How many rats?

For Beginners

I strongly suggest getting two rats (of course, I have also been known not to follow my own advice!). I think having 2 rats is better than having 3, 4, or 5 rats, and certainly better than having just 1. You see, rats need attention, and lots of it. To be social creatures, they need at least one hour of play with humans per day. I know most of you can provide at least that amount of time, even if it is just riding around on your shoulder while you are cleaning the house. When a rat lives alone, it sits there all day, waiting for some attention from you. When it has a pal, they can play while they’re waiting for you to take them out. I love my 3 boys, and I love having a trio, but when I think about it, life might be easier if I only had a duo. It’s hard to have 3 rats riding on your shoulder, and sometimes I think 1 rat feels left out when the three are playing. Two rats are perfect for each other…and perfect for you.

For Compulsive Rat Owners

I have wanted to have just one rat for a very long time. But somehow I always end up with two. Or three. Or four. Want to know why? It’s because I have no self-control. Like an idiot, I wander into a pet store “just wanting to look at the ratties”. And I end up bringing one home. Luckily, I realized my weakness last year,and was actually able to control it. Well, sort of. Let’s just say I’m not allowed to go in pet stores anymore. If you have no self control, don’t put yourself through the pain and torture of going into a pet store and looking at all the ratties you know you can’t have. If you simply must settle that need for cuteness, go home and look at your own rats. Trust me, that’s enough cuteness to curb that craving for weeks. Or at least until the next trip to the pet store.