Keeping One or More Rats
@aidenofthetower (1814)
United States
December 3, 2007 12:08pm CST
So, I have heard mixed reviews about this topic, so I wanted to see what all you rat lovers out there thought. My first rat was named Ratish and she was the only rat we had. I spent a fair amount of time with her as did my mom and my brother. Additionally she was out of the cage at least once a day and free roamed. The second time I got rats I got more then one because I read that it was bad to keep them alone. This time there were two (and eventually three). I spent time with them and because I lived alone I was pretty much their only human friend, though they were always friendly to those who came by. I didn't spend as much time with them out of the cage because having two running around was harder to keep an eye on then one and taking them out one at a time was more time consuming. Which is true, should rats be kept in groups or by themselves? I have an opinion that I think I will share with everyone in a couple of days, but I didn't want my opinion to effect others, so just share your own opinion, no matter which way it is.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@Galena (9110)
•
7 Jan 08
it depends.
I recently had to put down my five (ish) year old rat. she was the first rat I'd had in ages, and I was closer to her than to other rats I'd had in pairs, and I think that's because she had my full attention more than a pair would. I didn't feel I had to ration her cuddles so her companion would have cuddles too.
I recently got two girlies, and they're wonderful, and it's great to see them interacting. I chose to get two this time, after much thinking, as they are only little babies, and very lively and playful.
when it comes down to it, rats are social animals. if you don't give them a companion of their own kind they will need a lot more one on one attention.
if you have the time to give them that attention, I don't think it's cruel to keep a single rat.
if you don't have them out for several hours handling daily, then it's best to have two or more so that they have someone to interact with all the time.
I'm glad I did decide to get two this time, as they are so much fun to watch together.
@pixelpixie (473)
• Canada
22 May 08
I always get my rats in pairs.
I find that rats tend to get lonely on their own, as they have a 'pack' mentality instinct.
It also helps because if I'm at school/work/out I don't worry about them being unhappy and feel all alone.
:)
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
3 Dec 07
I've only had one rat, so don't really know that much about them. Her name was dori, and she even moved to PA with me when I moved from Texas.
@ladyslew (91)
• United States
8 Feb 08
When I had Snuffles he was an only rat. Snuffles and I were very close. Snuffles was extremely social, and he even enjoyed taking trips - which was a good thing because when I moved from Maryland to Arizona for a couple of years (I'm back in Maryland now) we made a vacation out of the drive there. Snuffles went to the Kentucky Horse Park (he is the only PET rat ever to visit the horse park, though I was told that they had ferrets, a chinchila, and a rabbit as guests before!) and other interesting places. He particularly enjoyed a water park next to the convention center in Fort Worth. He was such a cool rat. Since then I have always had rats in pairs though, and while they have all soon an interest in humans most of them have had no real interest in the world around them and would prefer to hide from new places rather than explore them. I have not been as close to any of the others as I was to Snuffles. I think that when Skittles and Brody are gone I might try a single rat again.
