Rats are sometimes seen as the most feared animal due to their association with sewers and disease. However, that is far from the truth! Rats make amazing pets if you know how to take care of them properly. I’ve compiled a shortlist of 10 reasons why rats make great pets below, so read on if you’re interested in learning more!
Reasons Why Rats make the best pets
Rats make great pets because they are low maintenance, quiet, sociable, easy to care for, and inexpensive. They also make excellent starter pets for children and adults.
Rats are social animals so they need company when they are alone. Rats can live with other rats as well as other small animals like hamsters.
Pros and cons of owning rats
Rats provide a sense of responsibility for their owners. With the right training, rats can be housebroken to use litterboxes and can live in small spaces like an apartment.
Rats make cute and cuddly pets that will follow their owners around the house. They also have a wagging tail that is perfect for shaking hands. The only downside is that they are nocturnal, which means they are active at night and will sleep during the day.
What to feed rats as pets
Rats are not picky eaters, but they are omnivores. They need to have a healthy balance of grains, fruits, and vegetables. Rats also enjoy a few bites of cooked pasta or baked potatoes every now and again.
In order to make sure that your rat has the healthiest diet possible, it’s important to switch up the food for variety.
How to take care of your rat in terms of grooming, exercise, etc.
Rats are gentle and intelligent animals that need attention and care. A rat’s coat needs to be brushed on a regular basis, and it is recommended to give them a bath once every one or two months.
Rats enjoy being given time out of the cage for exercise and exploration, either in a play gym or in an open space.
Rats in Ancient Egypt
In Egyptian mythology, the god Thoth was said to be a man with the head of a baboon. This is fitting, as baboons were often used by Egyptians as pets and in religious rituals. They also kept rats, which were favored for their intelligence and cunning.
Rats in ancient Egypt were often depicted in artwork or sculptures with other animals. It was not unusual for an Egyptian family to have up to one hundred rats living under the floorboards at any given time.
20 Reasons Why You should keep Rats as pets
1) Rats are highly intelligent
Rats are considered one of the most intelligent animals. They can remember things and solve puzzles even better than a mouse. Rats also have personality traits that make them more suitable as pets than mice or hamsters. There are many different types with varying levels of intelligence and friendliness.
Rats are a friendly and social animal
Rats are very friendly and social animals. They enjoy cuddling with their owners and playing with their owners. Because they are so social, it is easy to train them to do tricks, such as rolling over or standing on two feet. Rats also require very little space – they don’t need a lot of room, food, or water like other animals might.
2) Pet Rats are Economical to own
Rats make a great pet because they are inexpensive to keep. A single rat will cost between $15 and $30. They are also clean pets that do not produce any odor. Rats need minimal veterinary care (usually just an annual check-up) and can live for 2-4 years in the wild or up to 10 years in captivity.
Rats and Mice are extremely playful
Rats are a lot of fun to be around because they are extremely playful. They typically play games with their owners in the same way that cats do.
They also enjoy being pets and will often come when they hear their owner’s voice. Rats are smarter than mice and can actually be trained to do things like push buttons on a computer or pull levers for food.
3) Rats are cleaner Hygenic pets
Rats are comparatively cleaner pets. Rats groom themselves and have a natural instinct to keep their cages clean. Unlike other pets like hamsters or guinea pigs, they don’t need to be caged during the day. They are also comparatively less expensive than other household pets.
4) They have different colors & varieties
Rats have many different colors. Some of these include black, white, gray, brown, and pink. Rats are also nocturnal which means that they are awake all throughout the nighttime.
This is a benefit for people who work at night because they can watch their pets while they sleep. They are also very social creatures so they love to interact with their owners. Rats can learn tricks very easily and they enjoy exploring new environments.
5) Rats Like sharing food with humans
Rats have been used as pets by humans for centuries. They are smart, sociable, and easy to take care of. Rats will socialize with you if you pet them and they will even share the food that they find with you!
6) Pet rats usually don’t bite
Rats don’t bite. They will nibble on fingers, but their teeth are too small to break the skin. They also have fur and whiskers that provide sensory stimulation. Rats can live for a year without food or water and they have the ability to go six months without eating and still survive.
7) Rats are rodents that can easily fit in your pocket
Rats are small rodents that can easily fit in your pocket. They are very social animals and enjoy being around people. They also have a high level of intelligence and can be trained to do tricks like other pets.
