All Comments: Pet Rats

Well, my first litter dropped today. I didn't realize that Juniper (my little fancy hooded rat) was even pregnant until the day before yesterday. What a surprise! We have 13 little babies- they're so CUTE! We had one pass away though, and I'm heart-broken about that. But still, I'm super excited!

I have a white albino rat called Percy. I got him for my son 2 years ago and I fell in love with him. He's still going strong and has never bitten me.He's only just starting to like a cuddle, where as before he was to busy exploring :) The day he goes will be a very sad day indeed. I am now a rat fan cause they are just amazing pets <3

I have 21 pets. Needless to say I've got a bit of a full plate and my parents aren't allowing me to get anymore but that's alright. I had two black hooded rats: Sapphire and Meadow. Then Sapphire got an intestinal tumor and we, unfortunately, had to put her to sleep. Meadow started lying at the bottom of her cage and was clearly depressed which made me upset. So recently I decided to get her a friend. So I ordered a baby hooded rat for her and when I got to the petshop to pick her up there was one baby but there was also a baby feeder rat in the same cage. The owner of the pet shop looked at me and said, "She's free if you want her. I'd rather see her go to you then be sold as food. It makes me sick." So I took them both. The albino/feeder rat I named Cupcake and the grey hooded rat, who has remarkably huge ears for such a little rat, I named Willow but Willow's sick. She's sneezing and coughing and a little lethargic. I have antibiotics that I'm supposed to give to her 2x's a day which I started doing when I got her (today) so hopefully she'll get better again. The odd thing about Willow is that her ears are HUGE! They're like a Dumbo rat's ears! Which is strange because she's a regular fancy rat. Anyway, although rats don't live very long, I think they make the best pets. Because of their personalities and their mischievous and playful nature. I love my lil girls. :)

Dani- There are several pet stores in NY to go to that are reliable...at least there are if you live on LI. If you live out by the Hamptons then there's Reptile Robs, where I get all of my pets from in East Quogue. They're cheap (money wise) and will order anything for you without asking. Also there's Petco in Riverhead, Hampton Bays and probably more up the Island.

My rat, Grapes, has major fleas. I didn't notice til now. This website helped so much!!!

My son and I went to the pet store a few weeks ago, he loves to go and visit all the different animals. I happened to notice the rats, and asked about them. We ended up bringing one home. We named her Beatrice, or "B" for short. She is hilarious! She will take popcorn and pumpkin seeds right out of my hand to snack on... We love her and are taking excellent care of her. I would recmmend getting a fancy rat to anyone who knows they can trust children with them (not to squeeze them etc.) as they are very domesticated, and not what you imagine a "rat" to be like. Very loving.

I have a question regarding different species of rats co-habitating with each other. I already have two female rats and was wanting to know if placing a third, but hairless variety (also to be female). Would this be okay?

I am a proud owner of 18 pet rats. I have one Russian blue male who is 1 year old. I have 2 of his babies (1 male, 1 female) who are blue berkshires. I have one blak hooded female and I have one agouti vari female who just gave birth to 13 babies. I have owned rats for about a year and I can't imagine life without them. My Russian blue male (T.C) is the sweetest little guy. He loves to give kisses to everyone. He accompanies me everywhere and people are always amazed that a rat can be so sweet. There are a lot of misconceptions about rats. I hope that websites like this raise awareness of the BEST PETS IN THE WORLD...

I got a rat for my little girls as a bargain with my wife. The first one I bought was Lloyd. Lloyd is a beautiful little silver and white rat and is very calm and loves to be rubbed behind the ears. After doing a little research, I found out they like to have cagemates so I went to pick out another one, but my 5 year old liked a little black and white one "Floyd" and I liked a solid brownish grey one "Boyd", so I bought both of them. They immediately fell in love with each other (literally). I found out soon after I got Floyd and Boyd home that Boyd was the only male (they were all supposed to be females. Now I'm trying to figure out what to do because Boyd is very amorous! I love all three of them already but I don't think I have enough room for all the offspring that I'm likely to have. Got to hand it to Boyd...he's tireless! After a few days I can tell you that Boyd seems to really love attention (as if he doesn't get enough). It seems to be true that the males are much more social. If I keep all three looks like I'm going to have to get anther aquarium (or 10). The girls love them, and the wiener dog "Zeigler Frank", is absolutley amazed at them. Now I've got to get my wife on board. Maybe she will empathise with them when they go into labor. One more thing...does anyone know of a "girl" version of the names Lloyd and Floyd?

Hi There... I Have A Pet Rat Called Crackers.. He Is 2 And A Half And I Got Him As A Christmas Present From A Friend Who Breeds Rats..In The Past Few Weeks I Have Been Noticing A Change In Crackers Breatning Almost Like He Is Wheezing.. Also As I Clean Him Out Once A Week And Play With Him Eveyday His Fur Has Little Brown Bug Like Creatures in it i am not sure if they are lice fleas or ticks.. and can i catch them:S I Am Booking An Appointment For The Vet.. But I Really dont want too lose ihim as he is a great friend and is very well trained.. if somebody noes what im talking about then can you please give me advice.. thank you..

I've had numerous pet rats over the last four years and each has their own personality and quirks. I've had cuddlers, adventurers, and diva's - each a close friend. Loki would wait for me to get home from work and greet me at the door when he heard my car pull in to the drive. He'd climb up my leg, onto my shoulder and lick my bottom lip when I'd say "give mommy kisses". Tony Montana loved to be slid across the floor like a bowling ball and would play fetch with toys and balls. Zoey was a mother 3 times to a total of 36 darling babies. All of our friends used to shy away from the idea of a rodent in the home, but my blue dumbo Skillet melted all of their hearts with his huge ears and tiny body. He's got the silkiest dark silver fur and is cage mates with a fluffy siamese rat. The fur by his ears, tail, face and feet turned dark just like a siamese cats. I read that the color change is temperature related - colder zones turn darker brown, the warmer zones stay a creamy off-white. My boyfriend was indifferent to rats when he met me. He got along well with the 3 rats I brought into his home, but got the full effect of special bonding when we picked out baby Hash-Bones and Skillet from a breeder friend. Now he treats them as if they were our children. Loving and caring for these fuzzy buddies have brought us a little closer to each other, and turned all of our skeptical friends into rat enthusiests.

I love rats as pets. Recently my 3 I had passed away so I am looking for a new young rat companion. If you know any stores in upstate NY please comment. :)

I just got a Rat. She is so cute. She is albino w. red eyes. Her name is Lilly, and I got her at a Mall in Upstate Ny. My mom said not to get a snake or spider, lol. So she didn't say no Rat, so I got a rat. She is cute. My mom was thinking of the other kinds of rats, like when you go into alleys or something. She feel in love with her. Thanks, I love the Confedrate Flag

My pet rats are the smartest and most loveable rats I've ever had. I'm a teenage girl who loves the unusual, so naturally I decided I wanted to breed the animals my parents dread.... the RAT. it started as a back sass at my parents, and turned into a wonderful pet-owner relationship. only a couple of my rats are still with me now, including my favorite Rollie Pollie Ollie's. When all of my friends saw how cool and friendly Roll's is, they wanted his babies. (some people wanted the rats for snake feeding purposes) and i sleep with my Rollies in my shirt sometimes. he's so cute.... want a rat?? lol. love Kenzie Email me if you'd like to see photos of the babaies! texasmccoy@hotmail.com

Rats make fabulous pets. I firsted encounter a rat at my local pet store and fell in love. I ended up with 3 of them. Two are calm and love to sit on my shoulder or in the hood of my sweatshirt and sleep. Along with my 3 female rats are 2 "cow babies" as I call them, aka black and white mice, and another grey silky mouse that I added today because he was not accepted into my mouse tank; I suppose because the female had babies 2 weeks ago and she did not accept the new male. I would recommend a pet mouse or rat to everyone. And I would also recommend them to be in pairs, never alone, especially rats. They are very social and need a lot of attention. If someone wants only one rat, I would suggest that he/she would get several hours of attention a day to keep them happy and healthy. I truly enjoy my pet rats and mice, and I hope that everyone else does too!

