Never had a rat, want one bad, have other pets NEED ADVICE

[Shadaloo cammy]

okay so i used to be scared to death of rats but after a long time ive warmed up greatly to them and want one but theres a problem...i have dogs, cats, a emperor scorpion, a bearded dragon, a leopard gecko, 3 tarantulas(curly hair,pink toe, purple pink toe), and two cornsnakes....everything besides the cats and dogs are always in my room...is it going to okay for the pair of rats to be in my room with the snakes and all?...and i live in a busy house....please help

 

[Dahlas]

I am going to say no....that the rats should not be in the same room as the snakes. Just my opinion

Rats need to be kept in same sex pairs so you will need two at least.....and a cage big enough to meet their needs....There is a lot of good info on this forum and MANY knowledgeable people to help you decide if rats are the right pet for you......PLEASE research before you decide to get rats, or any other pet. It is very important.....we love rats on here...but they are not the right choice for everyone.....

 

[eagle]

I agree with Dahlas I would not keep the rats and snakes in the same room but is just my opinion also. I know there are members who have or had kept the rats and snakes in the same room, it would seem to me to stress them out to much.

 

[jorats]

Rats and snakes in the same room very bad idea. The rats will smell their predator and be stressed all the time.

 

[SQ]

Rats and snakes ... no.
Even a bad idea to have them in the same household imo.

And many rats are horrribly stressed by any predators being in the same household.
When rats are stressed, not only does it effect the quality of their lives,
but it also effects their immune systems and they become ill.

 

[Tarah]

I would say no to snakes and rats in the same house as well.

Out of curiosity though, if rats would be stressed out with snakes in the same house, wouldn't it be the same with cats?

 

[Dahlas]

I would say no to snakes and rats in the same house as well.

Out of curiosity though, if rats would be stressed out with snakes in the same house, wouldn't it be the same with cats?

I was wondering that myself....my rats are in the main part of the house...we are all together and my rats don't mind them at all.....even when I brought in xio's girls....they didn't mind the cats or the dogs at all.....having said that my dogs and cats do not stare at the rats.....The rats I am sure can sense their is no stress (for the animals) or danger in this house......My dogs will sometimes sniff the rats through the cage...but their body posture is totally relaxed, nonthreatening...and the rats seem to be able to read that.

(my cats and dogs NEVER have access to the rat cages when I am not home)

 

[eagle]

My rats live in the same house as my dogs and cats, I have had no problems. I have made sure my dogs are scared of the rats except the puppies still working on them. My cats for the most part run if a rat comes near them.

 

[SQ]

There is a recent thread re rats being sressed by cats in the same household.
Summary of the thread: many are extremely stressed, some learn to adjust, and some who seemed to be ok have a transformation in their behaviour once the cat is no longer a member of the household.

It would be somewhat different tho, pet cats eat pet food in the home,
snakes living in captivity eat mice and rats.
I would think that alone would cause tramua even if feeding frozen/thawed

 

[Dahlas]

There is a recent thread re rats being sressed by cats in the same household.
Summary of the thread: many are extremely stressed, some learn to adjust, and some who seemed to be ok have a transformation in their behaviour once the cat is no longer a member of the household.

It would be somewhat different tho, pet cats eat pet food in the home,
snakes living in captivity eat mice and rats.
I would think that alone would cause tramua even if feeding frozen/thawed

I really think it depends more on the dog or the cat then the rat....If the dog or the cat is giving off relaxed non-threatening body language the rat will pick up on that.....they can see and smell an animal in prey mode....

Snakes can not learn to live in a relaxed manor.....a snake ( I would assume) would be more like a wild dog or a feral cat.....or a highly predatory cat or dog... and the rats would be able to sense this...

 

[Shadaloo cammy]

okay thanks for all the feedback...i guess i wont get a rat pair then..id hate to have any of my pets stressed out i love animals too much to have them in stressful conditions..and i have done alot of research before hand and i just couldn't find anything on keeping reptiles and rats in the same household

 

[jorats]

I should have been clearer, what I meant to say is if the rats are in the same room during feeding time...that's the big problem.

Wasn't there a study posted here that showed what it was that made rats and mice scared of cats?
Personally, I have found most of my rats to not be affected by my cats and dogs.

 

[Tarah]

I should have been clearer, what I meant to say is if the rats are in the same room during feeding time...that's the big problem.

Wasn't there a study posted here that showed what it was that made rats and mice scared of cats?
Personally, I have found most of my rats to not be affected by my cats and dogs.

Same, I was just curious. The cats do not care in the slightest that there's rats in the house. Harley is in love with Josie so he mostly just sits and watches her. Shiloh and Koka could care less unless the cage is on the floor. Then they just watch and put their faces up to the cage and the rats go nose-to-nose with them just sniffing. It's very cute.

 

[RattusNorvegicus]

I'd say no too. You could always get rat's in the future, but in my opinion, you have a lot of lives in your hands right now already.