If you think a rat is the right pet for your family, how do you pick the right one? You have several options for where you get your rat. Pet stores may or may not be a good choice, depending on how knowledgeable the staff is about rat care in general. Check the housing — make sure males and females are housed separately, or you may get a surprise litter after you get your pet rat home. Young rats should be handled regularly. Breeders (also known as ratteries) are a great place to find a well socialized young rat. A … Continue reading →

Not ready for a large, free-roaming pet, but don’t want something scaly or slimy? Pet rats can be a good compromise. Pet rats typically live between two and three years. Males (bucks) tend to be larger than females (does), but the average rat is between nine and eleven inches long in the body. A rat’s tail can add another eight inches of length! Several different varieties of rats are available as pets, including long-haired, short-haired, hairless, and even tailless! Rats are social animals, so it’s a good idea to keep them in same-sex pairs or same-sex groups. Males or females … Continue reading →