Vital Pet Health

I must admit having a rat as a pet has never appealed to me even when a friend of mine some years ago tried to introduce me to his beloved pet rat, Georgie.    ‘Don’t let him out of the cage’ I yelled as he opened the cage door and then held Georgie out to me.  ‘He’s a friendly little chap’ my friend shouted as I made a quick exit through the door and out of the building.  That was the last I saw of Georgie.

It is not that I don’t like little furry animals, as a child I had hamsters and guinea pigs, but never mice or rats.  I think it’s something to do with the tail.

Since my experience with Gerogie the nearest I have got to a rat is to see the odd one running along a country lane, or a more unfortunate one lying by the side of the road.  In all cases I have given them a wide berth.

Television news stories don’t help when they show rats lurking around dustbins and sewers in back streets but a recent news item showing one walking past the front of 10 Downing Street no less, made me smile.  To see the little creature scampering past the Prime Minister’s residence with police on duty and television cameras and flashing lights all around made me realize how brave it was and with this in mind I decided to find out more about rats as pets.  I came up with some interesting facts:

• Rats have been domesticated for over 100 years.
• Pet rats are nothing like their wild relatives they have sweet personalities and are very affectionate.
• The rat has an average life span of 2-3 years but some have been known to live to 5, but this is exceptional.
• They are intelligent, curious and easily tamed.
• They are kleptomaniacs.  They love to steal and stash!
• They make wonderful pets and many owners compare the companionship of a rat to that of a dog.
• There are many varieties including hairless, tailless and big eared (Dumbo).   They come in a wide range of colours and coat types.
• They are a popular pet in many countries.
• They keep themselves clean and as long as their cages are kept free from urine odour they do not smell.
• Apart from the initial expense of the cage and equipment they are cheap to keep and need relatively little care.   As with any pet, however, they require commitment to their care, including veterinary treatment if they become ill.
• They are easy to care for but need at least one hour a day play time outside their cage.
• They are social animals and do best if kept with other rats.  Male rats usually get along with each other especially if they are littermates.  Even in a group, if handled from young they remain tame.
• Females are smaller than the males and tend to be more active and playful.
• They sleep through the day so are ideal pets for those at work or school as they are ready to play in the evening.

Having read up on the domesticated rat I am feeling really guilty about Georgie now.  I am even considering a rat as a pet, especially since finding out there is a breed without a tail.