Are Rats Good Pets

Need rat removal in your hometown? We service over 500 USA locations! Click here to hire us in your town and check prices - updated for year 2020.

Yes, rats make very good pets. They’re cute as a button and smart as a… Well, smart as a rat. In the interest of getting things clear from the very start, we’re talking about domestic rats that have been bred through artificial selection with the sole purpose of making them good pets. As you would never take a wild wolf or a coyote to keep as your pet dog, you would also never take a wild or street rat and raise it as a domestic pet or try to tame it.



Domestic rats come to us through selective breeding, and are bred so that they are affectionate and easy to train. These qualities, added to their innate intelligence, make rats better pets than hamsters, gerbils or guinea pigs. They are easy to potty train, very social and active, love to play around and be petted, and are kid-friendly.

If you’re planning on getting a pet rat, make sure you’re buying it or adopting it from a trustworthy place that has healthy domestic rats. And one last thing, as they’re such social creatures, they also have a better time when in pairs, so go ahead and get two rats if there’s nothing preventing you from doing so. For more information, you may want to click on one of these guides that I wrote:
How much does rat removal cost? - get the lowdown on prices.
How to get rid of rats - my main rat removal info guide.
Example rat trapping photographs - get do-it-yourself ideas.
Rat job blog - learn from great examples of rat jobs I've done.
Do rats kill mice?