Rats and mice are the most lovable little critters to keep as pets. They can be taught things like tricks, their own name, other names, to come when their called and even to use one corner of their cage to go to the toilet. I have two hooded female rats (Katie Yvon and Stella Anne) with a hooded male mouse (Chow Ling) in the same cage. Be very careful when introducing rats and mice together because in the wild rats with kill and sometimes eat mice. I don't recommend keeping male rats with mice. Females may be okay because they sometimes see them as a defenseless baby rats and adopt them like mine have done. Katie will actually carry him by the scruff and take him back to the rat igloo. Rats are just as tame or even more tame than cats and dogs. I am so attached to my rats that I could never give them up. My rats are honestly the most important things in my life. When I got Katie she was just a pet, then she turned into my daughter....

I'm a proud owner of four little rattie girls and I have to say, I've never met any pet more amusing. They mainly eat rodent block with some cereal mixes but scraps are a frequent and they're just absolutely adorable when it comes to lettuce. Little Dini (Houdini) is infamous with our friends and family for her escape attempts and we swear one day she'll give us a heart attack from her antics. Lily and Sage absolutely love to just be with people and greatly enjoy being petted. Then there's Coda (our little fattie) who loves running around in her ball and exploring. We've never had any biting problems except with Coda who does have a bit of vision trouble. Possibly the cutest thing though is that they'll groom your fingers through the cage bars. I was honestly shocked when my dad agreed to getting pet rats (this is the man who said no to pretty much every other pet imaginable) but I couldn't imagine life without them now.

Hello people, just thought to pop a few words in. I have 2 rats-misty a brown hooded and snowflakes a pink eyed white. I've had misty for a few months and she;s the cutest little thing I've ever seen. Runs up and down my legs, all over my back and arms, and we also play tackle, lol. I use my fingers and hand to rub and flip her around, she has a fight with my fingers, runs off then comes back for more,lol. Snowflakes I got a few weeks ago from a private seller and got told she might be pregnant, and behold as of nov 23rd she has a litter of 10 pups. I'm keeping a few and the rest I'll find homes for. Well what can I say, they make good pets if you treat them right, loving affectionate and loyal. As for conditions, mine are in a middle size wire cage for now, have to get another soon. I use shredded cardboard as bedding mixed with some soft-sorbent from kaytee. I use a rat seed mixture, blocks and vegetables and fruit as dietary needs. Some lava bites from pet-stock are good for teeth, keeps them sharp. I let them out to explore the room for about 2 hrs a day to run and play, which gives me time to spot clean the cage. Once a week I do a wash and full change. Since I've had them both I've never been pooed on, they house breaked themselves. All in all they make great pets. Hope you people have fun with them, I do.

I have 2 female rats along with a male mouse and the rats treat the mouse like a baby rat! (LOL) They get along fine together and both rats and mice make excellent pets! Shez

I love rats and I have one. His name is blue and he is a russian blue.

Hi my name is Lily Rosen and I love rats!

My rat lived for 4 1/2 years with no health problems (unless you include death). I will forever miss Ralph. He ran loose in our apartment and usually ate what we ate. He did also eat rodent mix. However, we would make him a little plate and he would sit on the couch next to us and all 3 of us ate dinner together. There was nothing cuter than watching him eat fettucine alfredo! He also slept with us. Lol. The only thing I do not miss is the holes in everything--sheets, clothes, etc. However, every time I put on a pair of jeans with a hole in it, I do have to remember him. Ralph--best pet I ever had.

I got my first rat about 3 years ago. I had to put her to sleep because she got breast cancer. My other rat seems very sad and lonely now as she is getting older. Rats make amazing pets and I love mine. They are very smart and very sociable. Mine love to run around with both of my doggies.

I got 2 cute rats for pets and my female is a lover, and I got them from a pet store. I really haven't messed with the male one yet, not sure about him. Theresa Jones, Eureka Nv

My boyfriend and I just a few months ago bought two little lady rats from our local pet store. They are hooded rats. Cherry is black and white and Honey is fawn and white. We are thinking of getting another one since our two are so much fun. At first my boyfriend was hesitant on getting them, but they just looked so sweet to me! Their his best companions around the house. They love riding on his shoulders and sleeping on his lap when he's at the computer. Our two cats don't bother them, they know they'd be in big trouble if they hurt our ratties. My family thought I was silly buying rats, but they love them now too, and they watch my girls when we go on trips. My mother puts them in her apron pockets. ^^

Hi I have a rat called Ruby who is very old and has a huge tumour, I also had one called Anna who was Ruby's sister but she died :( If you're getting a rat don't choose a fawn hooded one (that's when they have a fawn head and fawn stripe down they're back) because all of mine have died very prematurely and caused a lot of heartbreak. Don't worry if you're rat has a tumour because all mine who've had tumours have lasted a long time, Ruby is 3 years and she should only live 2 years really. Never pick a rat which is smaller than all the others because they don't live long either and that has caused me a lot have heartbreak too, pick one which is of average size to all the ones in a same litter. Hope this helps Cath x P.S I love you Ruby, Anna and my rabbit Bugsie. xxx

I am the proud owner of a male rat who is almost 2 years old. Shooter is the best pet I could have asked for. My son and I adopted him from our local pet shop when he was 3 months old as a Christmas present to ourselves. We only have him because he gets soooo much attention every single day, hours of attention! His cage is in the living room because we spend most of our time there. He is incredible with my 6 year old, my son was 4 when we adopted him. Shooter is so patient with him and has even learned a few tricks from my son's training. I am an experienced rat owner, I had 13 at one time when I was a teenager. I hate when people look at having a rat as "wierd". They are just as smart and loveable as any dog or cat, maybe even more. I will be a rat owner forever, I cannot get enough of their cuteness! My advice for anybody debating adopting a rat - be prepared to be involved with your rat every single day, keep their cage clean and their food coming, and they will adore you like nobody else!

I got a male rat and I wonder how long it will be before it is comfortable with me lifting it. At the minute it's still a little timorous!! Thanks, Steph

I have 3 pet rats which I rescued from my local rspca branch- I also happen to work there. All 3 were abandoned- Ronaldinio (Ronnie) was actually thrown over a garden wall when his owners moved house. My 2, 5 month old girlies, Honey and Poppy, were also abandoned, in their cage, in they're home when their owners were evicted. They really are like little dogs! Ronnie loves to have his head scratched and is always bruxting...and boggling. They are very loving and affectionate. I'd recommend ratties to anyone and everyone. I'm totally hooked!

rats! They rock. You can teach them, breed them, or even love them. They are clean. They are nice and sociable. I have 12 rats and a room just for them. My cats are scared of them and my dog loves them. peace out.

I had two a long time ago, Margereet and White Rose. They are great sweet loveable cuddly pets. If you have them with children (especially younger ones) make sure they are supervised because they can scare the rats and rat bites hurt a LOT. So with a younger child that can be a bit of trouble. But I still recommend them as great pets. Mine were. I had them for 5 years. They died when we kept them at a friends, who rescued cats (no they had NOT been eaten by the cats). We had been moving so she was the only one who would take care of them for a while. They had a long happy life.

Rats are really good pets. I have three. Ringo is a male and two female youngsters called Alex and Daisy, they are twins!

