ALL ABOUT RATS
Expense- A pair of rats will cost between 20-40 dollars. After
that, the cage, toys, bedding, and initial veterinary care will
amount to about 100-200 dollars. I will contribute to this cost. Any
ongoing expenses, such as veterinary care, food, or bedding will
amount to 20-30 dollars every month, or about 300-400 dollars a
year. I will contribute to the cost of toys and puzzles for the rats.
Diet- Rats primarily eat fruits and vegetables and will require rat-
feed as a source of proteins.
Bedding- It is recommended to use bedding out of cloth, as it is
reuseable and easy to clean.
Other important information- Rats are incredibly social and
intelligent creatures. If they don’t have puzzles, lots of play space,
and a friend to keep them company, they will become depressed.
Because of this, rats absolutely NEED to come in pairs or more.
New puzzles can be bought bi-monthly. As well, it is highly
recommended to have a multiple-level cage, as it provides a more
comfortable living space and encourages more exercise, possibly
prolonging the rats’ lifespan in the face of obesity-related issues.
If you’re worried about rat poo, don’t be! Rats are incredibly
intelligent, and can be potty-trained easily. Rats can be bought
from a breeder (more expensive) or Pet-smart. (the obvious
answer). When buying a rat, I will ensure it is healthy before
buying it. (there is a method to this, but it is long and boring and I
already know it fairly well)
Upkeep- Rats are fairly low-maintenance in comparison to dogs
or cats but still require some assistance. The most difficult of
these tasks would be weekly (or bi-weekly) clearing out the rat
cage and quickly wiping it down. As well, rats require at least an
hour of play outside their cage a day, which will be provided after
school enthusiastically. (If I really want it to happen, I will MAKE it
happen, no matter how busy I am.)
Unrelated information- I want girl rats, because apparently
they smell more citrusy and boy rats smell musky. One of them is
going to have a really cute and thought-out name, and the other
will be named Chonky. I’ll bring the rats to my room while I
complete homework, not only as motivation, but to give them
their playtime. Don’t worry! Unlike hamsters, rats aren’t prone to
running off and dying in the vents. After you form a bond with the
rats, they will stay as near to you if possible. On the other hand,
rats are known for chewing on things, but as long as you provide
them with tons of chew toys and keep electric wires away from
them, everything will be fine. Also, rats are known as pocket
puppies, because their behaviour is similar to that of a dogs, as
they can form tight bonds with their owners, express happiness
when said owner comes back from school/work, and can be
trained to do adorable little tricks.
Here's the kicker: I already have grandmas’ approval. I called
her to ask if my two possible hypothetical rats could come to the
cottage in a small transport cage, and she said yes, as long as
they don’t roam around and stay at 158. So ha. I win. Please let
me have rats it would make my life I swear I will be so happy it
will cure me of all sadness and also whenever I look or play with
my rats I will be motivated to work harder because when I’m
happy I’m more motivated. If you’re still not convinced, check out
@frendlyratforecast on YouTube. As well, search for this article:
FAQs about pets for kids with ADHD to understand why I think
pets would be so beneficial to me.
