I recently bought the most beautiful rat from a pet store, and have asked about the best way to take care of him. Only problem is the guy at the pet store didn't sound very sure about what he was saying. I researched about them but most websites I tried conflicted what the last site said. I would really appreciate anyone telling me the best way to take care of my boy and give him a good life.

I recently bought the most beautiful rat from a pet store, and have asked about the best way to take care of him. Only problem is the guy at the pet store didn't sound very sure about what he was saying. I researched about them but most websites I tried conflicted what the last site said. I would really appreciate anyone telling me the best way to take care of my boy and give him a good life.


I trust the ASPCA - ASPCA | Rat Care (http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/small-pet-care/rat-care.aspx)

I trust the ASPCA - ASPCA | Rat Care (http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/small-pet-care/rat-care.aspx)

Thanks a lot!

Thanks alot!


I know NOTHING about rats. Come back and let us know if they're good pets.

I know NOTHING about rats. Come back and let us know if they're good pets.

So far I think they are amazing!

So far I think they are amazing!

I've got a few rats named batrat and sparky I'm sure you'll have a great time with your pet!! Oh and you should get the book my rat by Gerd Ludwig it will have a grey and white rat on the cover oh and your rat will need a bigger cage with a companion. Or else he could die

I've got a few rats named batrat and sparky I'm sure you'll have a great time with your pet!!!! Oh and you should get the book my rat by Gerd Ludwig it will have a grey and white rat on the cover oh and your rat will need a bigger cage with a companion. Or else he could die


Why would living alone cause a rat to die?

I've got a few rats named batrat and sparky I'm sure you'll have a great time with your pet!!!! Oh and you should get the book my rat by Gerd Ludwig it will have a grey and white rat on the cover oh and your rat will need a bigger cage with a companion. Or else he could die

Why would he die from living alone?

Why would he die from living alone?


Oh, good, it's not just me.

I stopped at the pet store yesterday to buy some dog treats and looked at the rats. I didn't know they are so many different colors. One of the salesgirls had one on her shoulder and he was just riding around.

If you can get past the "Oh, look. It's a RAT!" moment they look pretty cute - this one was really friendly.

Do rats, like mice, go potty wherever they are -- riding on one's shoulder, for instance? They are cute, cling nicely to clothes as they crawl around, but leave a pungent "trail" behind them.

Do rats, like mice, go potty wherever they are -- riding on one's shoulder, for instance? They are cute, cling nicely to clothes as they crawl around, but leave a pungent "trail" behind them.

My rat so far has never done it when riding on my shoulder, but I put him on my mom once and he did. :3 I think after a while they learn not to 'go' outside of the cage, but it may take a while for them to learn. Not 100% sure, but it's what it seems like.

oh and your rat will need a bigger cage with a companion. Or else he could die

Rats don't need companions to stay alive.

Also, at this point, if the OP were to add another rat to the cage, there likely would be fighting over territory.

My rat so far has never done it when riding on my shoulder, but I put him on my mom once and he did. :3 I think after a while they learn not to 'go' outside of the cage, but it may take a while for them to learn. Not 100% sure, but it's what it seems like.
How do they learn?

How do they learn?

Rats are incredibly smart.

They will pee and poo on people if they are scared. After much handling, they get used to it and seem to know that this is not the place for them to relieve themselves.

Rats are incredibly smart.
They must be smarter than mice.

They do seem to be. I have had both. Mice can learn to adapt but it seems that rats can learn to think.

Why would he die from living alone?
Because out in the wild they usually live in big groups. I had a rat named cocoa an it was just her and she died and she actually wasn't old

Because out in the wild they usually live in big groups. I had a rat named cocoa an it was just her and she died and she actually wasn't old
She didn't die of loneliness.

Because out in the wild they usually live in big groups. I had a rat named cocoa an it was just her and she died and she actually wasn't old

Perhaps you think she died from being alone but I guarantee you, it wasn't because of that.

