Rats as animals have taken a real bad rap! Viewed as being dirty scavengers that spread disease, nothing could be further from the truth. In the wild these creatures are no different from other scavengers...the seagull, racoon, or crab! This planet needs it's scavengers to keep the waste from becoming a health problem for us. They are feared and loathed because of the reputation they have been labelled with. Because of our misunderstanding of how they fit into our eco-cycles, the rat is viewed as the enemy and not the purposeful creature it was intended to be.

As pets this animal represent the finest qualities we look for in both dogs and cats. Like the dog, the rat is a faithful companion, can be trained to do tricks, comes when called (if trained to do so) and will provide hours of entertaining fun. Like the cat, the rat is meticulously clean, spending much of it's time daily cleaning and preening. It is quiet and easily contented if provided with food and loving attention. Rats are social beings, meaning they live naturally in groups. Your pet rat is going to view you as a part of their social structure, and will depend on you for basic provisions, and will try very hard to take of you in return - although we know the only thing they can actually provide is entertainment! Since they can do damage to furniture, etc with their burrowing for food and from curiousity, they can be trained if obtained when very young to leave your property alone. If they are well fed and provided with plenty of water, they tend not to be as distructive since most of the damage occurs because of the hunger that drives them to scavenge for food. The basic motivation of the rat is to secure a food source. This makes for an ideal situation for domesticating the rat. When you first bring your pet rat home, keep it in it's cage for the day and provide plenty of food and water. If taken out within the first couple of days, remember to handle it personally and not let it roam immediately. The rats first instinct (unlike the mindless mouse) will be to see if it can return to it's food source (the cage). Once the rat is secure in knowing that you are a part of it's family and that it can easily return to it's cage for food and to sleep, will ease into the domestic life without training.

Although rats are prolific breeders, their mortality rate is high, even in domestic rats. In the wild these creatures are also part of the food chain for the birds of prey, fox, dog, and other such predators. Their prolific breeding is essential to maintaining their populations. Unfortunately, the rats life span is approximately 3 years, and attachments to them as pets can be heartbreaking when this brief period has expired. Some rats don't make it beyond 2 years, yet others (with great care) can live as long as 4 years.

Since they are scavengers, these creatures will eat just about anything! They do not require special pet food and are quite content with your table scraps. If your rat refuses (when hungry) to eat something you have offered it, I would be suspicious of the food offered. Case study was offering my own rats two similar candies of different brand names - while one candy was devoured as rapidly as possible, the rats refused to consume the other. They are also great for pest control...rats are the mortal enemy of mice, and where a pet rat is introduced to the home there will be an exodus of mice from that same home. Rats will also catch and eat flies, moths, and spiders! To have a rat as a pet is most rewarding and enjoyable, for the whole family. These creatures are less likely to bite a young child who is mishandling it (preferring just to make a clean get-away) than a kitten or puppy. Rats will bite, but only if being hurt and unable to escape the situation. I have been nipped (no broken skin) because my hands had the odour of the food I was preparing, but such accidental nips are rare. Just like a cat or dag, my rats have taken afternoon naps with me, enjoy being with me while I work in my home office, come running when called. They show their affection and acceptance by cleaning (licking) me, or detangling (huh!) my hair with their little comb-like claws. When they are ill, they come to me for comfort and assistance, and when they have found something that really excites them will try to bring it to me to show off their recent find. Unlike cats and dogs, this little creature enjoys sitting on your shoulder and chattering in your ear - it's a great perch for them to view all that's going on and as their friend they'll chatter with excitement and news.

To learn more about rats, follow the links to the left to the specific information you are looking for. I have tried to take my 25 years of experience in keeping pet rats and put it in simple terms. If you have a specific question regarding your pet rat, you can e-mail me, and if your question is a valid one that has not been covered in this page...it will soon be added!