Many people are turned off by rats because they view these small animals as nasty pests. However, the simple rat has a big following, albeit small. Some people think that rats are perfect pets because they’re perceived as low-maintenance and easy to keep.
While a rat may not be your idea of a perfect pet to own, there are people out there who would quickly disagree with you
However, there are always important considerations when it comes to keeping rodents as pets. Perhaps not surprisingly, there are important ethical and welfare concerns when it comes to keeping domesticated rats as pets which you should thoroughly explore before deciding to adopt one.
Rat as Pets – The Pros
There are several reasons why rats are considered as good pets. The good sides of rats as pets can be summarized as follows:
Quiet Pets
Rats are very quiet and make next to no noise (at least not noise that we can hear). This makes them a good pet option if noise is a concern where you reside.
Economical Logistics
Though the initial investment in adopting an exotic pet is often somewhat high, the recurring costs of a pet rat that is managed in an appropriate enclosure are often lower than those associated with pets such as cats or dogs.
Financially, the relatively short lifespan of a rat may also be a factor in their relatively lower cost; however, many owners do feel that their short lifespan makes spending a large sum of money on their initial setup exorbitant.
A Rat Can Be a Cuddly Pet
You may be surprised to learn that a rat can be a cuddly pet to have. Rats are social animals that love hanging out with their owners on their shoulders or in their laps. Even though you can snuggle up to a pet rat, don’t attempt to kiss your rat on the nose or face because they may end up biting you. When you get too close to a rat’s face, they may view you as a threat and bite you, especially if they are startled as you approach them. It is good practice to not kiss any pet near their mouth, not just for safety purposes, but also for hygienic reasons. That being said, well adjusted, tame pet rats often appreciate a friendly chin stroke from their caretaker.
Companionship
Lastly, it’s important to note that like many other pets, rats can help those who seek the companionship of a pet. This can offer certain individuals mental health benefits, including the ability to better cope with some stressors (such as anxiety). Like many other pets, rats can be considered an emotional support animal (ESA) for some. Nonetheless, they are not considered service animals, and many places may legally not allow you to bring your rat with you (even as an ESA), due to regulations enforced by public safety agencies.
Rats as Pets – The Cons
Unfortunately, there are considerable amounts of ethical concerns when it comes to pet rats. These aren’t necessarily applicable to all pet rats, but they do warrant special attention and thought prior to adopting them as pets.
Male Bias
Research has shown that there is a considerable bias towards adopting male rats as pets over female rats. Presumably, this is because most owners are well aware of the fact that rats are quick to mature and reproduce. Opting to adopt only male pets would eliminate the risk of unwanted rat pups in their homes.
Understandably, this does raise concerns about the welfare of female pet rats. There is no way to control the sex of a rat prior to their birth. Given how so many people adopt male rats over females, it does raise the question as to what breeders do with the difficult-to-sell female rats.
Nutritional Concerns
The research cited above also found that most pet owners are not aware of the nutritional needs of pet rats, and often feed them nutritionally inappropriate or incomplete diets. This often manifests itself as diseases and a shortened lifespan for most pet rats.
Intrinsically, rats are opportunistic omnivores and will often readily sample and eat food items given to them. However, this doesn’t mean that everything one offers to them is good for them. In fact, popular trends such as giving pet rats “cakes” on their birthdays or feeding them foods popularized by the media (such as cheese) are very dangerous for them.
Predator Exposure
Perhaps just as distressing as inappropriate nutrition is the fact that many people opt to adopt rats when they already have species that are predatory towards rats, including cats and dogs.
Though social media may portray these pets living together in apparent “harmony”, it has been shown that exposure to predators is stressful for rats, even if they appear momentarily content or “happy” with the predator near them. This happens even if the predatory animal in question doesn’t attack or pounce on them during the encounter, as even their smell can be distressing for a rat.
Research on whether or not a rat can be desensitized to the scent of a predator isn’t thoroughly conclusive yet. However, even if it were possible, it wouldn’t change the fact that to theoretically do so would involve exposing a pet to the scent of a predator and causing them stress, which does compromise their welfare.
Other Husbandry Concerns
Finally, many owners house pet rats with inappropriate bedding (such as sawdust), which can be detrimental to their long-term health as it can cause issues, such as respiratory ailments.
In addition, it is worth noting that pet rats do need time out of their enclosure, as these animals are active explorers. Owners that leave their pets in a cage all the time are likely not providing them with sufficient exercise or enrichment. This is unfortunately far too common with rats due to the fact that they are perceived to be easy to care for and labeled as low-maintenance.
Conclusion
Rats can make wonderful pets for the right owners. However, even though domesticated rats are popular, there are several concerns about their welfare. If you decide to get a pet rat, be sure to thoroughly research and consider the ethics of having them as pets prior to adoption.
Related read:
- Types of Pet Rats: Breeds, Colors & Patterns (with Pictures)
- Dumbo Rat: Facts, Behavior, Lifespan & Care (With Pictures)
Featured Image Credit by Anton Watman, Shutterstock