Hello, well I got a male albino rat and he's got sores on the lower part of the jaw (near the neck) but he seems fine. I'm planning on getting him a mate this weekend and I'm going to breed them. I love rats and I have taken care of them since I was seven. All I can say is that they get so many, so be careful... As this page said, just buy a pair if you want babies. Once I got 4 rats (1 male and 3 females), the next month they multiplied to about THIRTY... HEHE

OMG! I am getting a rat in 3 weeks and I wanna be prepared! They are CUTE!

My step brother is getting a pet rat and he is getting a big cage, how cool is that!

I have one rat named PJ. I would reccomend a pet rat to almost anyone! They are very smart. They learn to love you very quickly. My rat PJ is actually a feeder rat. I saved him from my aunt's python. I actually thought a feeder rat would be very mean or agressive. But nope! I had him in a bird cage until I got back home to indiana from georgia. He escaped out of the birdcage five times when he was a baby and we even had the cage in a bath tub. I was suprised he still managed to crawl up the slick sides of the bathtub. He was so scared when I first rescued him. They put the feeder rats in little tiny plastic containers. I was so sad they would do this, because when he looked up at me with his little scared face, I knew I had to rescue him! I took him out of the container and he just curled uo in my hands and shook for awhile, then he fell fast asleep. I love rats!

I have 4 of my own rats and two that I gave to a friend and they are the best pets I have ever had. I can bring my rats out on a leash and one of them even stands by me without a leash when I walk on the street. Everyday they show me affection and learn something new! I strongly recommend pet rats to anyone. Even my little sister who is nine years old loves them.

Initially, I was reluctant when my boyfriend came home with a pet rat five years ago. However, I like to think I'm an open-minded person, and I gave the situation some time. I came to love having rats around, and have been in ownership ever since that fateful day so long ago. Like most owners already know, rats are incredibly affectionate, social, and intelligent beings. In addition to providing the best company, many of my rats were capable of learning a plethora of tricks. As a matter of fact, my very first rat would fetch, dance, bring home kill (most of which we permited him to indulge in on his own), and go for walks without a leash. He even ran away for three days and sought refuge with my neighbor two doors down. When we appeared at our neighbors' doorstep and called for our rat, Splinter, he came scampering toward us in delight. Since then, we've had multiple additions (intended or otherwise) and of course, losses. However, no matter what each one brings us, we're still loyal fans. I'm so glad to see the popularity of rat-ownership is so strong and catching.

I have 7 rats and they are so precious! I love them to pieces, and they make extremely good pets.

What really is cool about rats is that their personalities are so different. Some like to groom all day, some always fall over, some eat all the time and are chubby, and some are skinny and ignore food. Some like to fight, and so on...

I've always had rats, and they get on well with my cats - they even feed from the same bowl! I have 3 males and 3 females living together, 2 of the girls are blind and the 3 males have all had the snip. They get on well and have established a fairly strong heirachy; but saying to get animals of the same sex is fine, if only to save the potential owner £65 of vets fees so they can live together, however their primal instincts need to be taken out on someone. I had 2 males who had to be seperated as they began to take their sexual tension out on each other and eventually led to an early grave for one of them after he took his frustration out on his food bowl which landed on his back and paralised his back end. My 6 seem to be handling each other fine and will let each other know if something is wrong, my dominant male is lovely he cares deeply for the 3 girls and is willing to be beaten (to an extent) by them to keep the peace. Personally I prefer males because they are more sedate, my girls are always on the move and won't stop for anything but some food and a drink. I highly recommend rats as a pet for anyone!

I have four rats. Nibbles is a female Himalayan dumbo, Mittens is a black rex dumbo, Crystal is an albino fancy rat and Topaz is a black fancy rat. It is cute to see them all running around together and getting into trouble. They like to lick my face and annoy my bunny. Rats are one of the best rodents because they are very social and like humans, unlike hamsters. Rats also come in lots of different colours and breeds so you can pick which type you want.

I've had several rats over the years and females seem to be slightly friendlier than the males. However the last 3 female rats that I have had have developed mammary tumors which can grow rapidly. It cost $200 to have them removed (if you can find a small animal vet in your area willing to do so) and unforuntately, they almost always come back. 1 was a black rat, 1 was a blue dancing rat and the one I currently have is an albino so it does not appear to be limited to a particular breed. Snowball is 2 1/2 years old and had a very large tumor removed last year and it is now coming back. It is an unfortunate side to selecting a female but rats do most certainly make wonderful pets.

Rats are the number one greatest pet in america! I have had rats since I was 5 y/o! I've never seen a rat bite. My 4 y/o sister loves to play a little rough with my rats and still they never bit her. My rats loves to play with my aunts puppy and my dog. I have 2 females in one cage and 2 males in another. Rats need another rat to socialize with. 2 rats are just as easy to take care of then 1. Rats will often die sooner or get depressed if alone. Rats are the cleanest of all rodents! They are the nicest in my opinion. They love to be held, Some will even lick you. All my rats love sitting on my shoulder while I do homework or play my nintendo DS. Rats are great pets. I recommend rats for everyone. My rats even play with the 2 y/o boy that I babysit. Rats are the perfect pet. The only thing is that rats do need a big cage. I have a ferret cage(3 stories) for my girls and a big like 5 story cage for my boys. Rats need at least 2 stories. The bigger the better. My rats all love their hammocks. Do not use pine bedding because all the dust gives them respiratory problems. My rats use rat blocks for food(from petco). My rats favorite snacks are peas, corn, cheese, crackers, strawberries and sometimes I give them left over meats like chicken because it is good protein for them. Rats are great pets!

rats are really fun pets to have and they are easy to train. they need alot of love and hugs and a partener to keep them company while your not around.

I used to have a wonderful blond rat named jean-bob. he was a great companion and lived in my home for several years. his favorite place was on my shoulder and he loved to crawl into my hair. he had a cage that he stayed in when i was not at home. ferret cages seemed to work wonderfully for all the rats I have owned over the years. They tend to find a way out of the lids on aquariums. Jean-bob is the only rat I ever owned that liked hot tea. He would go crazy over dried cranberries. When I would go to bed, he would bang his toys against the cage, run around, and make every noise he could until I would bring him to bed. He would then curl up in my hair and go to sleep with me. In my opinion, rats are the best companions. For adults and children. This article was very informative, but everyone should know that as long as you care for your rat and love them, they can be the best companion you ever get.

Please do not use glass aquariums. Rats need a cage that allows for air circulation - cross ventilation. Rats eaily get respiratory infections if they do not have air circulation - cross ventilation - in their cage.

I have two rats the first one Napoleon Dynamite (blue hooded rat) the second one (a hairless dumbo rat) doesnt have a name because i got him a couple of days ago and still hasnt really been sutable for any names. Napoleon is about four months old and the hairless rat is 2 and a half months old. i didnt really know anything about rats when i got Napoleon and the Petsmart lady didnt really tell me much either, in fact she had never even picked up the rats and was very frantic about me deciding. but i love my little boys and will cherish them forever:):):):):)

Our lives were enriched with a a very special female (hooded doe) rat. My daughter named her Fiona. In the beginning, she was housed in an adequate cage with toys. But as time went on, we caved in and gave her free range in an unused room. We set up a bedding area with old blankets and two bowls (food and fresh water) accesible. She relished rat treats and occasionally human treats too. We interacted daily with Fiona. She thrived with our companionship. Everyday was special. She lived her life with us and for us. We gave her love and in return she loved us unconditionally. Unfortunately, at age 2 years and 4 months, she had succumbed to cancerous tumors and was put to rest on June 8, 2007. Our sadness still remains and there will never be in our lives a more magnificent pet.

