Why Get A Pet Rat For Your Child?

March 1, 2022

Rats get a bad rap. They are up there on the icky, scary scale the same as snakes, spiders and bats. But you might be surprised to learn just how great they are as starter pets for children.

Most of us see rats as disease carriers, but this is only true in wild rats. Though they are all descendants of the Rattus family, pet rats are considerably different to their wilder cousins. They are especially sociable and affectionate with their human caregivers. On the other hand, wild rats are lean, muscular, highly competitive and prefer a solitary existence.

Pet rats are soft, cute and plump and can grow up to 30 cm or 12 inches in captivity.

For younger children, they make amazing pets because they are so smart and hygienic. They spend a great deal of their time grooming their coats, washing their faces and keeping their cages clean and orderly.

Their super smart brains means you can teach a pet rat to do tricks. They have a high level of emotional intelligence and will form a bond with their owners and love you like a pet dog or cat. They might even groom your hair, much the same way they would another ratty friend

A pet rat’s antics are highly entertaining and great fun to watch, especially for developing children. They can learn a lot from their pet rats.

According to one global online study from RightPet, children of a certain age prefer pet rats over cats and dogs.

The study surveyed 2,867 pet owners from 74 different countries and was based on 5,150, dating from 2010 to 2018:

“Adults and kids who owned animals between the ages of 10 and 17 reported that pet rats gave them more satisfaction than any other type of pets, even more than cats or dogs.”

Included in the analysis were reviews from 222 rat owners, 273 cat owners, and 1,924 dog owners, as well as reviews of 29 other animal types by 2,444 individuals.

The study concluded that satisfaction with pet rats was statistically and significantly higher than satisfaction with any other animals for persons 10 years of age or younger.

Before you head to the pet shop, though, check your local humane society. They usually have many surrendered pet rats to choose from and every single one of them is cute!