Is A Rat The Right Pet For You? The Pros And Cons Of Having Rats

Perhaps you’ve seen a plethora of videos online of pet rats doing absolutely adorable things and suddenly thought to yourself, “I want a rat!” I do this with every type of animal I’ve never had. I immediately wish I had whatever creature is in the clip I’m watching. Of course, wanting a pet and actually being able to care for it are two different things. Any responsible person takes the time to research the pet they are thinking about getting.

If you’re reading this, then I assume you’re at least curious about rats as pets and probably have a lot of questions. Well, I’m here to explain some of the pros and cons of rat ownership.

The Pros Of Rats

Rats are without a doubt one of the most impressive creatures to ever exist! OK, I may be biased, but I wouldn’t have dedicated almost 30 years of my life to talking about them if there wasn’t something genuinely rewarding about them.

Personality:

Rats are affectionate, charming, intelligent, persistent, opinionated, silly, funny, and absolutely fascinating. Each one is uniquely their individual self, just waiting to show you who they are and to delight you with their endless curiosity of the world around them. In my opinion, the No. 1 reason to have rats as pets is their multilayered personalities that never cease to amaze their owners.

Not totally unlike dogs:

I always liken pet rats to tiny dogs. Rats provide companionship, are capable of learning their own names, will often come when called (if they aren’t purposely ignoring you that is), enjoy scritches and cuddles, like to play, can be taught tricks, are easily carried around, love treats, and are likely to greet you at their cage door with as much enthusiasm as any dog greets their owner at the front door. That’s because rats can form strong bonds to their humans and sincerely enjoy attention from them.

Also, like dogs, they don’t care what you look or sound like, or your age. They have the ability to love unconditionally. I mean who doesn’t want a pet that is happy to see you and loves you for being, well, you?

Better than dogs:

Their small size, which allows them to live in cages, makes them perfect for apartment life; no need for a yard or to take them out to go potty. And as long as they are caged, your house is safe from any naughty behavior while you’re away. Rats also eat far less than a dog or cat. Outside of their staple diet, rats can be given almost anything you eat as a small treat — even grapes and chocolate, which are toxic to dogs.

Another benefit is that rats don’t need yearly vaccinations or need to be registered. But the best thing is they never have bad breath, and they never smell like … dog! In fact, female rats commonly smell like a mixture of grape soda and fabric softener, while intact males smell similar to warm, corn tortillas. For this reason, many owners confess to “huffing” their rats, which means they enjoy inhaling their rats’ pleasant-smelling fur with long, deep breaths.

Good with children:

Rats are one of the better pocket-pet options for children because they are bigger and easier for little hands to hold than hamsters, gerbils, and mice. Their curiosity and enjoyment of humans also makes them quite friendly and sociable, and they are much less likely to bite than say, hamsters. I’m not trying knock any of the other small critters, as I’ve had all sorts throughout my life, but there’s just something about rats that makes them extra special.

The Cons Of Rats

I could go on and on and on about all the reasons to own a rat. If you go to any pro-rat account on social media you’ll see thousands of reasons why rats make great pets. But what you really need to know are the downsides to rats because, like with any pet, there are some drawbacks. And people new to rats also need to be aware that these are not throwaway animals just because they are also sold for food and found in pet stores. Being a pocket pet doesn’t mean they should be an afterthought or purchased just for the fun of it. They require dedicated owners!

Rats, plural:

Rats are social animals and should always be kept with friends. This means you need to have at least two rats, if not three. I personally recommend having three or more so when one dies, you’re not left with a lonely, depressed singleton. You experience a lot more enjoyment from having more than one rat, but this automatically increases all your costs.

Life expectancy:

Hands down, the hardest part about pet rats is their short life span, which is roughly 2 to 3 years. Those huge personalities I raved about earlier have you fall in love so hard, that it’s going to hurt far more than you’ll ever expect when your rats leave you. I think people who stop being rat owners do so because they can’t bear to continue going through the losses.