Rats, as well as mice, are very smart. Can't get pet rats where I live, but mice are available. I've tried to talk hubby into a mouse a few times, we got hamsters instead. Dumber than posts. Cute though. ;)

Rats can be trained very easily. They can also be potty trained (I'm sure if this because I potty trained my dumb hamsters, if they can do it, a rat can). They do not need companionship from another rat in order to live long lives. Would they be happier with a companion, well it really depends on the amount of time you spend with your pet. If you spend 1 hour a week with your rat, then a friend would be a good idea, and really not that hard to introduce to your current rat. If you spend lots of time with your rat then you don't need to get him a friend.

Make sure that the rat has the proper nutrition, safe toys, and a lot of attention.

I'm not a rat expert, so I would have to do some research before giving any more information from what I've already posted, but from friends that have had rats, and having had mice (a close relative) I do know that the above info is accurate.

We need Shazzy, our current rat expert. :)

I potty trained my dumb hamsters
What does that mean?

What does that mean?

I litter box trained my hamsters.

They actually sell teeny tiny litter boxes for hamsters, gerbils and rats. When I bought one the pet store employee laughed and said "good luck".

But all three of our hamsters were litter trained. It even came with a teeny tiny scoop, like a cat litter scoop. It was really very cute. You can even buy special litter made for hamsters.

I did feel a bit silly whenever I took the "fit in my hand" litter box out of the cage and used the scoop as big as my thumb to clean it, but they learned. Love hamsters, cute as a bug, but not that bright. Mice and rats are much smarter. So, if you can train a hamster to potty in a litter box, I know you can train a mouse or rat. Heck, the bunnies are litter box trained too! :)

I see. You just worked with their habit of always going potty in one specific corner and instead of scooping waste, you could actually remove a container of waste, empty it, wash it, and put it back.

I see. You just worked with their habit of always going potty in one specific corner and instead of scooping waste, you could actually remove a container of waste, empty it, wash it, and put it back.

More like scoop it. It really was a tiny potty place, like a very tiny cat litter box, or bunny litter box. It was made to fit in a corner. Actually, it was really easy to train them. Hamsters, like rats and rabbits, usually pick one corner to potty in. Figure out which corner, put the litter box in that corner, and they go in the litter box.

I'll have to find a picture of the litter box we bought for the hammies. It really was very cute. Tiny! A very miniature version of a rabbit litter box, that fits an entire rabbit. Well, the hammy litter box fit a hammy, and the litter was made for the hammies, came in a bag the size of a lunch bag, and lasted for months. It was so small. I actually bought it originally because I thought it was so cute, came with the teeny tiny litter scooper. But it worked. Whodda thunk?

Found a picture of one of the litter boxes I bought for one of the three hammies we had. The exact one.

41085

I Googled and found some. We had a number of hamsters when my sons were small.

I Googled and found some. We had a number of hamsters when my sons were small.

They really are adorable, which is why I bought one. But they actually do work, and you don't really even need to train the hamster. Just put it in the corner where he potties, and he'll use it.

Rats are much smarter than hamsters, so I'm very sure they'd figure it out even quicker. I would suggest a bigger litter box though. Doesn't have to be store bought, you could use a disposable container, one that's big enough for the rat to sit in, put in some hamster or rabbit litter, and away you go. :)

My cats love mice so they would probably love rats too. :)

A litter thingie would save a bit of work in cleaning rats' homes.

My cats love mice so they would probably love rats too. :)

A litter thingie would save a bit of work in cleaning rats' homes.

It really does make a huge difference with caged animals.

Cats aren't caged, but a litter box really is helpful.

For animals like hamsters, rats, rabbits, animals that are caged for the majority of the time, a litter box is even more important, unless you're a super diligent pet owner that cleans the cage daily. I do, but I'm not the norm. Also, my work is cut in half because my bunnies potty where they're supposed to, except for Oreo, but she's a rare case.

