RATS YOU EITHER LOVE THEM OR HATE THEM (Rats)

Member Name: saramac

Product:	Rats
Date:	26/06/09 (32 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Loving, good fun, intelligent.

Disadvantages: Cage can be expensive, rats can be naughty

Rats, what can I say, if you can see past their tail, which seems to freak lots of people out, they are a superb pet-
Can be very Loving,
Very intelligent,
Nosey,
Greedy,
Very sociable, but, they do tend to have a good wash after being handled, its as if they want to wash the human scent off themselves. Its amusing to watch the minute you put them down they start the long ritual of washing.
There's not much cuter than the sight of a rat licking it's paw and washing its face and ears.

Its generally better to get 2 rats together because they do get lonely, our last rats were 2 delinquent brothers who went by the names Ben n Jerry ( no prizes for guessing my favourite brand of ice-cream). They were a pair of hooligans and caused havoc every time we allowed them out of the cage.
They were very good fun, but needed constant supervision when out.

Among their tricks were stealing- anything especially that can be eaten.
Climbing up the curtains.
Chewing plants infact, chewing anything, they are not really fussy.
I came downstairs one morning to find that one of them had worked out how to open the cage and the pair of them had enjoyed their unsupervised
all night party to the max!
We had a lovely pattern chewed in the leather settee, chewed tv remote,
chewed cushions I could have strangled the pair, we do laugh about it now.
Two tiny bulldog clips were promptly employed as locks on the doors from then on.

You do need a large cage, especially if you have more than one. Foods also an issue you have to be careful as with all small rodents what you feed them, I advise you to get a book all about rats.
It will advise the best bedding, snacks ( they can't eat sunflower seeds)
and Love shredded paper as bedding thats eco-friendly isn't it?

You must handle them regularly when they are young and they will be your friend for life, they Love to sit on your shoulder, even when your walking round.It is said if a rat has a wash while your are holding it thats a sign of Love and trust from it.
Pet rats are meticulously clean, but the cage gets very smelly so you must clean them out regularly especially because they don't like a dirty cage.

But, I do think you either Love them or Hate them and I Love them.

Summary: Fairly low maintenance, cheap to keep & all round entertainment