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Rats
Jul 28, 2013 20:25:43 GMT
Post by miloooox on Jul 28, 2013 20:25:43 GMT
Has anyone got rats??
I really want one and would love a first hand account from a rattie owner (to convince my nan they aren't blood thirsty vermin!!) on how they behave etc.
Grrr they are just so intelligent and cute, i am literally dying for one and have been for ages!!!!!!
Hopefully i can convince her to let me have one!!!!!
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Post by petitsfilous on Jul 28, 2013 20:30:28 GMT
I used to own two females, Maisy & Lola. They started out in my living room and ended up swiftly getting moved into the porch. They blimmin' stink! But as long as you don't mind the stench, they make lovely pets. Short life spans. I'd advise to go for females, they smell a lot less  |
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toby1
Settling in well!
Posts: 59 
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Rats
Jul 28, 2013 21:04:42 GMT
Post by toby1 on Jul 28, 2013 21:04:42 GMT
They are great small pets, very smart and very clean. Shame they are misunderstood though.
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Rats
Jul 28, 2013 22:08:22 GMT
Post by gladys on Jul 28, 2013 22:08:22 GMT
I've owned 6 over a period of 15 years. One male and 5 females. I found them to be loving and very smart. They all enjoyed sitting on my shoulder in the evening while I watched telly and they all knew to go back in to their cage to go toilet while running about the room. They also learnt and came to their name. The only ones that smelt were the ones that I had in large fish tanks with wire lids, before I know that large cages were best (my first 2 rats which was 20 years ago). But it didn't do them any harm as my second rat Paige lived til she was 5 years old and survived an operation to remove breast cancer. I would love another one/two but really need to wait till we move to a bigger house so I can buy one of those 5 level cages on wheels. |
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Rats
Jul 29, 2013 16:18:48 GMT
Post by SarahHound on Jul 29, 2013 16:18:48 GMT
I considered rats for a while last year. The short lifespan and high risks of tumours put me off, not to mention the size of cage they need and the smell. A lot of owners say they don't smell as long as they are kept clean, which is true to a point, but even clean they have a scent that I personally don't like that much.
They are very entertaining to watch though, and very affectionate towards each other and humans. A lot of owners do 'pea fishing' with them, which is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. I'd like rats just to do pea fishing with them, hehe.
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Rats
Jul 29, 2013 17:40:03 GMT
Post by miloooox on Jul 29, 2013 17:40:03 GMT
petisfilous- Don't worry i don't mind the smell, i worked with some in pets at home and they did smell but it weren't too bad!! Plus i'd make sure to spot clean everyday (i think my nan would blow a fuse if they got really smelly so i'd be very on top with the cleaning!!!). Toby1- I know, i want one so bad!! I heard they clean themselves more than cats, grr if only my nan would listen!!! Gladys- Which did you prefer, male or female? Everyone says males are more docile where as females like to run about everywhere, did you find that? I'll make sure to get cages! In fact i've already been looking at one (i've planned ahead mwhahaha). sarahhound- I've seen the pea fishing on youtube omg i would defiantly do that with mine  They're so cute when they cuddle together!! I love how they love affection too, grrr i need one (well two so the one rat isn't lonely). |
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Rats
Jul 30, 2013 11:09:23 GMT
Post by gladys on Jul 30, 2013 11:09:23 GMT
Pea fishing is the best!!  Some of my rats also loved swimming, not all. But some went mad for it. Male or female is a tough question miloooox Out of 6 rats only one was male, Raymond was my first rat. He was lovely, he would make noises for me to get him out of his house and like nothing more than sitting on my shoulder while I did my college work. I had Ray on his own because my friend bred rats and he was the only male in the litter so I had him. All the others were female. My second rat Paige was very cute, she also liked to just sit on my shoulder and would come to her name. She was the one that got breast cancer at 1 and a half and survived the operation and lived to just under 5 years old. She was probably the best rat I've owned. Again only had her on her own as she was the last girl in the shop so I took her and gave her lots of attendtion. After Paige I owned two females together and they were completely manic, never keeping still and more interested in running about and playing when out rather than snuggling or sitting for a fuss. The last pair of females were more chilled out, they would have a mad run about but then would sit on shoulders or laps and clean themselves and liked to be stroked. Not sure if that helped or not.  I think handling them from an early age is a must, talking to them all the time and calling their name will help with getting them tame and wanting to be handled. As for smelling, all animals have a smell and if they are not cleaned out enough they will smell more. I managed to toilet train all of mine to use a small corner tray to go toilet in and they all would ask to go back to their home to toilet when out. I found the best thing to put in their cage was wood pellet cat litter, it absorbs the wee and stops the smell and also it stops rats from sneezing, a lot do not cope with being on wood shavings because of the dust. And the only other thing to say is the biggest cage you can afford with lots of ropes, tunnels and ladders etc is best. Save your money and wait until you can buy one of those huge on wheels cage, it will be well worth the wait. |
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Rats
Jul 30, 2013 14:06:27 GMT
via mobile
Post by charlottte on Jul 30, 2013 14:06:27 GMT
I've never had rats but know a few that do. I also worked with them at college and found the females to be calmer than males. The only bites I ever saw occur were from males. However, the rats were handled everyday by about 15-20 different students so were very well socialised I'm in the same boat. I'm trying to persuade my mam to let me get an African Pygmy Hedgehog. I've already looked at cages and stuff but she's not having it! |
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They're so cute when they cuddle together!! I love how they love affection too, grrr i need one (well two so the one rat isn't lonely). 
I think handling them from an early age is a must, talking to them all the time and calling their name will help with getting them tame and wanting to be handled.
