why i should get rat(s)

by roman meadors
Why rats?
Rats are extremely intelligent, CLEAN, and very cute. They clean themselves
similarly to cats, making their cages not really smelly if properly cleaned. I also
have the room to take care of them, my room is pretty barren so I think it’ll be
okay! They aren’t very difficult to care for, either.
I’m knowledgeable on rat care!
Food, cages, activities and how to keep them entertained, handling them, what to
do if they get sick, I know all about. I want to give my ratties proper care so they
live fulfilling ratty lives, I know a decent amount on what I’m doing but of course
every pet owner makes mistakes. Taking care of rats isn’t very difficult if you really
put the research in!
They’ll help with my mental health :-)
I believe having rats to take care of will make me feel less alone, as well as a
reason to really get up and do stuff. Rats require a lot of attention, and will help me
be awake and probably be happier.

Unrelated, but the temperament of a rat is different between male rats and female
rats. Male rats tend to be a lot more lazy and mellow, while female rats are lots
more active and excitable. This isn’t always the case but it tends to be.
Why two rats, why not one?
Rats are very social and need to be in at least a pair, if not they’ll get extremely
depressed leading to not only mental problems but physical ones too. Human
company isn’t enough!
Cons :-(
- Rats get sick quite easily, and while this is usually simple to
treat yourself at home it’s not uncommon for them to get
tumours, respiratory infections, and some eye diseases. The
vet bills for these can be expensive, as rats are considered
exotic pets (I’m not completely sure about their status in the
UK but I assume it’s the same as the US.)
- Rats don’t have a very long lifespan (2-3 years.)
- Rats from pet stores are risky since the workers usually aren’t
very knowledgeable on rats and there’s risk of buying a
pregnant rat, a male and a female, etc.
Thank you for listening