Below are a few things to consider before taking on rats as pets. These are all things I would expect potential owners to have considered, and be happy with before homing my rats. This isn't to scare anyone off from having rats from me. These are things I consider very important to think about.
- Do you have the necessary funds for any medical emergencies? Or can you set aside a certain amount per month in a pot for this? Rats may be small pets, but they can come with big veterinary costs when an issue arises.
- Do you have an exotic vet near you? If not, are you willing to travel slightly further for veterinary care? Rats are prone to a lot of health problems, so access to a knowledgeable vet is a must. Sometimes you will have to travel a bit extra in order to get the correct care - rats don’t understand ‘we have no exotic vets near us’ when they are poorly.
- Do you want just one pet? If so, rats aren’t pets for you, so please reconsider. Rats are social animals and absolutely require same species company to thrive. They can be kept in pairs, but do better in groups - human company just isn’t enough. If you want just one small pet, a hamster would be a good choice.
- Do you have the appropriate, basic knowledge? Rats, just like any pet, require research before bringing them into your life. Make sure you are prepared before they come into your home. Basic knowledge on accommodation, health problems and enrichment are a must.
- Rats are very active animals, and require an active cage layout as well as time out of the cage daily. Are you able to provide this? Some people purchase unsuitable cages when first getting rats as pets and will ‘upgrade when they can afford it’, however I would not get rats as pets until you can provide an appropriate set up from day 1. Do you have the time daily to interact with them? Can you provide a safe area for them to free roam?
- Rats have a fairly short lifespan - the average is around 18 month to 2 years, but this is very much dependent on welfare, diet and genetics. Loving a pet and losing them so soon can be devastating, but as long as you are prepared for this before bringing them into your life