Rats are not as common as other pets, but they are entertaining and fun to have. They are one of the most intelligent animals on the planet and can be trained to do a variety of tricks.
Rats can live for up to two years and fit in your pocket. The best part about owning a rat is that it doesn’t need a big cage or an extensive cage set-up like dogs and cats do.
8) Pet Rats are friendly with kids
The best rat pet is gentle and friendly with kids. Rats can be trained to do tricks. They come in many different shapes and colors, so you’re sure to find one that you love.
Rats are easy to care for, too! They don’t need a lot of food or water–just a few pellets each day. You’ll need to take them out of their cage at least twice a day, but they won’t mind because they like to explore!
9) Rats are popular among celebs too
There are many reasons why rats can make the best pets. They are small, easy to handle, intelligent, and clean. Many celebrities have rats as pets.
They include JK Rowling, Britney Spears, and Morgan Freeman. Noteworthy rats from popular culture include Ratty from Wind in the Willows, Remy from Ratatouille, and Gizmo from Gremlins.
10) Rats can chuckle
Like other animals, rats can also laugh. Rats can make all sorts of sounds but most commonly chuckle as a sign that they’re contented. It’s not uncommon to hear rats chuckling during playtime or while they explore their surroundings. Rats will even chuckle when they have been given a treat.
When a rat laughs it may look like it’s making chirping noises because its teeth are showing, which is how rats show happiness. The sound is usually light and quick compared to the sound of other animals that laugh.
11) Rats are their own dentist
Rats groom themselves, which is why they are able to avoid many diseases from lice and fleas. They don’t need their teeth cleaned, either. Rats are very intelligent and can be trained to do tricks and more. However, rats will not thrive in environments with less than 12 hours of light per day.
12) Rats have dedicated religious temple
Rats are becoming a popular pet for many people. They can be tamed and socialized as pets. One example of their intelligence is that they have dedicated a religious temple in India!
Some people have dedicated a temple for rats as a way of worshiping these animals. Rat temples are known to help rats and humans create better lives. These temples have been shown to reduce rat infestations and improve the overall health of the community.
13) Rats form life-long bonds
This is not to say that rats are just like dogs; they are different in many ways. Rats form life-long bonds with each other, have a strong sense of smell, and much more.
They live for about two to three years which is a fairly long time for pets. They also enjoy being handled and petted as well as being played with and scratched behind the ears or on the belly.
14) Rats are actually more popular than we think
Rats are extremely popular pets and make for excellent companions. This might come as a shock to many people since rats are seen as dirty, disgusting animals.
The truth is that rats need very little care and love from their owners. They can live on just about anything, including human food leftovers.
Not only are they great with kids, but they also have amazing personalities. They can be cuddly and playful or mischievous and cheeky depending on the rat’s personality.
15) Rats are unfairly blamed for the plague
Rats are wrongly accused of being the cause of the Black Death. It turns out that the plague was caused by fleas on rats, not directly from them.
Additionally, rats are docile creatures who make great pets because they love to be cuddled. The only downside is that they need to be taken care of every day or they will become aggressive and potentially bite someone.
16) Rats are easy to feed
Rats are very easy to feed. You can simply give them a piece of fruit or some vegetables and they will gobble it up. You can also use milk, cheese, pasta, and other foods for rats.
They’re omnivores so they’ll eat a variety of things. Rats are social animals too and enjoy hanging out with their owners in the evenings. Whether you have an indoor pet rat or an outdoor pet rat, they need love too!
17) You can train rats to do tricks
Rats are highly trainable, so you can teach them to do tricks like sit on command, crawl up your arm, or walk on a leash. They can also be potty trained in just a few days!
Rats are intelligent and can be taught how to do tricks. They are also social animals, which means they like to interact with people.
18) They’re low maintenance
Rats require very little maintenance and are usually happy living in a small space. They also don’t need regular baths or grooming like other pets do.
They eat mostly vegetables, which is much cheaper than the cost of feeding another pet. Rats are generally clean animals and they rarely bite, so they’re not frustrating to handle at all either.
In Summary
Rats are awesome pets and there are many reasons why they make the best pets. Rats are easy to take care of, and some rats can be trained to do tricks. They also have a great personality, and rats make excellent companions. With so many advantages, it’s no wonder that more people are switching to rats as their pet of choice.
