This Cat lover is now a Rat lover
Rats are lovable, smart pets
By Rene Knapp. For the Norwich Bulletin
I have to admit, being a cat person, I never thought much about having a rat for a pet. My mother actually owned a very sweet, white rat at one time.
Mom's mischievous nature enjoyed seeing the look on visitors' faces when they realized Snowshoe was not stuffed. Whenever I came to visit, it seemed to me he knew I had cats and my pets would pretty much consider him lunch.
I decided to research rats as pets because a new work associate is crazy about hers.
The first thing you have to understand in order to be a good pet rat owner, is they are not little animals you can just keep in a cage and ignore.
You need to fit in quality time every day where they can play, explore and interact with you.
The time of day you choose to do this is not important, as long as you have that playtime occur at the same time each day.
If you have a single rat, you must be willing to give him at least four hours of human companionship each day. The best thing is to have two rats so they can amuse each other most of the time. They will both be satisfied with about an hour of your attention each day.
Wherever you let your rats play outside the cage needs to be rat proofed. You will have to remove any furniture or other objects you don't want to be damaged as rats tend to chew.
Rats are quite ingenious and can get into any space. Make sure you don't have any hidden holes or rips in the fabrics of your furniture. Watch out for recliners -- these little guys need constant supervision to remain safe.
The basic cost of caring for a rat is fairly low -- food, bedding and toys (yes, rats like toys), costs anywhere from $15 to $20 a month. And it's easy to take them on vacation with you, too.
Rats have distinct personalities, too. Look for ones that are curious, willing to approach your hand and gently nibble at your fingers.
Baby rats should be treated with lots of care because mishandling your rat can have negative effects, such as shyness, aggression or biting.
Rats also have emotions. Rats can be happy. They make joyful sounds during play. They can also mourn the loss of a cage mate.
There are a lot of things to consider before getting a rat for a pet. For one thing, rats mark their territory, much like cats do, and unfortunately that means if they like you, they may pee on you.
No pet is perfect though, and at least they're small. And, of course, like all animals, rats require vet care, a clean living space and commitment.
Rats are truly amazing creatures, and the more you watch their behaviors, the more you will learn about them and grow to love them. It is hard to believe, but they are very affectionate and they enjoy a relationship with their human families.
Rats are truely amazing..
By Rene Knapp. For the Norwich Bulletin
I have to admit, being a cat person, I never thought much about having a rat for a pet. My mother actually owned a very sweet, white rat at one time.
Mom's mischievous nature enjoyed seeing the look on visitors' faces when they realized Snowshoe was not stuffed. Whenever I came to visit, it seemed to me he knew I had cats and my pets would pretty much consider him lunch.
I decided to research rats as pets because a new work associate is crazy about hers.
The first thing you have to understand in order to be a good pet rat owner, is they are not little animals you can just keep in a cage and ignore.
You need to fit in quality time every day where they can play, explore and interact with you.
The time of day you choose to do this is not important, as long as you have that playtime occur at the same time each day.
If you have a single rat, you must be willing to give him at least four hours of human companionship each day. The best thing is to have two rats so they can amuse each other most of the time. They will both be satisfied with about an hour of your attention each day.
Wherever you let your rats play outside the cage needs to be rat proofed. You will have to remove any furniture or other objects you don't want to be damaged as rats tend to chew.
Rats are quite ingenious and can get into any space. Make sure you don't have any hidden holes or rips in the fabrics of your furniture. Watch out for recliners -- these little guys need constant supervision to remain safe.
The basic cost of caring for a rat is fairly low -- food, bedding and toys (yes, rats like toys), costs anywhere from $15 to $20 a month. And it's easy to take them on vacation with you, too.
Rats have distinct personalities, too. Look for ones that are curious, willing to approach your hand and gently nibble at your fingers.
Baby rats should be treated with lots of care because mishandling your rat can have negative effects, such as shyness, aggression or biting.
Rats also have emotions. Rats can be happy. They make joyful sounds during play. They can also mourn the loss of a cage mate.
There are a lot of things to consider before getting a rat for a pet. For one thing, rats mark their territory, much like cats do, and unfortunately that means if they like you, they may pee on you.
No pet is perfect though, and at least they're small. And, of course, like all animals, rats require vet care, a clean living space and commitment.
Rats are truly amazing creatures, and the more you watch their behaviors, the more you will learn about them and grow to love them. It is hard to believe, but they are very affectionate and they enjoy a relationship with their human families.
Rats are truely amazing..
posted by Lee at 4:46 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home