Animal lovers: Help me understand (about rats)

15 years ago

I have a 28-year-old step-daughter that has allergies, and asthma, and this sweet young woman has a heart of gold.

She also has six rats. Some are fancy rats and some are not, but they are pets. I wonder if the rats are making her ill. She sleeps with them and dotes on them and takes them to the vet when they are sick.

I understand that when she looks at those rats, she sees what I see when I look at puppies and kittens, and I am trying to understand how much she loves those rats, but that's really not what I'm worried about. Most of all, I'm worried about her health and well-being.

Does anyone know about this new fad of keeping rats as pets? Is there any information about the health risks? And is there any difference between keeping a rat in your house vs. keeping a dog or cat? And can it affect your breathing?

Thanks for any help.

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Comments (18)

alisande
15 years ago
I don't think it's a new fad. Over the years I've known several people who have had pet rats. They say the rats are intelligent and responsive. I have no idea if she could be having a physical reaction to them, however.
wildchild
15 years ago
It's not a fad. Rats make wonderful pets. I frequently recommend them as a child first personal pet when I see parents and kids near the small animal cages in pet stores. DS's best friend was his pet rat when he was young. He took that rat everywhere. Had a little fanny pack to stash Ralph when he went o into places that didn't allow animals LOL. My DD also kept them when she was living alone. Rats are clean, never bite like hamsters and gerbils are apt to do when stressed and are very trainable. DD even taught hers to use a little bowl in their cage as a potty. LOL

There are no health risks to keeping domesticated rats that are properly card for. As for allergies I suppose you can be allergic to anything but that would be something for you DSD to discuss with her allergist.
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vala55
15 years ago
You might google "dangers of rats as pets" or something like that and see what you come up with. I know reptiles are dangerous to some people. Maybe rats are to.
vala55
15 years ago
You might want to read this, especially the second one.

Here is a link that might be useful: pet rats
dances_in_garden
15 years ago
As long as she keeps their cage clean, and uses bedding that doesn't cause dust or fumes (no cedar, that sort of thing) then she is fine. Most people that have allergies and asthma would be more likely to react from a cat, dog, or bird than a rodent.

They actually keep themselves pretty clean. And although I've never had one, I know people who have and they are quite funny little characters. Smart, and friendly.

Dances.
marie_ndcal
15 years ago
My GD had pet rats also and she has some allergies. I agree, she should have an allergy test done by her Dr. As to the cage, GD used special bedding and had to clean it often. But some rodents do carry the hantavirus in their droppings. Like any other pet, there are good and bad points. Her parents never allowed them to sleep with her. They do carry infectious illness that should be discussed with the vet.
nicole__
15 years ago
I'm an old person and I remember going to a birthday party when I was 6yo. The little boy had a pet rat. He said he was from France and it was an average pet THERE.

He kept it on top of a table, said it was afraid of heights so it didn't need to be caged.
mary_c_gw
15 years ago
Rats make great pets, and it's certainly not a "fad".

That said, they may or may not trigger her allergies or asthma. Many things trigger my allergies, but the worst is pollen. I'm also sensitive to cat dander - but I'm not giving up my cats. My allergic reactions to pollen may well be less if I gave them up, but I love my cats.

Your DSD is an adult - I doubt you'll be able to convince her to give up her beloved pets.
hale_bopp
15 years ago
We LOVE our rats! We have two and they're just part of the family. :) They snuggle, play, come when called, are potty-trained and even love our dogs. Rats are very clean and don't like it when their cage is dirty. We have what we call a rat-mansion in our DD's room. It's a VERY big cage so that they can roam around it and play chase with each other. They're hilarious- honestly, they have their own sense of humor and love to make you laugh. If you ever have a chance to observe them, you'd be surprised at how smart they are. Rats get a bad rap simply because the FLEAS they carried were what spread the European Bubonic Plague.

Blessings!
Haley
Jodi_SoCal
15 years ago
Queen Victoria kept pet rats in the mid-1800s, so definitely not a new thing to do.

When my kids where younger, we kept pet rats. They were more my pets than my kids as I truly adored them. The sad part to me about keeping rats, is their short life-span of only about three years. I've had one live into its 4th year but that doesn't give much solace when they finally do pass on.

I'm allergic to just about everything (shellfish, nail polish, sunscreen, cats, rabbits, dogs ... the list goes on) but never had a problem with my rats.

Jodi-
lindyluwho
15 years ago
I'll have a pet rat when Hell freezes! Oh, how I hate rodents. I can't imagine having one much less sleeping with one.

Linda
wildchild
15 years ago
Hale Bopp----- DD had a "rat mansion" in her place also. She used a three level giant ferret cage which she outfitted with "potty", hammocks, tubes slides and lots of other luxurious rat condo items. LOL

When she was home the rats roamed free.

Jodi--- It is sad that they have a short life span. It helps to spay and neuter. Less tumors that way.
User
15 years ago
I think rats would make wonderful pets. They are very smart and clean. I've never had any because I've always had cats.
User
15 years ago
We used to have 3 pet rats (rescues) and I agree with everyone who wrote they are smart, clean, and affectionate. And I also agree their only drawback is their short lifespan. Very, very sad when they pass after just a few years.
danihoney
15 years ago
We had two rats when I was a kid. I loved them! Honzie and Gretchen were their names. I'd love to have them again but we have too many other pets right now. It wouldn't be fair. I'd like to have them again someday.

Nope, not new or a fad. Can't help with the allergies other than I would suspect the bedding before the rats.
vala55
15 years ago
this is interesting, I would never have considered a rat as a pet even though my sis had one at one time. Live and learn.
hale_bopp
15 years ago
Wildchild- that's exactly what we have! :) The ferret cage has been awesome and the kids love to put all kinds of toys and goodies in it.

Blessings!
Haley
Tally
15 years ago
I have bad allergies and some people assume it's because of my cats. Little do they know I tested negative for cat dander on my allergy tests - I'm allergic to airborne pollens.

I wouldn't assume the rats were the source of her allergies. Has she been tested?

Animal lovers: Help me understand (about rats)

Comments (18)

alisande

wildchild

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