I don't need a rat

I had rats when I was younger. I LOVED them, such sweet loving animals. One was extra special. His name was Fritz, he was so super friendly and did tricks (for peas!). He'd have done the tricks for kisses though. He was pretty awesome.

I hadn't had rats for years, so when my dwarf hamster died a couple years ago, I got 2 rats. They were rescues, one was aggressive, one was just timid. Nothing I did would get them out of their shells. It wasn't until he was near the end of his life that Ted stopped biting me when I cleaned his cage. I didn't like these rats. I tried, but it's hard when they don't like you. I took care of them, their cage was clean, they were fed, watered, had a big cage with toys and houses and boxes to shred, but I didn't like them.

I wasn't going to get more.

Pretty much ever.

Then this new pet store opened here. The owner is a rat freak like I was at one time. She loves them, spoils them rotten. So when I went up to the cage and one of the boys was standing at the door wanting out, I opened it up and picked him up. Oh, wow, he was so friendly! He reminded me immediately of Fritz.

And Ned and Ted's cage is still up (I'd clean it).

But I so don't need a rat.

Right?

You need about five

NOOO! I don't need 5! lol

I think I've talked myself out of it. But then they do have a big giant snake that lives at the pet shop...

I too love rats. We have 2 females who are SO cute. They're not super friendly, but they don't usually try to bite me either.

I love rats with such a passion!!! I have kept a colony of at least 10 for the past decade. There have been many, many little loves in those years. At this point I have only two males, Hoggle and Ludo. They will mark the end of of an obsession for me.

Rats live so brightly, such short lives. They can love you as keenly as any animal I have ever met and they are tiny fur people in many ways!

I was blessed to meet a very old soul in my Fergus. He was a Russian Blue Siamese rat, he made my heart sing. He would brux and squeak for my attention whenever I came into the room. He was a perfect gentleman, a tiny epicurean and never anything less than polite(perfectly litter trained). When I had to have him euthed for an intestinal tumor at just short of 2 years old, my heart broke. That was in May 2008 and I miss him so much. I have a tattoo of him on my leg

Im an easy sell on rats. Likely always will be. I am banned from most of the pet stores around here that sell them as feeders.

I love rats! I have four females of my own, and while I was a little concerned about bringing a cat into that mix, I've not had any problems. Of course, I never have the girls out of their cage while McGee is around. He just likes to sit and watch them on occasion. He's never tried to stick his paw in or even get very close to the bars.

But yes, I'm a sucker for rats. They're such cute little things, and so smart, too! I am not sure if I will get any more after my four darlings are gone (which is hopefully not for awhile yet)...ah, who am I kidding? There's always going to be someone in need of rescuing.

Originally Posted by Melorix

I was a little concerned about bringing a cat into that mix, I've not had any problems. Of course, I never have the girls out of their cage while McGee is around. He just likes to sit and watch them on occasion. He's never tried to stick his paw in or even get very close to the bars.

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To Melory and all others:

Does it happens cats actually got friends with family rats or mices?

How is it with family dogs?

Rats and other small family pets, like mice, gerbils etc?

I did had heard about cat who was friend with the family rabbit (ie not only tolerated), but proceed to chase wild rabbits outside...

I don't know about cats and rats, Stefan, but I had a friend that had a cat and a rabbit (and two parrots) as pets, and no one was caged/crated. The birds taunted the cat, and the cat and rabbit were total buddies. And the cat did chase rabbits outside... I always thought it was a disaster waiting to happen, but it never did!

I agree. You need about 5. Oh wait, rats do best in pairs or even numbers... so make that 6.

I have had no less than two rats at any given time for the past 8 years. Right now my two boys, Milo and Toby, are going to mark the end of my nearly decade-long obsession... for now at least.

For the most part, my cats leave the rats alone. Neither of my rats have ever shown any aggressive behaviour. They've ridden around on my granny's great dane, and would play with my mom's little black dog. But for some reason when I first got Buddy, he was sniffing their cage and Milo gave him a nasty warning nip on the nose. Buddy still enjoys watching them, but only from afar. I doubt he'd do anything to hurt them, but I don't let them interact in fear Milo might attack Buddy... Of course, I'd catch it all on video - the 1/2 pound rat attacking and chasing the 13.5 pound cat - and put it on Youtube.