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Anonymous
/an/, do rats make good pets?
>> Anonymous
yes
/thread
>> Internet Hate Machine
They use mind control to make you think that way.
You'll forgive them anything, even eating holes out in your favourite T-shirt...
Those lil' bastards!
>> Anonymous
>>204826
or biting through your favorite head phones
>> Anonymous
i have one and im getting another one! There the best
>> Anonymous
Op here. What makes them good pets, and which is better, male or female?
>> NukerekuN
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I have a rat named Steve McQueen, pictured to the left. I've had him for about a year and a half. I've always had hamsters when I was younger, and I finally got a rat. It has to be the best pest I've ever had. They're very easy to take care of. He's smart and I just let him walk around while I follow him to make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble.

On the downside, he does kind of stink and will bite if you're in his way on the bed and he's trying to get past you. He pees on you sometimes, but he's never ever peed or pooped on something you don't want him too, like beds. He's also gnawed through a pair of headphones before, but that's it.

Overall, I'd have to say that getting a rat was the best pet decision I've made in a while. They unfortunately don't live for too long, but they're fun to raise and take care of. Just clean their cage often, my rat got lice and started losing fur on his behind (also look out for any unusual gnawing or hair loss, he might have lice). Make sure you take care of them, or they'll get mean and start to bite. I got mine during the summer when he was a baby so that I could spend as much time as I could with him. I'd say get a male rat. My friend has a girl rat and she's not as friendly and playful as mine. Overall, rats are a good compromise if you want an animal that is intelligent, fun to be with, and is moderately easy to take care of.
>> NukerekuN
>>204842

I also forgot to mention that they're pretty cheap. I got mine from a regular petstore for I think $2.50. His cage cost 30.00. Accessories like a water bottle, a food bowl, and an igloo for him to sleep in cost around 20.00. If you continue getting rats like I plan to, you can re-use all of this again and again. Every month about I have to buy a bag of rat food for 8.00.

Also, make sure to bathe him often. I change my rat's bedding and clean his cage every 2 weeks then give him a bath afterwards with pet shampoo. If you do get one, don't get wood chip bedding or any type of wood plaything. When my rat had lice and I brought him in, the vets said that lice thrives in that kind of stuff. Stick to regular bedding.
>> Anonymous
>>204843
Thank you, this was very informative.
What do you mean by regular bedding? I would have concidered woodchips regular bedding.
>> NukerekuN
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>>204845

Well, I did a quick google search and found a pic of the bedding I use. It's really soft on his feet and he really likes it, it comes in colors too. I also feel that this stuff kind of absorbs the stink so to speak. I can't really describe what it is exactly cause I don't have any packages on me, I just changed his cage last weekend. But what I do use is Carefresh pet bedding. You buy it in "logs" and one log for 7 bucks usually lasts 2 changes. I don't put too much in his cage or else he tends to push it out the sides. Just enough to cover the bottom.
>> Anonymous
Ausfag here. I really want a rat, but I refuse to get one until I have a decent cage that isnt too exspensive. Any suggestions? Don't mind buying of the internet, but don't want to ship from oversease. Ebay is not that great.
>> Anonymous
i had a rat and then shortly after found out that was very very allergic

my cousin offered to take the rat so i gave her to him and then he never played with the rat and she got mean and then got an eye tumor and died
>> NukerekuN
>>204865

You can get a decent sized cage at any local pet store. I started off with a small glass tank when he was a baby, but then upgraded to a cage that is (approximately) 2 feet long, one foot wide, and a foot and a half tall. I believe it's a "My First Home" cage. He has a pretty good sized igloo in there that he's comfortable with. I used to have a wheel but he never used it. Like I said, it only cost 30.00 about which isn't too bad. I can wash it repeatedly and it isn't giving out. The top cage part comes off of the bottom for easy cleaning. It's just a standard pet cage. And my rat's pretty big, but he's fine.

Try maybe googling "buy cages" or "buy rat cage", something along those lines. I found a site that has I think the exact same cage I have for 22.00. Just look around for good deals. As for finding a place that doesn't need to ship overseas, that may be hard. Maybe try asking your pet store to order in some cages?
>> Nervo
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Rats make fantastic pets, we have recently fallen in love with and addopted a friends rat, and shes just so nice.

the trick is, buy a girl, they smell alot less and they are very cuddly.

as soon as you get them, make sure that u handle tehm alot they get used to you. make sure ther eis no cats in the room (obviously) and make sure the doors and windows are closed. roll up a towel and put it under the door if theres a gap, and just let them run around and explore.

you can get a pretty good cage second hand. look in the trading post for old bird cages or fish tanks even. andy thing that they cant get out of, it needs to be a fiar size.

they liek to have a platform and stuff to climb on, and something to hide in, just liek a hlf a jucie carton with soem shredded newpaper is good, u can use newspaper or sawduse or even sand for bedding, nespaper is easiest but it shoudl be changed quite often.

they seem to like seeds, crackers, and plain things. DONT FEED THEM MEET!!! they seem to bite more if u do. frui and vegies are good aswel.

hope that helps. if you pay your pet enough attention and keep there cage clean, they will be a logal friend. if u have no cats u canbasical take them round teh hose with u while ur just doing day to day stuff..
This is jeromy. our rat
>> Anonymous
martinscages.com has pretty awesome ones. You want at least 2 cubic feet per rat. (And you want more than one rat, they're sociable and tend to get sad alone.)
>> Anonymous
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>>204842

Holy living hell I have rats named Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood and John Wayne.

Also yes they make wonderful pets.