I have about a six month old male fancy rat, and his name is Mickey. He is very curious, playful, and social. He loves to curl up in between my neck and chest. But beware, their claws are sharp, so you might want to wear something their claws cannot puncture. I didn't know much about rats when I first got him, and the Petsmart people weren't very helpful either. But this website pretty much gave me the heads-up on what little I did know about rats. On a scale of 1 to 10, this website gets a 10.

premixed foods are not necessarily "balanced" many of them include fillers like corn which can carry mold, alfalfa which rats dont digest very easily, lots of seeds not ideal for rats, etc etc. check out Mazuri brand lab blocks made for rats, not rats, mice, and hamsters. they are all very different. breeding because "you want babies" for a few weeks is not a good reason to breed an animal. i doubt most people know how healthy the blood line of there pet is or have housing and $ enough to properly care for a litter as they get older (of any animal). otherwise its just another litter added to the millions of animals that needs homes, its just selfish. help a needy animal and adopt/rescue

My boyfriend and I own two lovely lady rats called Meg (albino with beige hood) and Maddy (albino). Always have more than one rat. Aside from the fact that they will be happier and healthier, it's fun to watch them playing and wrestling and building nests with their bedding together. I wanted to mention that healthy rats can make noise other than the distinct "eep" sound. But it's most likely something an owner wouldn't notice until they spend quite some time with their rat because it's a very soft noise. Rats sometimes grind their teeth together to wear them down, making a sound referred to as "bruxing". They do it when they're stressed or relaxed. You may also notice their eyes "boggling" at the same time when they're really happy. Although sometimes I think they do it for attention too. One day my boyfriend was sitting at his computer. The girls were leaning so far off the bookshelf we keep their cage on they were almost falling off (we always keep their cage open when we're home and awake) and they were bruxing so loudly because they wanted to sit with him that he could hear it through his headphones. He, of course, picked them up and they snuggled together between his shoulderblades. That's another thing. Ratties can be pretty spikey, it's best to wear layers as they like to hide.

I have an albino rat and her name is Mitzy. She loves to play with my dog and he loves to bath her. She likes chasing my cats when they come near her, grabbing their toes or tails and they all run from her. She likes ridding around on my shoulder and climbing in your shirt. She is very gentle and beautiful. What I love most is she even gives kisses.

i have 2 adult dumbos, templeton a female, and george a male; and they just had a litter saturday.

I own two litter mates, does. This is the first time I owned a rat and I got the two. Their names are Maura and Mercedes! I love them so much and I want to know more about what Im doing. So I was looking at different sites to help me better understand and this site is a "winner".

i got 5 does, 2 hooded and 3 dumdo. Great website.

Hi! I have one albino rat name Kayla and she loves to get out of her cage. I got her 2 years ago. She loves cereal!

I'm doing a project on rats because i have one named rattus. i named him that because it sooted his personally. i also have a cat named moggy. rattus loves cuddling up to moggy, it is really strange because it is like they are in love. but they are both boys and I'm sure they aren't gay. ps i lov this site name:tomorrow rose age:13 country:Australia

yep i love this site. it helps me know if my rats are going to be ok and healthy. i have 3 rats; der des, nubberlous, and buttercup and i love them all. they mean the world to me :D

my rats, spencer and gerry, have diarrhea a lot. so i was glad when i found a website with the answer in it, and so many amazing facts. this website is brilliant!

Rats are great pets! They are, like mentioned earlier, dogs in a small package. My rat Chester died just under a year ago and is dearly missed. Rats are perfect pets for kids who have never owned a pet before. They can be fed table scraps occasionally and they dont have very strict dietary requirments like Chinchillas and Sugar gliders. Rats bond closely to owners and are extremely smart. They do like large cages. Bucks (boys) and Does (girls), make equally good pets but Bucke tend to be slower then Does, and more incined to sit on laps. Does are happy to be on the move, exloring. Their are exeptions to this rule though! Rats need lots of toys in their cages, to keep them from getting bored, as they are very smart. Rats should be kept in groups or pairs, as alone rat needs 4 hours of human intention a day. Rats should be fed rat fod, either a mix or lab blocks. Mixes have the down side of the rat being able to pick his or her favorite food and not eating the healthy parts. Lab blocks are really better, as they wear down the constantly growing teeth and provide all healthy nutrients. They dont add much variety. I fed Chester both, and he lived to be 3. Thats the down side of rats. They have short life spans of 2-4 years. Rats also can NEVER be housed on ceder, or pine, actually, no rodents should. Chester had on-going health problems from his original pet home housing him on ceder. Rats should have clean water supplied daily in a plastic or glass water bottle. Beware of plastic, which is easily chewed. Play time is very important, and you should spend at least an hour a day with your rat. As for the puchase, the best place to get a rat is from a local, private breeder. Especially if you have never had a rat before. If you must go to a pet store look for one that keeps the rats off of cedar or pine. Also look for a rat that is responsive, playful, and has clean fur, bright eyes, no discharge around eyes or nose, or a dirty under belly. You should have a wire cage with nessasary supplies aready set up at home. But always remember, if you want a rat research their care. dont be afraid to ask rat breeders questions and ask questions on forums. Enjoy your new best friend!

Hi First of all I'd like to say that it's good to see another site with information about rats. I've been a rat owner for many years, and I think they make fantastic pets. I would, however like to point out some information. Almost all rats will show signs of Mycoplasma Pulmonis or "myco" (pneumonia). (More on this later). They are also very prone to tumours, which are usually benign and easily removed by a vet. I'd add a note that it's important to have a contact vet before buying rats, as there will almost certainly be reason to go at some point in the rat's life. This can get expensive, their vet bills are not cheap. I've seen a rat with a benign tumour three inches across that the rat was dragging behind him because the owner didn't want to pay to take him to a vet. Secondly "when buying a rat"... also "listen for any sign of wheezing". Any sign of the rat squeaking that is not a distinct "eep" is myco (pneumonia) and needs to be treated by a vet IMMEDIATELY to avoid lung scarring which can later lead to other health issues. Also it's important to always buy more than one rat as rats are social creatures and need company. Females are livelier than males and will be more "fun". Males are quiet and will be more "cuddly". Environment: A handy guide to calculating cage size is two cubic foot per rat, which means the minimum cage size for two rats would be 4 cubic feet. Rats are very active and need space to move around. Rats can't tolerate as high temperatures as we can, and too hot is more serious than too cold. If a human is feeling "warm" then your rat is probably too hot. If you live in a warm area don't buy rats. Don't keep rats in sunlight, and if it's an unusually warm day make sure they have plenty of water. A good "house" for rats is a hammock. Just tie a piece of old clothing, about 1' x 1' up by the corners and you'll find your rats love sleeping in it, or just lying there observing the world. You can make double layer hammocks too, and the rats will crawl between the layers. For bedding pine shavings should never be used since the phenols in the wood (the nice smell) cause lung damage. Nutrition: You should add something to the cage with calcium, since rats need a lot. Bird calcium stones are good for this. Social behaviour: No, one rat is not ok. You may think you can spend a lot of time with the rat at first, but nobody has as much time for a rat as another rat would, and they need companionship for grooming, playing, etc. Most rat "fights" you will see are actually the rats tickling each other. Rats have the same "tickly tissue" us humans have and they love flipping each other on their backs and tickling. When they do this they "laugh" although the sound is too high pitched for the human ear to hear. Breeding: Putting one male in with several females is a recipe for disaster! Each female could have 15 kittens, which would mean 45 extra rats if three females were in the cage with one male. True, sometimes they might only have, say, 7 kittens, but that's not a risk to be taken. Also before breeding you should know where you are going to rehome the rats. Breeding and giving to a petstore just for the sake of seeing you rats breed is not a good idea, however cute it may seem. Fathers can NOT be left in with mothers, since the mother can (and probably will) get pregnant again the SAME DAY she gives birth, which means she will have a runty second litter as she is still feeding the first litter. Female rats can reach sexual maturity in 5 weeks, which is earlier than the males. If the father is left in the cage you will have all the female kittens pregnant after 5 weeks, as well as the mother. Ailments/ treatments: For any of the ailments I'd recommend going to a vet immediately. Any sign of sluggishness is probably a sign of sickness, watch the rat closely. Any redness around the eyes or nose is porphyrin, which is a sign of stress (like tears in humans). Porphyrin is probably a sign that your rat is sick, and you should see a vet. A common misconception: Any sound at all, apart from a clear "eep" when the rats are playing, or hurt themselves (or someone tries to steal their food, etc) is a respiratory problem. Rats DO NOT "talk" to their owners with small grunting squeaks - this is a respiratory illness and has to be treated as soon as possible with antibiotics. Please feel free to verify anything I've said with a rat club, such as the Rat and Mouse Club of America: www.rmca.org, who have a very informative website. Regards, Johanna

