My father recently got a rat as a pet.

[So]

I stand by my original claim (real) pics or ban!

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: BroeBo

Originally posted by: DonVito
Why would a grown man get a pet rat?

Why would anyone get any kind of pet?

Fair enough - I apologize if my comment came off as insulting. It's just that I've always thought of, and seen rodents as "starter" pets. Frankly I find rats unsettling, and can't see how they offer anything like the companionship of a dog or a cat, or even the novelty of fish or reptiles. To each his own I guess.

 

[dawnbug]

Originally posted by: DonVito

Originally posted by: BroeBo

Originally posted by: DonVito
Why would a grown man get a pet rat?

Why would anyone get any kind of pet?

Fair enough - I apologize if my comment came off as insulting. It's just that I've always thought of, and seen rodents as "starter" pets. Frankly I find rats unsettling, and can't see how they offer anything like the companionship of a dog or a cat, or even the novelty of fish or reptiles. To each his own I guess.

In some cases (and my case), a dog, cat or equivalent pet isn't an option (due to allergies, housing situations, etc.), and I think that a rodent, especially one large enough to hold and intelligent enough to interact with (re: a rat) is a good alternative. My rats love attention, for the most part, and they'll sit with their noses sticking out of their little cage waiting for me to give them some lovin' (or maybe food-- sometimes it's tough to tell exactly what they want). But I've found that they make really good pets. I have fish, I've had lizards, I had mice, and overall, the rats are the most rewarding pet that I've had so far. Though, the fish are fun.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: LadyBuggy
waiting for me to give them some lovin'

:brokenheart:

 

[dawnbug]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: LadyBuggy
waiting for me to give them some lovin'

:brokenheart:

 

[MagicConch]

My neighbor has a rat as a pet. She doesn't call it a mouse, she call's it a rat and it's gross IMO.

 

[dawnbug]

Originally posted by: MagicConch
My neighbor has a rat as a pet. She doesn't call it a mouse, she call's it a rat and it's gross IMO.

Why would she call it a mouse if it's a rat . . . ?

 

[MagicConch]

Originally posted by: LadyBuggy

Originally posted by: MagicConch
My neighbor has a rat as a pet. She doesn't call it a mouse, she call's it a rat and it's gross IMO.

Why would she call it a mouse if it's a rat . . . ?

I figured mouse is a nicer term. I don't know a lot about rats, mice, etc. I thought rats and mice were just different sizes of the same type of animal?

 

[dawnbug]

Originally posted by: MagicConch

Originally posted by: LadyBuggy

Originally posted by: MagicConch
My neighbor has a rat as a pet. She doesn't call it a mouse, she call's it a rat and it's gross IMO.

Why would she call it a mouse if it's a rat . . . ?

I figured mouse is a nicer term. I don't know a lot about rats, mice, etc. I thought rats and mice were just different sizes of the same type of animal?

They're both rodents, but I'm quite certain they're different animals.

Rats have got a very negative stereotype associated with them, but they make good pets, and in general are very clean animals (if they are properly taken care of). I don't see why everyone finds them to be so gross.