a lone rat?

[ashana]

Prices can range from around $90.00 up to about $150.00 per spay or neuter. Sometimes vets will give a bit of a discount for multiple rats ;-)

 

[emeraldsandrubies]

thank you ashana.

if i were to leave the rats i get un-spayed or un-neutered which would be effected less? for example, if the males were to be left intact, would they be harder to handle than females not spayed or neutered or easier? i'm just unsure whether or not i can afford it.

 

[mamarat]

If your males are not aggressive I would spay the girls because of the health benefits to them. I've only had a very few girls with tumors.

 

[Rachael]

Personally, I believe it is cruel to make a rat live alone. I've rescued lone rats and when they were finally introduced to other rats have become so happy and healthy too. Rats need other rats.

Don't get me wrong I generally agree rats should have company and I never tell a new owner otherwise... However, I have had lone rats and they would not be able to live with other rats. Toby would accept no other rats (including females), and same with his brother Gus .... he lost his friend Cream, and he would not only panic if put back in the cage they lived in together but wouldn't accept any other company. And my Ziggy is terrified of other rats. Doesn't like humans much either, but it's just him.

 

[jorats]

Personally, I believe it is cruel to make a rat live alone. I've rescued lone rats and when they were finally introduced to other rats have become so happy and healthy too. Rats need other rats.

Don't get me wrong I generally agree rats should have company and I never tell a new owner otherwise... However, I have had lone rats and they would not be able to live with other rats. Toby would accept no other rats (including females), and same with his brother Gus .... he lost his friend Cream, and he would not only panic if put back in the cage they lived in together but wouldn't accept any other company. And my Ziggy is terrified of other rats. Doesn't like humans much either, but it's just him.

I've had rats like that too... but with work and dedication, I've always been able to find them their perfect match. It's a long process but so well worth it seeing the lone rat with his cuddly buddy.
I would never stop trying.

 

[Rachael]

We have tried a lot of times with Ziggy he just won't accept anything. Even his sisters, he loves to sit and watch them in their cage (have to have their cages side by side) he just does not tolerate any company

 

[Moon]

Personally, I believe it is cruel to make a rat live alone. I've rescued lone rats and when they were finally introduced to other rats have become so happy and healthy too. Rats need other rats.

Don't get me wrong I generally agree rats should have company and I never tell a new owner otherwise... However, I have had lone rats and they would not be able to live with other rats. Toby would accept no other rats (including females), and same with his brother Gus .... he lost his friend Cream, and he would not only panic if put back in the cage they lived in together but wouldn't accept any other company. And my Ziggy is terrified of other rats. Doesn't like humans much either, but it's just him.

I've had rats like that too... but with work and dedication, I've always been able to find them their perfect match. It's a long process but so well worth it seeing the lone rat with his cuddly buddy.
I would never stop trying.

You're also in a situation where you already have a large colony to choose from, in the hopes of making a match work. If someone has an unsocial rat, they may only be able to try with their existing rats, and some rats just wont get along no matter what you do.

But, I would keep trying, even if I couldn't adopt new suitable cagemates.