I only discovered that you could have a pet rat after reading about it in a book, and im glad I did otherwise my three pet rats (Yoko, Maisy and Rufis) wouldn't be here! they are extremely happy here in their 3 story cage. they are really clever and are great escape artists but best of all, very lovable! I have learned a lot from this web-site as well since one of my rats has had diarrhea and I was a little bit unsure what to do. now I know to stop feeding them all those lettuce leaves:P

Hi there! I'm gonna name my rat Mo. I hear that it is better to get a young rat, so I'll check it out. This site as some really good information. Thanks!

My friend and I just bought two rats from the Humane society. Their names are Chile and Pepper and I love them.

I would have never considered ever getting a rat, I always thought they were dirty and carried diseases. My fiance talked me into getting one, since we were having so much trouble with hyper hamsters, who were loud and annoying! I absolutely love my rat WALKER..he is the sweetest pet I have ever had. He is friendly and comes when he is called. He also knows when we put our hands in the cage to climb right into our hands. We made him a 2 story "apartment" and he absolutely loves it. He has various tubes and climbing things also. He loves to play and loves being held. I love rats and I am so glad we have one!

i think my rat is amazing and i love her and i would never give her up for the world. i named her frisky because she soo fiesty and stuff

good company and inquistive

what a great site dedicated to our friends and family .. mine is called Sadie, a big healthy male black hooded rat, and the love of my life. he's the best companion i've ever had on the couch when watching TV and never argues about the channel! living on my own i enjoy cooking for 2 and being able to share what i eat with him, he's my best food critic .. ha ha.. his silly antics keep me laughing for hours. sometimes he has free run of my bachelor flat and i have on occasion woken up with him curled up in my bed. as a student we share the same hours, sleep all day, party all night so it's always a joy coming home and he's up wanting to get some love and a run around. only prob is he keeps stealing my smokes, especially when it's the last one. he's crossed borders with me and is now joining me in embarking on the next stage of my life .. leaving the student life behind and starting to work. in about a month we'll be moving into the vast and lonely African Bush together. i can't think of anyone else i'd want with me ..

rats are great. they have to be the funnest animals to have and you do really get attached. one of my rats died from phenmonia and i cried for ages and ages. now we have 2 new ones, roxy and tia. i still miss my old rat but love these ones too. i recommend rats to anyone, they are great.

shavings are never good for rats, carefresh, yesterdays news of the cardboard squares are the best. also it is never ok to keep rats on their own ever, unless they have severe behaviour problems. rats make fantastic pets providing all adaquate measures are taken to keep them as happy as possible. also tanks arent suitable, large tall cages, preferably aviarys, or the critter 3 (pain to clean) are the best, critter cages are inexpensive too

Pet rats rock! I grew up with serveral hamsters and one mouse, because my parents would not let me get a rat. Now I am married and have my own place, and 6 rats. They are a lot more friendly than hamsters and mice! They like to be picked up, and they love spending time playing and cuddling with you!

My fave of all pets! I made the mistake of getting a male & a female, and eventually I was raising them for pets. I had every color variation of hooded rat there was. A wild rat got into my house once, and my tame rats Big Daddy and Aristotle killed it! No joke. They are great!

Hi Everyone, I've only had my little ratty for a few weeks, but she is already a far better companion than the man I thought I was going to marry ever was. She's just like a mini dog, and heaps easier to look after. I'm hoping to get her a playmate soon too, because I feel bad leaving her alone all day. Keep enjoying your rats everyone, and let the human 'dirty rats' of the world look after themselves. Del in OZ

my pet rat's name is wendsday. it is gray. it is the cuteist little thing, i love wendsday.

My name is Sarah I am 13 years old & this is my story and advice. In 2003 I got my first rat, he was beautiful. he was a friendly soul and I trained him to collect treats from my hand. he would have left over's from our dinner's. He liked sultana bran and fruit loop cereals, also chocolate but I couldn’t give him too much. he also liked MC Donald’s. we used to go for walks around the garden with him on his harness. His name was Scabbers Charlie Huntley. He was my best friend and a family member. I, and my dad built him a cage, it was 3 stories and was 1.30m across and approximately 1m high. he loved it. it took 4 weeks to build and was much better than a metal cage. 4 and a half years later Scabbers passed away from old age, on the 6th August 2006. I was devastated. it was so hard to let go and I miss him and love him. Now I have recently gotten 2 new girls called Saffy (Safire) and Amber. My dad and I are starting on a new cage for them. I guess what im trying to say.. ‘Is rats are the best pet you could have, they 'rule'. You get so attached to them and when its time to say goodbye its like really loosing a family member. they are that great. Rats are the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I think every rat deserves respect, they are miss judged. They are actually cleaner than any other rodent and if you are planning on getting one, then you should. All you need to do is change their food + water 1 every 2 days, clean them out 1 or more times a week. Then your rat will be your friend for life. They are easy to train and you should get a large cage for them to play in because they like to have space to play and run in. they should be able to see you. I hope if you decide to get a rat… you have as much fun and happiness as I have with mine. Good Luck xx. P.S. my old PJ’s make fab platted ropes and hammocks. P.P.S. I would love to own some dumbo ear rats… if you are or know anyone who breeds them please E-mail me on rats_rule2006@hotmail.com thanks...

Rats are wonderful pets and are very loveable. I originally bought two rats: Midnight and Coco(both albino),whom the guy at the pet store assured me were both female. But three weeks later, it turned out he was wrong. Coco had two babies, one was stillborn. The surviving pup was named Fufu and he is now a very lively and inquisitive six-month-old. I love all of them and they are very rewarding pets but they are by no means a responsibility that should be taken lightly. I would definately encourage any potential rat owners to buy from a reputable breeder if at all posible. And research diligently PRIOR to puchase, by book and by web in order to make a clear decision as to whether or not rats are right for you and to be well informed so that your new friend can have the best possible life.

We have 10 rats. They are WONDERFUL pets, we call them our appartment dogs and they really are like little dogs. Each of them knows their name and will come when you call, or when you shake their treat bag! one is a hairless variety, hes the best! I Love Them!

I think rats are the most amazing pets they are intelligent and are generally clean and easy to look after. I have very special rats because they are adult and they are still hairless! they are bald. my friend got them from holland and they are really cool. i think you make them by breeding two rex rats together but im not sure. they are very rare even on the internet

I have four small kids and we had a pet rat and he was great. He was so cute and friendly and if my husband would let me get one more I would. We have a hamster and two rabbits.

Brown rats and black rats are not breeds of rats. The most common breeds of rats are the norweigan rat and the roof rat. The norweigion rat is the type of rats that are sold in petstores. They prefer a mild climate. The roof rats are not normally sold as pets and prefer more tropical climates. The roof rats were the rats responsible for spreading the bubonic plague. Not the norweigion. But the plague was not even the rats fault, it was the flea that lived on rats. I thought I would clear this up for you. because i believe people should be informed with correct information.

