Ahhh! Rats! Rats everywhere!

Just kidding...

So, I've been rescuing animals of all kinds for about 6 or so years now. However, since college started, it's been difficult so I've slowed down a bit. Recently (Tuesday), I took in 3 rats. They are coming from a bad home. Almost brought tears to my eyes seeing what condition they were in. Earl, Edwin, and Edward and the sweetest things.

Does anyone else have rats too? Or thought of having rats... with cats?

I had a pet rat when I was a teenager. They make really good pets. I never had trouble with the cats at the time---most rats are big enough that most cats would rather not try anything. Not that I'd leave them alone together or anything.

I have a hamster now, who, when the cats paw at her cage, will try to bite their paws where they come through the bars . She's a sassy one!

Willowy said:

I had a pet rat when I was a teenager. They make really good pets. I never had trouble with the cats at the time---most rats are big enough that most cats would rather not try anything. Not that I'd leave them alone together or anything.

I have a hamster now, who, when the cats paw at her cage, will try to bite their paws where they come through the bars . She's a sassy one!

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Awesome! I've had 4 hamsters over the years (not at the same time of course). But rats are my favorite rodents. They're very affectionate which I love. Especially when my cats just want to do their own thing.

I had eleven hooded rats as a teenager; they're great pets, but their lifespans are so short. Our local shelter has 2 albino rats taken from a bad home. Unfortunately they're pretty much unadoptable because they both bite and people don't like their red eyes.

jcat said:

I had eleven hooded rats as a teenager; they're great pets, but their lifespans are so short. Our local shelter has 2 albino rats taken from a bad home. Unfortunately they're pretty much unadoptable because they both bite and people don't like their red eyes.

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Awwwww. Unfortunately, that's the sad reality. Rodents that come from mills usually have very poor genetics so they are prone to more illnesses and diseases. Rats from a good rattery usually live a long and healthy life with little to no complications.

OMG !  Flame point rats     we had dwarf hamsters for the (2)cats they loved playing with them inside their plastic

moving balls or running loose everyone got along, but  hammies only live a few short

years.  Did not know rats could live very long...what you're doing is wonderful 

Wow, how cute! Hamsters are great rodents too. Had one that died almost a year ago. I miss him so much. Still have his picture as my laptop wallpaper.

Thank you, rats are amazing. They were in the worst shape. The lady literally drove up and handed them to me. She said, "Thanks for taking them." And drove off. They were sick, covered in urine and just really unhappy. Poorly socialized and everything. Some medication and TLC and they are doing so much better.

I've always wanted rats, never got around to getting the needed housing.

I did have hamsters though.  I had four left when our first cat claimed us.

One, there was something really wrong with that hamster.  The exotic vet I took him to was sure he had a neurological problem.  He didn't do the hamster thing of biting when he was afraid or mistook you for food due to the smell of your hands.  He bit whenever he saw an opening (he would even charge a finger to bite it) and he would do non-stop repeated biting.  If for whatever reason you had to pick him up, it had to be with leather gloves and he would chew the heck out of those gloves.

So a stray cat walked into our house through an open door.  We spent a couple of weeks trying new cat foods, trying to find one that she'd actually eat.  After what seemed like a 2 day fast over the latest food we were trying, I came home to a smashed hamster cage.  The biter's cage.

I put the cat into a carrier and was bawling my head off on the phone to my husband as I was cleaning up the cage.  I had to get something out of the bathroom and guess who was walking down the hall like he owned the place?  Yep, bitey hamster.

I've had loose hamsters before and knew what a pain they were to catch, so I snatched up the hamster bare-handed.  Luckily my husband was right outside parking.  I think I was bitten nearly 30 times, most of which drew blood, before he got in to help secure the hamster.

In the aftermath, we're pretty sure that the cat tried to make lunch of the hamster and he in turn bit the h*** out of her.  That is the only explanation for the two being loose for who knows how many hours and the hamster being perfectly fine and out in the open.

Congratulations on your new rats. Their previous owner sounds terrible. Poor babies.

I don't know how everyone else feels, but I'd love to see photos of them in their new digs! They are such lovelies. 

Rats were one of the first pets I had growing up. My stepmom got my sister and I a pair of females when we were five years old, Ratcy, a tan with white belly girl-I can't remember the proper terminology for her color (I know, super creative naming on my part) and Cindy, a tan hooded girl. From there, rats were a pretty constant member of our family growing up.

I and my sister had:

-Clover and Cherry, a black hooded girl an agouti hooded female Cherry

-Butterscotch-another tan with white belly boy who did not like other rats

-Brownie and Freddy- a rex brown agouti male and a grey brown rex

 (all sadly from pet stores, as we were young and didn't know any better. )

-Aly, Aj, Toby, Wormtail, and Scabbers- five albino rats (because no one ever adopts albino animals ) rescued from petco adoption center, some morons had put the males with the females (it's not like it's hard to tell males from females for adult rats)

-Jasper and Klaus- a roly poly dark brown male, and an agouti hooded male


(mister Jasperkins- don't worry, my dog was looking like that because her toy was on my bed and she wanted me to throw it. She could care less about the rat.)

