Rats...Do they make good pets?

Doom_and_Gloom

Omen it could be due to stress of being an only rat . However I would take him to a vet that knows about rats to make sure. I would call around and make sure the vet has had experience with rats before going to them with him though. I've had up to 6 rats but I'm down to 4 now (all girls) and have had to take a few to the vets. Rats can be expensive in vet bills - I've paid £74 for one of my girls to have an eye taken out as her eye got badly infected very fast but it as worth it just to make sure she was healthy again. My usual consultation fee is around £13.50 which is the same for one rat or all 4 .

I would advise you on giving the rat as much out time as possible with you until you get another rat (lone rats are more likely to get ill, stressed or even die younger than rats with friends). However make sure you keep the rats apart for 2 weeks in different cages first if you decide on getting another (preferable in different first to prevent infection to the old rat from the new one!). Then introduce them carefully especially with males as they can get territorial. However like others I would put off getting another rat until you have had your currant rat seen to by a vet just to make sure.
You could get a female rat to go with your guy however you would have to get the guy or girl neutered/spayed and have them in seporate accomidation until your vet says it's fine to introduce them (that the op worked basically).

Fork86 I don't know about the OP but I chose rats as pets because they are very intelligent, are clean (contrary to popular belief that they are dirty animals), are very sociable, loving (they bond with you just like a dog does!) etc. I can't think of an animal that has as many different kind of characteristics than rats do. As I said I have 4 (did have 6) and all have different personalities. It's amazing just watching them together and even more amazing to interact with them alone or in their mini colony .

OP if you need any more information about rats I'm here for you to PM as I'm more than willing to help another with their little fur baby/babies .

Edit: OP it could well be that your rats bedding/substrate that is causing the skin problem. I would be interested to know what you use just so I can help if that is the cause.

Fork86

That's cool, I never would have thought that. Do mice display the same sort of characteristics in terms of pet and owner interaction?

(I don't mean to divert attention away from the OP's concerns so apologies!)

KVet

nanokitten wrote: »

Sorry If I sounded harsh, but alot of folks seem to post with medical questions on here which may delay calling the vets and their pet getting medical care. You can't mess around when animals are very young (anyone who saw the kitten die of a flea infestation on animal hospital will know what I mean). In my experience the vet nurse will often give free advice over the phone for minor problems and will tell you if it is serious and needs to come in or can be treated at home so it seems daft to delay calling. I do try to take my own advice and just took the kitten to the vet for a quick check up as she's getting a bit porky and the consult was only £15 and she answered a long list of my questions so it was well worth it.

I'm a vet and don't mind giving away some advice for free on here but obviously the best thing is to see the animal in person which is why I always advise to see their own vets as well. Some people like to have an idea of what it might be before they go in, no harm in that.

omen666

nanokitten wrote: »

Sorry If I sounded harsh, but alot of folks seem to post with medical questions on here which may delay calling the vets and their pet getting medical care. You can't mess around when animals are very young (anyone who saw the kitten die of a flea infestation on animal hospital will know what I mean). In my experience the vet nurse will often give free advice over the phone for minor problems and will tell you if it is serious and needs to come in or can be treated at home so it seems daft to delay calling. I do try to take my own advice and just took the kitten to the vet for a quick check up as she's getting a bit porky and the consult was only £15 and she answered a long list of my questions so it was well worth it.

Thanks Kitten. Was struggling on a Sunday night actually but booked in tomorrow at the local Vets.

Fork86 wrote: »

Sorry for the blunt question, but I am genuinely intrigued. Why did you choose a rat as a pet?

My ex-girlfriend has always had them and wanted one and I got her one, quite happy too as I would never have comtemplated one.

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

Omen it could be due to stress of being an only rat . However I would take him to a vet that knows about rats to make sure. I would call around and make sure the vet has had experience with rats before going to them with him though. I've had up to 6 rats but I'm down to 4 now (all girls) and have had to take a few to the vets. Rats can be expensive in vet bills - I've paid £74 for one of my girls to have an eye taken out as her eye got badly infected very fast but it as worth it just to make sure she was healthy again. My usual consultation fee is around £13.50 which is the same for one rat or all 4 .

I would advise you on giving the rat as much out time as possible with you until you get another rat (lone rats are more likely to get ill, stressed or even die younger than rats with friends). However make sure you keep the rats apart for 2 weeks in different cages first if you decide on getting another (preferable in different first to prevent infection to the old rat from the new one!). Then introduce them carefully especially with males as they can get territorial. However like others I would put off getting another rat until you have had your currant rat seen to by a vet just to make sure.
You could get a female rat to go with your guy however you would have to get the guy or girl neutered/spayed and have them in seporate accomidation until your vet says it's fine to introduce them (that the op worked basically).