If a hamster can learn to use a litter box, a rat can, and it really well make the owners life easier, and the pets life better. Less mess, less cleanup, a cleaner cage, a happier animal, and a happier owner. :)

Perhaps you think she died from being alone but I guarantee you, it wasn't because of that.

Well I had asked an expert on rats and he said she died of loneliness even though I paid tons of attention to her but I don't know if your right or he is

He probably was saying the easy thing since he didn't know what she really died of. It wasn't loneliness.

Well I had asked an expert on rats and he said she died of loneliness even though I payed tons of attention to her but I don't know if your right or he is

Trust me... I've had numerous rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs... all sorts of things since I was a kid. None of my rats ever died of loneliness. I am going to guess that this "expert" you talk about didn't have a real answer for you so he simply agreed with the loneliness thing. Lots of things can kill a rodent. I have found that rats tend to get cancer fairly easily... but loneliness, no.

Teeny, tiny diapers (sorry, I just came back to this).

I am looking into cockatiel diapers.

Well I had asked an expert on rats and he said she died of loneliness even though I payed tons of attention to her but I don't know if your right or he is


If the expert was a salesperson in a pet store I am not the least bit surprised. There is a thin line between "expert" and "hired yesterday with no experience" in some of those places.

Teeny, tiny diapers (sorry, I just came back to this).

I am looking into cockatiel diapers.
Do you REALLY want to be a diaper-changing slave?

Found a picture of one of the litter boxes I bought for one of the three hammies we had. The exact one.


Alty, I love you but you have entirely too much time on your hands. For whatever reason I am vastly amused by the thought of you scooping hamster litter - I really do need to find something to keep myself occupied.

I'm looking at the dogs and wondering if I had a doggie litter box for a dog that weighs 150 pounds how large a scoop I would need.

if I had a doggie litter box for a dog that weighs 150 pounds how large a scoop I would need.

A shovel from Home Depot.

Odinn beat me to it. A shovel would work. Personally, I'd like to teach my dogs to use the toilet. I know you can teach cats to do that, so why not dogs? It would save so much pickup time, and mess. If I could also teach them to scrub the toilet when they're done... hmmmm... I may be onto something here!

Rats don't need companions to stay alive.

Also, at this point, if the OP were to add another rat to the cage, there likely would be fighting over territory.


If you introduce them correctly they wouldn't fight (i.e. don't just drop them straight in) and as they are herd animals then they do need to be in groups. A human can't substitute as they won't be able to communicate with the rat.

She didn't die of loneliness.

She probably did as rats are herd animals so she would have had no one to communicate with. Even if there was a trigger like a small illness since, so to speak, there was no one to live for she wouldn't have recovered.

She probably did as rats are herd animals so she would have had no one to communicate with. Even if there was a trigger like a small illness since, so to speak, there was no one to live for she wouldn't have recovered.

That's BS... I've had single rats and all lived nice long lives. Being a "herd animal" doesn't make an animal prone to death simply by being by itself.

Aside from that, thanks for chiming in. I'm sure your answer was real helpful to this girl who posted this question back in August.

She probably did as rats are herd animals so she would have had no one to communicate with. Even if there was a trigger like a small illness since, so to speak, there was no one to live for she wouldn't have recovered.

No, you're wrong. Rabbits are also animals that live in groups. Keeping a lone rabbit is not something I'd recommend, but they don't die from lonlieness. If the owner spends time with them, that's all the attention they need.

So no, you're not at all right. This rat didn't die of because it was lonely.

Aside from that, thanks for chiming in. I'm sure your answer was real helpful to this girl who posted this question back in August

Odinn, she posted in July. Just fyi. :)

Odinn, she posted in July. Just fyi. :)

You are right. I was just going by the last post.

You are right. I was just going by the last post.

OMG! I have "you are right" in writing! I'm framing this! ;)