Rats have a reputation of being dirty and diseased animals that are only good for destroying property and belongings. While most reputations are based in fact, rats have been domesticated and can make wonderful pets for people. Pet rats love to play and interact with their owner. They are, also, very clean animals and show affection and emotions. Unlike other small pets, rats can be trained to do basic tricks like sit and come. They are very intelligent and will respond to their name if you spend daily time with them. Rats can be trained to use a litter box very easily, as well. A pet rat that has been socialized from birth will enjoy cuddling with you and very rarely bite. Rats, being as social as they are, don't do overly well if left by themselves for long periods of time. Because of this, it is recommended that if you bring a rat home you have time to spend with it on a daily basis or you get a pair of rats so they can entertain each other. If you get more then one rat make sure they are of the same sex or get them spayed or neutered or you will end up with more rats than you planned on. Rat's teeth grow continuously so they need to chew on things to keep their teeth from getting too long. When your rat is out of his cage to play, keep an eye on him so he doesn't chew on something he shouldn't chew on. Pet rats don't typically need to be bathed. They are very clean animals and spend a large amount of time grooming themselves. You can give them a bath occasionally but be prepared for some scratching as they aren't big fans of water. These pets need a larger cage than other animals of similar size. They are more active than many pets and need room in their cage to move around and play. Keeping the cage clean is important. Removal of the waste on a daily basis is best practice. Your rat will be happier and easier to take care of if his cage is cleaned on a weekly basis. Rats eat a variety of foods but a balanced diet is benificial for them. A diet full of protien can be unhealthy for a rat but don't cut out all protien. Also, chocolate should be avoided because they lack the digestive system to break it down. Despite their reputation, rats make great pets. They are easy to manage, social, and playful. If you are considering getting a small pet don't rule out the domesticated rat.
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