It is claimed by some that rats have the smart of a cat or dog. A rat can be trained when called, sit on your shoulder, and love to play games. They tend to be very affectionate and make great companions for pet lovers. Rats are mostly nocturnal so they will be more active during the night then during the day, so most likely they will be up during your time at home. Pet rats are also very cheap to keep, with food, bedding and other such materials so you would not need your pets to be babysitted if you were planning on leaving for a day or two. Like all pets vet bills will come at hand, and like dogs and cats they will be quite expensive, but as you read in the pets creed their worth goes beyond the dollar. They clean themselves often so all you would have to worry about is keeping the cage clean. Rats do not usually bite unless frightened or hurt.
Although these furry little guys are cute and friendly, like most playful pets they can also get themselves into mischief. If you find that your new pair of socks or sweater has a hole in it, you can guess one of your little beastlings decided to make a midnight snack out of it. Rats are known "chewers" and will nibble their little teeth into anything in their reach. Although you are able to teach your pet rat cute tricks, unfortunately getting your rat to kick the "nibble habit" is not possible. So to avoid your clothing and furnishings from looking like swiss cheese, it is best that you keep your pet rat under tight supervision when outside of its cage and all electrical cords and things of that sort away from its reach when being unsupervised. Rats can be very territorial little beasts and often leave urine trails as a sign of their marking. This is mostly common in male rats, although some females may also do it. This little territorial habit can be improved with neutering. The last and most saddening drawback about these furry little creatures is their short lifespan. Rats live on average from 2-3 years. So enjoy and love your little pets every second possible. |
