I want to get a rat...

[gritsar]

Again, it's all about cleanliness. Keep them and their housing clean and you shouldn't have a problem with the males smelling. Make sure you get the corners of their cage clean when changing bedding; that's where they'll like to pee. I used care fresh bedding instead of wood shavings and they got regular baths. I vote for males.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Care fresh is the type of bedding I plan on using, but I'm sure the pet store carries tons of options.

Ok, so I'm guessing it doesn't matter too much the sex. I do want something cuddly though. Baths are no problem, though I'm sure it would be strange for some people to see me giving a bath to a rat in our bathrooms! LOL...they already think I'm weird for keeping snails...

Do the male rats spray? I don't want them to spray all of my stuff that will be near the cage. I know they may kick stuff out, but I don't mind that at all. I clean my room several times a week anyway. I will have to get a picture of the spot I plan to keep the cage.

I'm hoping to go choose a cage possibly this weekend. I know the lady has a few bird cages that may work great. If I don't find anything there, I will just buy a cage at petsmart or offline.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Kittikity]

Males do not spray that I know of.. But rats in general like to pee in the corners.. If you get a multi level cage they will pee on the upper levels too and some of it will splash outside of the cage.. Males or females.. But I would still advise the multi level cage because it's fun for them and they get exercise climbing.. The only way to avoid that is to put them in an aquarium.. But I don't recommend that because there's not very good ventilation and bad ventilation can cause them to get respiratory infections..

 

[Fancy Feather Poultry]

Dont get a rat!!!, I wanted one to and I finally
got it and he would chew on EVERYTHING! I
can send you pics of my curtains that he chewed
up. I know people make them look like the greatest
pet in the world but just heed my advice!



DONT GET ONNEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT GETTING TWOOO!!!!!!!!!

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

LOL, I have tons of experience with chewing! I work at a bird sanctuary and take care of up to 40 parrots. They LOVE to chew and sometimes I have five or more out at a time. I have to be very careful that they do not go near the walls because they'll chew the molding to pieces in a second!

I'm not too worried about the chewing aspect. They will not be left out unsupervised and they will have plenty of chew toys in their cages. I always have paper towel rolls, little pieces or wood, etc. Thank you for the warning though! I will just be sure not to put anything near the cage that is valuable like clothes or what not. I will also get a cage that is rat proof so they cannot chew through the bars, get sick, or escape.

 

[gritsar]

I was gonna say the same thing about their "spraying". They don't; but they like to pee in corners and like males of many species I could name

they don't always have the best aim.

 

[Cara]

They don't just pee in a particular spot, they pee all over while they walk. That's why I had to take my cage completely apart several times a week and scrub it, as those wire shelves get filthy and sticky.

 

[texasgirl]

Mine poops in the same corner but isn't as picky about where he pees. They do leave little drops of pee when they run around but they don't flat out pee big puddles all over the place. Mine has never peed or pooped outside the cage.

 

[howlingwoodsfarm]

I have had rats for about 8 years.(obviously not all the same rat) my first was daisy, I had only her and I had alot of time to spend with her so she was the friendliest. Next was Lizzy and I had her a year prior to going to college and it was not even a choice to me, I just took her to college with me and would do what it took to make it work. She was kept in a single story cage in the closet of my dorm. The door to the closet was open all day/night. She was out of her cage whenever I was in the room. For room inspections I put her whole cage into a tuppeware container and put it on the very top closet shelf just long enough for it to be done. While in college my friends loved her so much that two got rats also and we had a great time with our secret pets. I took her home for holidays by putting her whole cage into an EGG cardboard box and carrying it right out the dorm. After she passed I got two more females. Delilah(my first dumbo rat) and Ashanti who lived roughly 2 years. after they passed my fiance wanted some boys so we got Knibbles and Gerald who we got both as babies and lived in a large ferret cage. They are WAY messier then the girls we have owned. I would not say the smell is much worse just the way they pee all over and poop anywhere. I also got two more girls who are kept in another large cage. Lily and Jasmine. For unknown reasons Gerald died before two years and Lily died about the same time. I now have one girl and one boy, still each in their big cage. I was only ever bit by one rat. it was not mine, it was a grown female in a pet shop who must have not been held much. I have always gotten mine as babies and they were always VERY LOVING and WONDERFUL fun.. Rats are great IF you read up about them and are prepared. They are certainly not great when you get one without knowing about the little things they do that you have to get used to. They make noise and shred things at night. They do dribble TINY drops of pee when they walk, they do chew and their cute little hands can grab and pull things into their cage, they they will chew it. Be prepared and you will have tons of fun.

Enjoy.

Heather

 

[Kittikity]

Good advice Heather.. Rats are like any other pet.. They have their own particular things.. Dogs usually have to be taken outside for bathroom breaks, cats need their litter boxes cleaned out.. Dogs chew on things when they're teething, cats need things to sharpen their claws on.. The reason rats chew so much is because their teeth are constantly growing, just like a rabbit or a guinea pig.. They have to chew on things to keep their teeth from growing too long and causing health problems.. For rats, chewing is part of their health care..