Fork86 I don't know about the OP but I chose rats as pets because they are very intelligent, are clean (contrary to popular belief that they are dirty animals), are very sociable, loving (they bond with you just like a dog does!) etc. I can't think of an animal that has as many different kind of characteristics than rats do. As I said I have 4 (did have 6) and all have different personalities. It's amazing just watching them together and even more amazing to interact with them alone or in their mini colony .

OP if you need any more information about rats I'm here for you to PM as I'm more than willing to help another with their little fur baby/babies .

Edit: OP it could well be that your rats bedding/substrate that is causing the skin problem. I would be interested to know what you use just so I can help if that is the cause.

Thanks Doom, I have him out for 3-5 hours a day not all at the same time though. He loves exploring and running to me and responds to his name then runs back really funny and sucha charachter. Dependant on the vet tomorrow if all clear I will get another male once the new cage has arrived then I can keep them sepearate for a few days but leave the cages next to each other and gradually put them in together.

I am using wood shavings? chips as bedding. Thanks for the assistance too.

Fork86 wrote: »

That's cool, I never would have thought that. Do mice display the same sort of characteristics in terms of pet and owner interaction?

(I don't mean to divert attention away from the OP's concerns so apologies!)

Much appreciated !:money:

nanokitten

Really hope he turns out to be ok omen666. Fingers crossed its something easy to sort out.
Most vets are great about minor worries - DM once took her poorly goldfish in (in a plastic bag in a taxi) and they were really helpful

Doom_and_Gloom

omen666 wrote: »

Thanks Doom, I have him out for 3-5 hours a day not all at the same time though. He loves exploring and running to me and responds to his name then runs back really funny and sucha charachter. Dependant on the vet tomorrow if all clear I will get another male once the new cage has arrived then I can keep them sepearate for a few days but leave the cages next to each other and gradually put them in together.

The time sounds okay. Although as he doesn't have a play mate at the moment a little longer would be nicer for him really. It doesn't matter if it's all in one block, if anything it would help as he is less likely to become bored if you come over and handle him spontaniously. If he has you for 3 hours in one go he has all the other hours in a block on his own and I don't think that is nice for anyone.

omen666 wrote: »

I am using wood shavings? chips as bedding. Thanks for the assistance too.

It could well be the wood shavings. If they are pine or cedar shavings then this is not good. Shavings in general are not a good idea for rats though as it can irritate their eyes or even cause eye infection. Cedar and pine woods have oils in them that can cause reactions in rats lungs as they are prone to respitory infections as well. Aspen chips however are fine but it's hard to know for certain what kind of wood you are buying.

I would change the substrate and bedding just to make sure. I use bio-catolet cat litter in my rats litter box (it's very safe to rats as it's not a problem even if they eat it!) which could get expencive for you if you have a large cage though, something 100% papper based is best (stay away from those that say they are papper when they are not. Also don't get anything that says it clumps as if your rat eats it it will do the same in him and that is a world of bad - rats have a habit of eating anything they can in their cage or near them :rolleyes:).
I would think about getting him a litter tray and training him to use it and covering the bottom of your cage with rat suitible towels that can be changed and cleaned every few days. Bedding if used just for in a hiding area/hammock etc can just be tiolet roll! They love moving it around and making themselves comfortable on it. All you have to do is rip some up a little and put it in the cage. They also like tiolet roll inners. While they are young they can usually run through them but when they get bigger (and he will!) they seem to enjoy them as toys still.

omen666

Thanks all, sorry not been on for a while. All fine and in good health and the n ew addition Bailey took to each other in no time at all.

mustangsal

Aww, lovely. i'd love to get more rats. i don't think i'd trust my two yr old with them though. have had them for years. i adopted two super rats before my wee one was born, but it was so heartbreaking. they hadn't been handled for a long time so i spent weeks gradually getting them used to me, then they would sit in my pockets while i went around doing housework etc. they both died of having a series of mini strokes very quickly one after the other. so sad. they were lovely little guys. used to sit and stay and roll over and give "5". would never have super rats again. the vet said because they were bred to be so big it put strain on all their organs. i do miss them a lot. maybe when the wee one gets a bit older.

Person_one

Does anyone know of a fancy rat breeder in the North West?

I've got the NFRS breeder list and none are near me and still operating!

I don't really want to go to a pet shop if I don't have to.

Failing that does anyone have a recommendation for a good pet shop in Manchester that sells healthy animals who are well housed etc? Its sometimes hard to tell just by going in!

Soot2006

All my rats have come from rescue centres -- they often get entire newborn litters + mum dumped on their doorstep