I call it "temporary baby apartment"

Ah yeah I call mine gay baby jail :')

Why😅

There’s a ferret in you profile pic Iike rats and ferrets (óvò)

Everyone has their first flat. We all move on to bigger and better thing eventually … erm, at least, hopefully.

My experience was always that ones from a good breeder were much quicker to bond with me but in the long term store bought rats got every bit as attached. Health wise is a different story. Always do your research and go for a good breeder.

@@Altitudes Yeah, definitely. I was mostly giving advice for an easy start for people new to keeping rats. In the long term, rats from a pet store can be just as wonderful and friendly (and honestly, not even that long, they learn to trust a trustworthy owner quickly!) You're right about the health issues. I've had a lot of rats, both from pet stores and from breeders, and the ones from pet stores tend to live shorter lives (possibly due to inbreeding, bad care as babies, or whatever), and may have issues when they come in.

This is less about general, newcomer advice and is more directed at people that have already had rats and focus on sociability. I don't shy away and get the ones that have been abused, because someone has to socialize them. Beginner? Fine, you need to start easy. But after that, getting only the most sociable rats ignores all the rescue rats that are tired of being rehomed and being uncomfortable in their own skin from isolation. One of the sweetest rats that I ever had was the most aggressive I have ever seen. He was surrendered after a pet store sold him but obviously not to a prepared soul. It took months, but my wife and I turned it around for him. He had a good life after the point most people did not expect much from him. I guess this post is for people that will maybe look at rat adoption a bit differently after reading this. This path isn't for everyone, but maybe another rat like my Carl can have a happy ending too.

@@IceHibiscus but I personally wouldn't purchase a rat from a pet store, just like I wouldn't purchase a dog from a pet store or breeder. It's unfortunate for the pets that will go without homes, but it will save many more in the long run if we stop giving money to businesses that are breeding animals for profit without caring about the animals' needs. If there's no demand, they'll have to lessen the supply, and eventually stop or change their practices completely. I definitely think that rescuing pets is a good thing, but I don't think that encouraging people to give money to the folks who hurt these animals to begin with is a good idea.

They don't cost "a bit" more. They cost 7-10x more now. Breeders have like doubled and tripled their prices in the past ~3 years where I live. It sucks.

who

@@somethingtodowithhayleigh7684 wdym?

@@catsarecuterthanyou Cape and Cin?

@@somethingtodowithhayleigh7684 yeah... the chaos potatoes names are Cape and Cin

Cape.....

Yay for rescues!!!

Fren :)

Still sounds like a lovely color for a little chaos potato!! So interesting how colors and markings can change as they age!

@@nixand_brennt Yep! It's the first time in my 17 years of owning rats that this has happened, at least on this scale.

I was wondering that.

Just wait until you move out. Rats are a huge cost and your rents aren't the sort who will take care of the vet bills.

You’ll be surprised obviously a dog and cat is better but a rat is also good option too and there more affordable and easy to take care of there really intelligent and highly social and have a strong bond with there owner, Every time I see my rat Julie I smile she makes me happy and I do feel better when she’s around she cuddles with me licks me and gives me a lot of love I take her with me places I go, and they can be emotional support animals, just consider them 🙃

yes very bonding.

She meant to put a disclaimer up about that, Cyclone is a rescue and was already by herself, but the owner does recommend a same age companion

I will help I was and still kinda am afraid of this but you have to think of the worst thing can happen and most likely that’s unrealistic, and they will nibble on you if they are agitated but it doesn’t hurt as much as you think it does and it won’t hurt it feels like a pinch and if there doing this it’s a good sign this mean they care about you and don’t want hurt you, if they draw blood 🩸 while biting you then they wanted to hurt you, and remember the rat is more scared of you then your scared of them so be patient.