Rat Myths

We are BEYOND crisis capacity. PLEASE watch our Petfinder if you are interested in adopting - we will be listing a LOT of rats (many young) in the next few weeks. We NEED fosters, ESPECIALLY quarantines at this time. We also are seeking SMALL bar-spaced cages at this time. We can NOT take any more surrenders until further notice!

There are many myths out there about rats... Nearly all are not true! Here's just a few, with the real truth attached.

Rats spread the bubonic plague.

Nope! Fleas did. They were carried on the fur of rats... Along with dogs and cats and other animals. It was the fleas, not the rats, that spread the plague.

Rats can be kept as singletons.

Can? Well, technically. But should? No! Rats should be in pairs or more. They are VERY social animals and need other rats for a variety of reasons. Humans can not take the place of rats, regardless of how often they have the rat out of the cage. Rats need friends to cuddle with when you're busy, to groom the spots they can't reach, to chase and play with in the cage when you're not around - especially in the middle of the night, when they're awake and active. Again, humans can not replace these things, no matter what they do. There is, rarely, the occasional rat that does not tolerate other rats. However, spaying and neutering can sometimes remove the issue entirely. Do not assume any rat that's been kept alone should continue to be. Try introducing a friend (the proper way, don't just toss 'em together). You'll be surprised, 99.9% of the time, the rat will be happy to see another rat!

Rats are dirty and carry disease.

Not pet rats! Watch a rat sometime... You will see that they are a bit compulsive when it comes to keeping themselves clean! They groom themselves often, and help each other with those hard-to-reach spots, too. (This is just one of MANY reasons why having more than one rat is very important!)

All rats bite and are dangerous.

Quite untrue! A well-socialized rat is downright friendly and will probably never bite. Rats need to be socialized as babies, just like other rodents. They love to be with humans, and many enjoy sitting on a person's shoulder or cuddling up in hoodies or sleeves. Even as a rat rescuer, I very rarely encounter rats that do bite, and those that do are often rats that we rescue from abusive or neglectful conditions. We HAVE rehabbed rats, it can be done!

Rats aren't too smart.

Quite the opposite. Rats are very smart, and very curious. They can be taught tricks and many learn their names. They are amazing at knowing how to pull at their owner's heartstrings! They remember things, and love to explore and figure everything out. They can solve "puzzles" (bird toys and whatnot). Without enough stimulation, rats can and will becoming bored and will cause trouble... Just like kids!