I have 4 rats who are all very sweet. There names are Fuzz, Pogo, Cysco, and Flat. All of them were rescued/abandoned and are all now happily living with us now. When we got our first rat, Fuzz, we would've never thought that we'd end up having 3 more later on. They're just so sweet and are in some sorts better than a dog could ever be. We're so happy to have all of them now and we will always have at least one in our home!

Wow. Rats are one of the best pets you can have. I have two, Abby and Alice. They love each other to death. My boyfriend has fallen in love with them as well. I advise to anyone and everyone, rats are the pefect pet for all sorts of people.

I have two rats a black one and a tan one.

rats are the best pets ever and they each have their own little personalities. they are great for little kids. they are so freindly its like having a super tiny dog. its also a perfect first pet! if you are thinking of getting a rat becareful where you get it, i would recommend a breeder. have fun with your RAT!

I have 3 rats, JT, Nanook and Knuckles. I got them when they were babies as it's easier to have them get used to you easier. I feed my rats lab rocks because it's basically all they need for the real food and I also give them some pet store food. The lab rocks I order because I think they are the best, Harlan Teklad since I started mine with store food and 2 of them got fat. LOL. I call one kissy, kissy because he loves to and another is the clown. He loves to play and when you throw a cat ball with the bell in where he is, he will come out with it and put it in your hand. The third one I have is the bully of them. When rats get to involved with each other and fighting I just spray them with water and they will stop. I am hoping soon to get a couple of Dumbo rats. They are so cute. My other rats are albino's. I carry one on my shoulder when I go to the bank or other places as the last one I had a while back used to walk by my side on the sidewalk with no leash at all. We had fun. I think the reason why my rats got so big is because the dog food I was also giving them is high in protein. They love their peas though. They are great to have. I have them over a friends house who owns one of them. I have 10 cats at home so it wouldn't be a good idea to bring them here. :)

my rats sandi, toffie, and angel are the best pets ever. they need lots of attention because they get fussy and hyper if they dont get out. they are so cute. they are also cake addicts.

my rat is called Toffie and she has a big nose but she is cute. i luv her, she is so cute.

A better MINIMUM cage size for two rats would be 24X18X24. I say for two because rats are highly social creatures and keeping one rat alone is like solitary confinement for a deathrow inmate. They need the company of their own species no matter how much time you spend with them. Two or three rats make for much happier and healthier rats than one lone poor baby. So, bigger is better when it comes to cages as rats are highly intelligent and very active. Don't forget to put all kinds of fun stuff and toys in the cage for them. Also, commercial pre-packaged rat food is not nutritionally sound for rats. They are mostly low quality junk food full of fillers like alfalfa that rats can't even digest. Ideally they should be fed a homemade diet of lowfat, low protein dog food, as well as grains, and fresh foods like fruit and vegetables. There are many rat diet recipes available on the web. I use one called SueBee's mix (google it) that I adapted my to my rats tastes and the nutrition info I researched on the web. There lots of info out there on how to make a healthy varied diet for rats. Initially it may seem overwhelming to make up your own diet, at least it was to me, but it will be worth it in the end since your rats will love it more and be happier and healthier. If a homemade diet is out of the question, a high quality rodent lab block supplemented by fruits and veggies is the next best thing. Above all, rats are fabulous smart and adorable little creatures. I'd describe their personalities as a mix between a cat and a dog. Every day I'm amazed at these precious little creatures. I have five boys and wouldn't trade them for anything.

For anyone who is a bit warey of having a rat as a pet, like i was a first. Don't be put off by what people say about them, they are one of the most loving pets you could have. I had a rat named Max. He was gorgeous, i took him everywhere with me in my hood on my coat. He would just crawl upon my shoulder and into my hood and sit there looking out whilst i went shopping or anywhere. He was the most well behaved and easiest pet i have ever had. Sadly when he was 5 he died. But I will definitely have another oneday. They are great!

Commercial rat food that you can buy in pet stores is not an appropiate diet for any rat, lab block excluded. I have had almost all of my rats live past the age of 4 not using commercial diets.

rats are probably the best pets living. they are so sweet! my rats are very very nice. I love rats!

i work at a pet store and i was not quite sure about the rats. but now i love them. i have 2 hooded one is blk and white the other is tan and white. they are so cute my kids just love them. my 5yr old daughter's daycare class named the one shamrock because i brought it home on st patricks day. and the other is named estes after the company my husband works for. i think rats are great pets and i recommend anyone to get one.

I have just got new Rat and we named her SuSu and I put her in the cage with our other rat that we had (Ling-ling (a girl). Well I had thought that they would get along and at first Ling-ling started to smell her and then i walked a way and she started to pick on her. I put Ling-ling in her ball to give SuSu time to get to know her new place. I got on this site and read about they habbits. thank you so much. without you i would not have known what to do and expect.

i've got 2 rats. One is albino and one is black and white. The albino ones name is Shazzia and the other ones name is Dream.

thank you, this information helped me alot!

I have owned a couple of rats over the past few years and I will admit that they both have proven more inteligent than my yellow lab. If you spend a couple hours with them everyday out of the cage, they can be trained to be free in a room or even a house (with consideration to hazards,) to roam free. I had much more time with my first, I let him roam free on my desk at work, and he would try to wrestle my fingers and pencil when I was doing my homework. Very personable, very playful.

I love my raties. most people think that they bring diseasess and they think of sewer rats. If you are a person looking for a pet, it is perfect pet. Rats are dogs in a mini package!

hi, i had a comment earlier, just wanna say this is the best site for animal info i have EVER heard of. i tell other friends in need of info about this site. thanks, and keep it up!

Awwwwww! Snowflake looks just like my little Moonlight. She's a albino rat too! My sister looked up on the internet what was the best pet and the rat came up! part of Moonlight's tail came off and she was crying but she never bit me! She chatters all day long and loves to sleep on my lap. :) and I agree with Laura, Moonlight is the best rat I've ever had and I highly recommend getting 1! their the best! (Moonlight was the first pet I've ever had that lived over a week... isn't that sad? Poor Whitey, Joy, Scribles & Nickels.) :(

Baby rats can be so cute, can't they! Well, I think both adults and babies are precious animals to own.

Rats are wonderful pets, but I don't agree with them being good pets for children- as their bite is very painful and they squirm quite a bit. But rats are NOT cage pets, they need attention every day. I also think that rats get sick easily. Even the most cared for rats will probably contract cancer or myco later in their lives, and natural deaths are rare. However, they do have great personalities (much better than mice or hamsters) and are inexpensive. I very miss my two rats, which were like dogs and even came when their names were called.

Woo-hoo! I'm almost positive I'm going to get 2 rats soon and I absolutely can't wait! My friend has rats and she says they're freindly and adventerous! They're so easy to hold!

i have a pet rat named Trixy and she has been the best small animal pet that i have ever had! i love her so much and she is so smart! i highly recommend getting a rat as a pet...they are great!

Hey guys! I have a rat named gilda and she is soo cool! I am at this site to get lots of info on rats and you guys have lots. thanks for the info! and i think vanilla is a little too plump!

i just got my rats today! i got two, one is called matilda and the other is called masha. they are so adorable! i just love them. matilda is scared right now, but it is ok to be scared first. I LOVE RATS.

Rats are actually very clean animals and clean themselves as much as a cat does.They are very loveable and should have a buddie in the cage with them. Give them baths when needed! Be sure to clip their claws if they are scratching you too much. If you want a laid back rat who will sit in your lap and eat popcorn with you get a male. If you want an active rat who probably wont sit for too long get a female. I personaly prefer males, I have a male rat and he's so laid back and loves to hang w/ you.

hi, i got a rat a little over a week ago and i am addicted to it! i've already litter training it and everything. hes shy, but starting to be more playful. They recognise and bond to you unlike many other rodents. When people say rats are dogs in a smaller packeage,,, BELIEVE THEM! P.S: RATS RULE!