I suppose you could say the upside is that you only have to make a two-to-three-year commitment, versus the much, much longer commitment that other types of pets require.

Illness and veterinary bills:

It’s often joked that the only survivors of a nuclear war would be cockroaches and rats, but they clearly aren’t talking about pet rats. Who knows if wild rats would really survive, but domesticated ones are actually rather delicate creatures. They are prone to many illnesses, and their survival is usually dependent on getting quick and proper veterinary care.

You should expect to take your rat to a veterinarian at least once, if not a couple times, over their life. Unfortunately, vet care for rats is NOT cheap. It is not always easy to find either, because they require a vet who specializes in exotic animal care. If seeing a vet is not an option or a priority, then rats are not the right pet for you.

Cages:

Cages are great for keeping a pet contained, but a proper rat cage doesn’t come cheap — especially when you add in all the needed supplies.

They also require regular cleaning, which can be tedious. A dirty cage is one of the quickest ways to make your house smell and your pet sick.

Other pets:

Having other types of pets in your home doesn’t automatically disqualify you from having rats, but it may mean extra work on your part. Besides our rats, we also have a cat and a dog with a naturally high prey drive. It has taken a considerable effort to ensure that our ratties stay safe because of her.

Our dog Juno’s prey drive was so high that she used to instantly lunge and jump up at me if she saw me even holding the rats. But after a year and a half of intense work to get her to lose all interest in them (and in our cat for that matter), not only can my rats be in the same room as Juno, but she now stays a safe distance away from us when I have the rats on the couch with me.

We also dedicated a room in our house for the rats, where their cages are kept. This regularly keeps Juno away from them, but also our cat Vertigo. Vertigo has never attempted to hurt them, but her incessant need to watch them in their cage, like one watches a cooking show, really upset and scared them.

So, having a multipet family isn’t out of the question, but are you ready for the extra commitment involved?

Please never leave your rats unsupervised with other pets!

Bad potty habits:

Rats don’t require a yard, or to be walked, or litterboxes around the house, but when a rat needs to go to the bathroom while out of their cage, they are going to go. It’s also especially common to be marked by younger male rats. They do get better about it as they age, however.

There are ways to stay dry, like keeping blankets or towels under your rats, or having wet wipes handy, but you expect to be peed (maybe even pooped) on every now and then.

Allergies:

Some people are allergic to rats and break out in hives wherever rat nails or tail touch their skin. Some people also get itchy eyes or have asthma-like symptoms. Many rat lovers put up with these allergies, but that is a personal decision.

Destruction:

There’s a reason rats have a bad reputation for being destructive; they are prolific chewers! Whether it’s the contents of their cage, your clothes, your bedding, your furniture, or whatever, your rats are going to try and chew it. You have some control over this if you are extra diligent, but expect to have telltale signs that you have rats in your home. But I have to say, my three rattie boys have caused far less destruction than Juno has. She even tore apart one of their beds! My rats have been way less work in general than Juno.

Unpopular:

Finding someone to pet sit for a rat is more difficult when you leave town. And because rats are one of the most misunderstood pets, loving them can sometimes feel a little isolating. Expect to experience a few (or many) unfiltered people saying rude, hurtful, and even cruel things to you once they learn you have pet rats. Friends and family might even be afraid of your rats or may have less empathy when your rat is sick or has passed on then they would for another type of pet.

But … you could be like me and revel in the uniqueness of being a rat owner. I’ve always been drawn to the weird and quirky; the misfits of the world. Which is probably why I was fated to love rats in the first place. Instead of allowing the rudeness to hurt me, I make it my mission to dispel the myths about rats and teach others about their greatness.

Are Rats Right For You?

Ultimately, what pet is perfect? None. They all come with their own wonderful pros and their annoying cons. Basically, what it comes down to is figuring out which pet fits your life and your situation the most. I hope for your sake though, it will be rats. Because if you’ve been ratless up until this point, well then, you’re seriously missing out!