-Anabelle (from anabelle's wish), Scout (TKAM), Bridgette, Bellatrix (HP), and Autumn- lovely females rescued from CL, lived in a mansion, mix of albino, tan, and hooded

I definitely would love to rescue a couple rats again one day, they are such smart and adorable little creatures. 

Oh, and to answer the question, with all my rats, all my cats (over 10, my parents are divorced so my rats traveled with me back and forth) were AFRAID of the rats. They would runaway from them, and it was hilarious. One of my dogs, Lina, an adopted white shepherd,  tried to mother Jasper and Klaus, she really loved them and would watch their cage all their time. Not in a I want to eat you way, but she was protective of them and acted like they were her puppies. 

Thank you so much for that. Glad to know there are other rat lovers out there. I will definitely be posting pictures soon. I'm currently in the process of purchasing a much bigger cage. The one they are in now is more of a hospital cage. But the 2 week mark is almost up so they need to switch. In my experience with rodents, I prefer the males over females. They just seem so much more relaxed and calm. My females were always getting into trouble and getting hurt. [emoji]128517[/emoji]

I look forward to seeing the photos!

For a cage, keep an eye out on craigslist. I've seen critter nation cages going insanely cheap on there before. If you need help finding one on CL, pm as I'm pretty good about finding stuff on there (often, misspelled searches bring great finds)

I've also used a ferret cage (super pet my first home ferret deluxe 2x2) before when I had my 5 girls, but got fine mesh to cover everywhere so they couldn't stick their heads through since they were babies.

Male rats are a lot more mellow and snuggly, that's for sure. Females are always so ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM, climbing everywhere and trying to jump off the bed, giving you constant heart attacks. I think female hamsters and male hamsters are pretty similar. I've had a pair of male gerbils before, but never female, so I can't compare the two. I'd say male dogs and cats though seem to be more laid back than females though.

I've had 3 female and 1 male hamster. Female was definitely ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM.

Thank you but I've found a cage on eBay. I don't have a link but I'll send over some pictures.

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I talked to a lady that owns a rattery and she said that the cage is perfect. I'm selling some old stuff this week and I'm ordering it before weekend (hopefully).

I adore rats.  They would be my absolute top suggestion for anyone who cannot have a dog or a cat.  I used to work at a pet store, and when people wanted to get a hamster for a child, I usually introduced them to a rat.  Hamsters are cute as the dickens, but, with all due respect to those who love them, I think rats are better pets.  They do not just tolerate being handled, if they have been socialized from a young age, they absolutely crave it.  

Most cats who have been raised indoors are unlikely to bother an adult rat, but I would still watch them carefully, and I think I would keep the rat cage in a cat-free room.  Even if no harm is intended, it would be easy for an inquisitive cat to knock it over, unless it's a very large one.  A cat can also injure its leg, if it's walking on top of the cage, the leg goes between the bars, and the cat tries to jump down (yes, I have had this happen.)

One animal I would be unlikely to trust around a rat, or any other "pocket pet," is a small terrier.  These breeds were developed to hunt and kill animals like rats and rabbits, and as far as I have seen, that instinct is still keen in them.  It might be okay if they were raised around small animals as puppies, but even then, I think it's risky.    

Awww! That's wonderful! My rat is afraid of Felix. Haven't introduced them to Smokey or Hazel of course. Smokey and Hazel use to hunt a lot and still have that drive. Felix, on the other hand, was never taught to or able to hunt since he was taken from his mother so young. I also use to have a Jack Russell but got he's long gone.

Might be doing another rescue this Tuesday. A snake owner has two baby rats but he says they are too small for his snakes.

New additions!
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5 babies by the way.

They are adorable! I love rats, and cats! Aww. I also love the males because theyre lazy and cuddly. I dont think i can deal with hyper girls. I would love to rescue some rattie boys but my schedule is full and i have 2 kitties.

My nib nib:

They are such underrated pets.

Thank you! Your rats look lovely. I agree. I prefer males over females. Every female rodent I've had has been really annoying and they get irritating after a while so I definitely will always have males. I have names picked out for the babies but it's difficult to tell them apart right now so I have to wait a few more weeks. Jay, Herry, Archie, Odie, and Neil are the names I've chosen. I also have a strong urge to help so it's almost impossible for me to walk away after looking at the babies. My parents don't even know they're here. They just don't understand my love for all living things.

Thank you everyone for the support. Unfortunately, 3 of the babies died. I rather not talk about it. The whole thing was shocking and traumatizing. However, the remaining 2 have found a wonderful home. I also rescued a lone adult. I introduced him to my other males because he was really depressed but now they are all happy and healthy together.