Rat myth- eating baby?

[Iwantarat]

Hi,

I really, really, really want a pet ret. But my mom says that they eat babies and it will escape and eat my baby brother Jorge.

I really don't want this to happen, but I really do want a pet rat. Is this fer real?

Do you have to starve a rat for it to eat a baby? If yes, then how long wuld it take to hungry enough? If I feed it alot will it b ok?Can someone call my mom and tell her its ok unless its not ok?

Thanks verry much!!!!!!

Becky

 

[Exodog]

Rats don't eat babies ...





ETA: unless it's a -wild- rat, and an already deceased baby ... even then ... it's a very long stretch ...

 

[horselo285]

Hi,

I am not sure if this is supposed to be a joke. If you are serious, let your mind be at ease.....a pet rat is not going to eat your baby brother Jorge.

Just saying.......

 

[Exodog]

:yeah:

 

[Petunia]

any chance you or your mom misunderstood that pet rats sometimes eat their own babies?

http://www.ratfanclub.org/repro.html

"Most female rats are wonderful mothers, but rarely there can be problems. If the mother is stressed, either because of pain from a long difficult birth, or from environmental disturbances such as unusual loud noises, etc. she may kill and partially eat some healthy babies. A poor diet may contribute to this problem. You can try removing the babies and giving them back to the mom once she settles down.

After the birth is completed and the mother settles down to nurse her litter, there is much less danger of her eating them."

 

[jorats]

I think your mom doesn't want any pet rats and she has every right to make that decision. You need to respect mom and follow her rules.

 

[SQ]

Your mom does not want you to get a rat. As Jorats said, you need to respect that.

When you are older, perhaps your mother will change her mind.
In the meantime, you can research rats (for example, rats are social so you need to have at least two rats of the same sex).
You can also start saving money.
Rats can be expensive due to all the items they need and vet bills when they become sick.
Other people whose mother's said no have done this.
Some have even started buying supplies they will need once they eventually get pet rats.

As for rats eating babies, pet rats do not eat babies.

Starving wild rats living in apartment buildings have been known to be attracted to milk left in cribs with sleeping babies.
(Parents put the baby to bed with a bottle.)
If a baby has milk on its lips, the rats will lick or chew the milk off.
As a result, babies have been horribly disfigured by starving rats being attracted by milk and chewing the lips/face of the baby.
Unfortunately this is not an old "wives tale".

Hope you stick around and learn a lot about pets rats, how to care for them etc.

 

[Iwantarat]

Mabe my mom will change her mind if i tell her that pet rats wont eat Jorge.

I really wan a rat or more. I was looking at piks of rats on the computer and they are sooooooooo cute and they seem like verry good pets! we had a hampster at my school last year. She was fun but bit me twise. I read that rats are beter pets. I saw a pik of a rat with lonng hair. It was sooooooooooo cool! I want one like that but i never sean one in the pet store. Have you guys ever sean one before?

 

[victoria]

Are you sure it was a rat with long hair and not a guinea pig???

It sounds like even if your mom changes her mind (sounds very unlikely) you still need to do a lot of research before adopting a rat. Taking on the responsibility of any companion animal is more complicated than just going out and looking at cute pictures and buying one. You need to make sure you are able to meet the needs of your companion financially and logistically. You need to be able to provide them with an adequate habitat, enrichment, companionship, diet, medical care, etc.

Adopting a rat from a rescue is a much more realistic approach - many people that buy a rat from a pet store aren't prepared to properly care for him/her because a cage, accessories, veterinary care cost much more in comparison to the $10 you pay for a rat. Many rescues or shelters take the time to screen adopters to make sure they are prepared for their new companion(s) or work with them to get them ready.

There's a lot of information on this forum for you to start your research - for example, unlike hamsters, you should never have just one rat - and work towards getting ready to be a rat parent if your mom changes her mind. If not, you'll be very prepared when you are old enough to live on your own and make decisions about what pets you can have by yourself.

 

[Tarah]

There's a lot of information on this forum for you to start your research - for example, unlike hamsters, you should never have just one rat - and work towards getting ready to be a rat parent if your mom changes her mind. If not, you'll be very prepared when you are old enough to live on your own and make decisions about what pets you can have by yourself.

If you stick around and learn everything you need to know, you'll be all set once it's time to get your bubs. :nod:

 

[SQ]

You also need to make sure that you have knowlegable vets in your area who trear rats.
Most vets seem to do not have the interest, knowlege or experience needed to sucessfully treat rats.