Hess explains that once kids have a longer attention span, rats can be an ideal pet. A pet rat can help an older child to “understand that there's some kind of schedule to their day,” says Dr. Hess. They can add structure and responsibilities that can help children grow to be more thoughtful.
If well socialized from a young age and treated gently, they are easy to handle, affectionate, and rarely bite unless provoked. Rats generally make good family pets but should never be left unsupervised with small children. Rats tend to be nocturnal but are active for periods during the day.
Though these rodents are fairly docile, they aren't typically recommended for small children without adult supervision. If you're taking home a pet rat for your child, be sure to keep in mind that you will end up being its primary caretaker. “Small rodents should not be pets for very small children,” Hoppes said.
Small pets such as guinea pigs, hamsters and gerbils make good companions because they are easy to handle, easy to keep track of, and non-threatening to a child. Guinea pigs make especially good pets for very young children because they are docile, rarely bite, and are easily handled.
A Great First Pet
Fancy rats are one of the few pets that are good for kids. Unlike other pocket pets like hamsters, rats rarely bite. They are sturdier than other rodents and they don't tend to make fast rapid movements. Since rats sleep for 15 hours a day, they don't need the same time commitment as a cat or dog.
If you're looking for babies, they should be at least six weeks old before you bring them home. They should be health checked by a vet and accurately sexed before taking them home.
10 and up. For kids over the age of ten, they can start handling almost every part of caring for their furry pals, from walking to bathing to feeding and playing.
Hess explains that once kids have a longer attention span, rats can be an ideal pet. A pet rat can help an older child to “understand that there's some kind of schedule to their day,” says Dr. Hess.
Do not kiss, nuzzle, or hold rats close to your face. This can startle your rats and also increase your chances of being bitten. Bites can spread germs and can make you sick. You don't have to touch pet rats to get sick from their germs.
It is really important, therefore, for rat owners to recognise the signs of disease at an early stage. The following list of typical health problems should help you detect the first signs of illness in your pet. Besides respiratory diseases, tumours are the most common diseases in pet rats and rats in general.
Unlike most small pets, rats love being picked up and handled by their human owners. While rats do enjoy human interaction, they'll need to be picked up and handled from a young age so they're used to it. Rats rarely bite and their larger size makes them easier to pick up.
It's always best to adopt littermates when possible. Gender: Although all rats have individual personalities, females tend to be smaller, more active, and playful, while males are often larger, more mellow, and snuggly.
Healthy rats typically avoid people and prefer to be active when buildings are quiet. However, when cornered, they will lunge and bite to defend themselves. The saliva of some species of rats carries hazardous diseases, such as leptospirosis and Hantavirus. In rare cases, rat bite victims may contract rat-bite fever.
But they should also have reasonable expectations depending on their child's age and maturity, King says. A toddler may be able to pick up pet toys or fill a water bowl while kids between ages 5 and 12 may be able to help with feeding and grooming. Children 12 and older may be ready to take the animal on walks.
Some children have the maturity to start babysitting as early as age 12 or 13. Others are better off waiting until they're older teenagers. Before you let your tween babysit, demand the same qualifications that you would from any babysitter you are considering hiring.
The age of your children is one factor to consider when getting a pet. Generally, since many dog bite injuries happen to young children, it may be safest to wait until your child is older than age 4. But think about your children and their individual maturity levels, because each child develops differently.
Rats are intelligent, highly social animals and make incredibly rewarding animals to look after. They can form close bonds with their human carers, but have complex needs and aren't easy to look after well.
If you are the type of owner that is away for long periods of the day then pet rats may be a good choice for you. Make sure you leave them lots of food and water out and if you can afford it, try to buy another pet rat to keep them company as rats are very sociable animals. Rats are very affordable small pets to own.
A well-socialized rat is a good pet for children and adults. It is always best to have at least two rats as they are very social animals and become lonely and bored living alone. It is important to make sure that your rat has a large enough house to move freely and get exercise.
If you are considering having a large colony of rats, here is a great way to build up to that from the very beginning. First, if you have never owned rats before, start with only two rats. Care for that pair for a year and see if you are able to maintain their quality of life, and your own, during the entire time.
Rats typically have short life stages. Domesticated pet rats normally only live 2-4 years–but the longest living rat in captivity lived to be 7 years old! A pet rat's life expectancy is much better than their wild counterparts, though, who typically live less than a year.