Hi, I have a dumbo rat. I got him just last night and i'm totally addicted to him! When we brought him home i gave him a piece of Ghirardelli chocolate and now he is so addicted to it. They are really cuddly and each one has a different attitude. I definitely prefer them over hamsters. They are clean, loving, don't bite like other rodents, can actually bond to you, and can be taught as much as dogs! When people say rats are dogs in a smaller package, BELIEVE THEM!! i recommend them to anyone with the time that is allergic or cant manage to take care of a dog or cat.

I love rats and have always had a pair on my shoulder for the past 4 years. I just recently had a litter out of my beautiful American Blue Berkshire Standard and my handsome Agouti Berkshire Dumbo. This site has great information, but I would like to suggest changing a bit of information. The father should always be removed when the babies are born until they are weaned. There are two very serious reasons to this, male rats may randomly kill the newborns which happens more than often. Most importantly is that female rats go back into heat an average of 36 hours after birth, being bred so soon is endangerment for her current litter, her upcoming litter, and most of all your beloved girl.

It was a very good piece of infomation except that you haven't put; if your rat does this then you should do this that and this! for example ( this is true because it is about my rat) the only thing my rat chews that hard and that can wear down his teeth is his rat nuggets that i have mixed in with his food. i am worried this will cause eating diffaculties and i will have to take him to the vets! i just hope he gets into the habbit of chewing things that he is aloud to and that are hard. he is young though so that might be the cause! Temuera (Temmy for short)xx

My rat ringo is so cute and he is very loyal. I feed Ringo on Rats nuggets, a mix of gerbil mix that can be fed to rats and a few banana chips. Ringo loves banana chips! you can persuade Ringo to do anything if you have a banana chip!! he is a big softy and you can take him out any time you want! ( out of his cage) i know that in some infomation books about rats it says you shouldn't but i still do. i mean i take him out of his cage while he is sleeping. i wake him up by gently stroking him on his head between his eyes... his favourite spot ;)!!!! I got my first rat when i was five and my little bro was 3 and my big bro was 7. my big bro had a rat and a guinea pig and we used to sit in our kitchen and i would be sitting with my rat and he would be sitting with his guinea pig. never his rat. mine was called Jake. His was called Gregory. you see, when we bought mine, my big bro wanted one so he got one. he felt sorry for gregory because he had no hair. he had a terrible illness. then when he got older, he got better but even worser in a way. :( the illness had afected his behaviour and he got very, very, very visious. even when you put your hand in his cage he would attak your hand. your rat should never be like this and you will probably never see a rat this visious in your entire life! thats how rare it is in rats to find a visious one!!! Jake on the other hand was totally the opposite. but sadly, she passed away of Brain Cancer. i was crying for weeks!! :( we eventually gave up on greg and we had to get him put down :( thats my story and its true!! :( unfortunately :(

Rats are great. they are not dirty at all and they are so cool because they are cheap but can learn tricks like a dog.

My pet rat, Pepito, I had since he was a little pink ball of skin (Baby),lol. he got bigger and bigger and now he is about the size of a guinea pig! He is really tame. I could even let him on my computer desk for the WHOLE DAY and he won't run away. hes practically as loyal as a dog, and he is smart. if you want the ultimate rodent, get a rat

rats really like yogurt, and sit on your shoulder well. Very curious, i got two females.

My pet rat (Sofie) is absolutely adorible. This web site has helped me be more prepared to handle and care for Sofie. You might ask your self if a rat is a good pet for you or a loved one, well it is. He/she will cuddle you when sad or derived. Also will let you just have fun. Sofie to me is valient, because I have three cats and one dog in the house and now she is one of the gang. If you have a pet rat good but if you don't, get one and see how fun and easy it is. Sincerily, Cody and Sofie

Rats are wonderful pets, but you should ALWAYS keep more than one as they are very sociable animals and love each others company!!! They are very intelligent and interactive, they should not be kept on wood shavings, as it releases harmful phenols which can cause respiratory diseases and even cancer. Most shop bought rat food is not very healthy, as often it has too much seed in it, which is too high in fat and protein for them, you can look on rat sites on the internet for homemade mixes, which are a lot healthier! Rats are wonderful pets!!

my son got 2 1 yr old pet rats for his 13th birthday a couple of days ago and he is absolutely in love with the little guys. my son says he loves them more then our cat because they are more loving and the rats loved to be held. (dont worry about the cat....the rats scare the cat so our kitty stays far away.)

rats are cool pets. my rat had babies today on august 26 2005

I have 3 rats. I have had more in the past but they have died. Rats i find are the best pets anyone can have. One of my rats is a dumbo eared rex rat. And she russian blue. She's really cute if you think about it. But my other two are just as cute. I find that my rats are very healthy and are not very picky. They will eat anything thing. But i find that different seeds are their favourite. For their treats they enjoy either fruit, yogurt pieces and little pieces of dog treats. Rats pretty much eat anything. And if u think about it, rats in the wild eat anything and they live a healthy life. So even though store bought rats are not the same kind of rat from the wild. They are still pretty much the same. Except they don't bite like wild ones. So as long as u don't give them chocolate or candy. I find that my rats live a good healthy life.

Rats are dogs in a smaller package! If anyone out there has their kid wanting a dog, but it's too expensive or you don't have time or space for it, rats would be the perfect replacement! They are absolutly affordable(I spent $150 canadian for my three), they take up very little room, and they don't need very much attention as long as they have another rat to acompany them. They are incredibly intellegent and can even learn tricks! They can intertain children for hours! They make great first pets too, seeing as how they are easy to handle and take care of. They really are the perfect pet!

I first got a rat for my birthday and I named her Zoey but I ended up having to take her back cuz she was agressive..... I got a new rat, her name is Aruba but we call her Rubi(Ruby). She is the best! every time I make a kissy noise she comes out of her house and comes to the cage door. she knows i am going to give her a treat and take her out. she is a white rat with a light brown hood and a light brown spot on her back. she is so cute! I love her so much! Even though rats have a bad reputation with many people, which is because they think of sewer rats, is not a good enough reason not to like them. when i bought Rubi I didn't know she was preagnent.... they didn't tell me and on sunday she had still babies... she is okay now. I love you Rubi and I miss you Babee( my old pet hamster)

From experience, rats need no more than 15-20% protein in their diets or their skin will scab (called protein itch). Main foods should be lab blocks (pellets) and veggies, fruits, and some special treats like yogurt, crackers, and cereal. Mixed seed foods are not good, so stick to pellets. Dog and cat food/treats have too much salt for a rats' system, so sticking to rat food is better. Any table food you wouldn't eat shouldn't be fed to your rat. Also, rats have extremely sensitive respiratory tracts, so any ammonia buildup in the cage or extreme temperature changes may make them sick. Rats are very prone to tumors, and checking your rat regularly for unusual lumps is a must! Finding tumors early may save your rat from a lot of discomfort and even death. My rats are extremely healthy and happy because their diets are balanced, they have plenty of toys and wood chews, and they spend quality time out of their cages. Oh, and they LOVE bird toys and anything banana flavored!

I have a pet rat named Big Bunny, and he is the sweetest thing! He knows his name and will readily come when I call him. He loves to play tag, and "Gotcha!" He is very cuddly and will tug on my pant leg when I am busy at my desk! Big Bunny is the BEST!!!

