wild, rats would live in large colonies
called Mischiefs. It is best to get rats in pairs so that if you can not
interact with one several times during the day, it will have another to
interact with until you return home from work or school. Fancy Rats will
also put up with more tugging and hair pulling then some dogs will, by
younger children. Rats also do not need walks but may enjoy them riding
on your shoulder. Besides for a weekly cleaning, their food is much less
expensive than normal dog or cat food and do not require to be taken to the
vet for various shots. Most rats that you would get from a pet shop or
breeder will almost never bite you unless they are scared, about to give
birth, surprised or injured. This is one good reason why rats make lovable
pets. While domestic rats may not live as long as dogs and cats, about
two to three years is common and five is possible.