Thanks to the reputation of their wild counterparts, rats can be something of an acquired taste. But for those that are fascinated by the rodents, they can make excellent pets. There are several species of rats, and they come in many different colours. They should be bought direct from a breeder or a pet shop that receives stock from a breeder. They should also be handled from birth, as tame rats rarely bite or show signs of aggression. A happy rat, is a rat that has company. It will enjoy playing with and grooming its friend(s) and shouldn’t be kept alone. Same sex pairs will live well together and will be most active in the evening.
It’s thought that larger, more docile male rats are better for younger children, while the lighter and more agile females are better suited to older children. But children should never be left unsupervised with the rat, and as rats are inquisitive and love to chew things; they should be watched when out exercising too.
If after research, rats still sound like an ideal pet, make sure you set up a good size cage, with food, water, a nest box, and toys, before you bring it home. When everything’s in place and you know how to care for your rats, all that’s left is to enjoy them for the next 2-3 years.