This is my second post, and I still have Riddy Rat and she's gotten quite large. When it comes to cage linging, reycled paper product is far safer than pine shavings, as they have been associated with all manner of lung maladies in rats. Ample water is important, and as far as staple ratfood goes, you may have difficulty finding one. Fret not, as you can cheaply make one with "Ferret Treat" (I use two, Peanut butter flavor and fruit/ veggie with yogurt), small animal food (dehydrated vegetable and seed mix with pellets, marketed for guinea pigs and rabbits), guinea pig yogurt drops, shelled sunflower seeds, and a small amount of cheap kitten chow. She loves it, and it addresses her need for protein, fat, and carbohydrates. I still supplement her diet with fresh things--strawberries and blueberries, fresh cauliflower, and carrots. Riddy enjoys meat, and rats have a predatory streak in the wild. Feeding them chicken and allowing them to gnaw chicken bones won't spoil their lovely personalities or make them more aggressive. An exercise ball fastened so that it is stationary makes a fantastic retreat for your rat inside their cage or aquarium. Ensure that the lid on their home allows ample air flow--condensation build up on aquarium walls is an indicator that you have poor airflow concerns.

I have a rescued albino Norwegian lab rat named Riddy who is exploring my lap as I write this. She has lived with me almost a year. To those who would own a rat, yes, they are relatively easy to keep and the experience is rewarding, but remember to freshen their cage regularly (she is now on the keyboard) and check to make sure what you can and can't feed your rat (you'll be surprised at what they can eat--if in small quantities, and NO chocolate isn't toxic to them, just don't go overboard). Yes, they can understand some voice commands, particularly their name--and a single rat is prone to become a tad neurotic and get "clingy" to one person and prefer them over all others. Probably whoever spends the most time with them.

hi, mi name is mariah and i live in Naples, Italy. I own one rat named Frederico and he is an albino rat. I owned his mom and dad and bred them. I have since given away Freddy's parents but I kept him because he has no tail. When he was born, his mother tried to eat him and when i stopped her she had already bitten his tail off. Freddy is paralized in his back legs because he escaped from his cage and fell of his table but he is still loving his life... Freddy is 2 years old and when i say kiss, he licks my nose. PS if you are looking for a good childs pet, a rat is the thing to get.

I love rats as pets! They are really friendly! I have 2, Brownie and Praline!

i love rats, and they are very friendly! go rats!

i love rats, they are a lot of fun, and sweet. i had fourteen and it was the best experence ever. some of my rats are even potty trained. i love rats!

I had a albino rat called ruby she was soooo cute, unfortunately she died a few days ago. if u want a small pet, get a rat. they are so loving and loyal!! i luv u rubs!

I started with 2 rats this March. within 3 days I got 2 more, their names are alli,tia,ben,and red eye. they are so adorable and friendly, I take them to school when I drop my son at school. They come when you call their names and they are house broken. I'm so happy having them as pets for my kids because they're gentle creatures and they like to be be touched just like dogs. they watch TV and like popcorn, strawberry, peanuts and most of all ice cream. they love to ride on my shoulder and also inside my clothing. Last week we ate at in and out with Alli and a lot of people are curious. some are scared but when they saw her sharing my burger they were fascinated in an odd way..This rat of mine is not scared of people as long as she's with me or on my shoulder. She knows when I tell her to kiss me, she comes to my shoulder when I call her. Most of all I'm so proud to be part of their lives and them as mine.

i all ways wanted a rat so i got 2 of them their names are cleo it's a she and bodaciouse it's a he. they are in 2 differint cages and they are nice

I have 2 rats, Robin and my brothers rat, Mary. They come when they are called, sit on my shoulder, and eat whatever treat I happen to have for them. If anyone needs a pet, a rat is certainly a #1 choice.

I have wanted a rescue rat for a while- had been looking for one. One morning I woke up and went to the washroom, and an agouti rat was sleeping in my laundry pile. I approached her, she made no attemp to run, I assumed she was a wild brown rat. I picked her up, and put her in a cage. She didn't fight me. Now I have named her Rapunzel, and it seems God dropped my rescue in my laundry pile..

I have an Albino pet rat named Sally. I got Sally as a birthday present, at first I was like "Oh! A rat, umm ok" But I have learned that rats are truly great pets

I have two rats, Angela and Jellybean. I love them so much! Unfortunatly, I have yet to find many people who share my love for rats. My parents especially, they won't let me take the rats out of my room! I am so glad to see other people who love rats as much as I do!

I have a solid black rat named Princess. She is so cute. I also have had 2 black hooded rats and a tan hooded rat. I have also raised a litter of rats. I would get more rats but my mom does not want me to because of the lumps that they can get.

i love my rats doctor, mumbo, danny, and dougie. they get on really well with my dog and they fall asleep together

i have 1 berkshire, 1 blue and white, 1 red and white dumbo, 1 hairless dumbo, and 1 cream colored rat. they are so adorable. a few of them are soon to have babies.

We have two fancy rats, Zoey and Roxy. They are very smart: they are potty-trained and they come when they are called. Zoe will even play a game of tug-o-war with you, like a dog would! My husband and I love them dearly! How can you not?

i have two rats already. i have had 3 more before and they are great company. the more you have the more friendly they are

I like having a rat. it is a good companion to have because they are friendly and fun just like a cat or a dog would be like!

rats are lovely. my pet rat likes people. he likes me and when my uncle dangled me upside down and i was screaming, the rat (called toffie) climbed up his leg and bit his bum. he put me down and toffie came to me and gave me a hug. a few weeks later his girl friend, called Rosie, had baby rats. they where so cute!

I love my rat, Peanut, but he stinks. Ugh. We clean the cage once per week.

Rats do not get colds as we know the definition of a cold to be, they get Mycoplasmosis which resembles a cold at first but is a deadly virus and needs immediate treatment for the rat to survive.

I have three fancy rats, and they get along very nicly.

rats are wonderful pets!

My rats are the best pets ever. I have dogs, cats, snakes, lizards, and rats. I have been bitten by hamsters and gerbils but never a rat.

My name is Vicki and I love my rats. They are very sweet and love to be held and kissed.

I bought my first rat at 13 years of age and named her Lace. when she died I waited 19 years to get another. Star came home on the 1 jan 2005. my kids love her so much that they fight to hold her! Then my husband become attached so I bought him a female named Princess. Its amazing how something with a such bad reputation can bring out so much love and protection. from SU-LAN

I love rats!! They are so nice. There as soft as puppies.

I originally bought two rats, and i loved them so much i went out and got a third one about three months later! theyre great pets because they dont live long enough for you to get bored with them, and they arent afraid of you like other small rodents. theyre affectionate and intelligent pets and are the tiny equivelent of a puppy. my personal advice is to ALWAYS get more then one lone rat, this makes them very depressed to live alone.

Hi! i m brooke and i m 13 years old. i have a rat named Doris and he is very active. i put him into his ball at least 3 times a week. Doris is very social and i recommend a rat to everyone! I also have two mice and a dwarf hamster. I learned not to put the cages of any of the animals right up next to each other. the rat and mice start making hissy noises so dont put them too close together.

in my life so far ive known 15 rats. they are the best pets. u may think they are dirty animals, but they are not. they r so friendly. i let mine run around the house and when i tell them its time to get back in their cages they will come back to me. i love them. sincerly, RATGRLDANIELLE

I love my girls, Suzy and Gerty. Suzy is adventurous. Gerty is cautious. I taught them how to play pass with a small ball. Gerty loves to give kisses when you ask her. They love food. I enjoy them. I have two children 8 years old and they get along well with them. I recommend anyone who has the time and can care for these wonderful pets, to give it the chance to see how great they can be.

I love rats! They are so cute and cuddly.I WOULD RECOMEND RATS TO EVERYONE! So go get a RAT!