Should rats always be kept with a cagemate?

I just got a rat. I was going to get two, but the clerk who breeds them told me that it should be fine to only get one and play with it a lot. But looking online and in books, it seems better to get two. There are no other males in the litter, so if I got a second one, it would be have to be from somewhere else...would that be ok? Is it always better to get two even if i could commit to getting him out of the cage daily?Should rats always be kept with a cagemate?
Rats are social animals and need the company of their own kind.


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Just think about how you would feel if you lived with a family of chimpanzees. They could take great of you, providing you with all of your needs to survive..........but at some point would you not crave the companionship of another human being? Another human like yourself that can provide things for you that the chimps couldn't. Communication would be one thing.





No matter how hard we try we cannot provide the same communication and companionship that two or more rats can provide each other. Two or more rats can provide you with more love then just one.





';Rats are like potato chips, you can't have just one'; :)





It is perfectly fine for you to go and get another young rat from another litter to provide company for the one you have now. Just make sure the new rat is the same sex as the one you have now.





Young rats make friends easily. The only exception I have with my rats is the older, grumpy, male rat, who prefers to live alone, after all of his cage mates have died off.





When you get your other rat, don't forget the importance of quarantining.


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Sandra Beasley and the Spaz Rats


(Rattery, Rescue, and Rat-care Expert)


http://spazrats.tripod.com


';my life has gone to the rats';Should rats always be kept with a cagemate?
It is better for them to have a cagemate , so that when you are not around they have someone (thing) with them, so that they don't get lonely. It will most likely take more work though. It depends on how well your two rats like each other , to tell if they should be kept in the same cage or together.
Rats are very social animals and should always be kept as same sex pairs(am sure you DO NOT want a whole bunch of rats since they breed fast and often)Go to www.ratz.co.uk/petrat.html for its a good site that tells you all you need to know to give your rat and the one you'll buy a good home, they live to be 11/2to2yrs and you should plan to keep or their life. Animals that God made to live with other animals,that NEED a Companion can get sick from being lonely(rats,all animals have feelings-are sad,happy etc.)so I'd get a nother male rat from somewhere else ASAP and it'll be OK they'll make friends. Now you also know that petstore clerks are not that smart about animals for anyone can work in a petstore-only the manager has to have some knowledge about animals but even he/they aare not experts for only need to keep the animals healthy for a little while for main purpose is to sell,make money.Rats are actually nocturnal but do adjust to the owners hours but spend a lot of time awake at night when they groom, play and so forth with their friend/companion -in fact they interact with ach other all the time and even if you take out of the cage and play-interact with your pet for 2hrs a day and even more you cannot take the place of another rat and your pet will always be loney and sad for its own kind and it will not live a long life for sadness/depression even in a animal affets its health and well being. God made rats to live with other rats amd although,beause they are highly intelligent-the same if not more as a dog and do interact,play with their human friend they NEED a Rat companion. It is always best to if possible,for i have gotten a pet on impulse and found a rabbit in my yard-to read and learn as much about the pet and its needs-like the best cage,the best food and care so you'll have a happy,healthy pet(s) for a long life. It is nice that you cre enough about your rat to ask so you'll be sure to do whats best for it. Remember that your petrat now depends on you for everything so being a good petowner and friend to your pet is also being responsible. which I'm sure you'll be.
Rats are very social animals and make brill pets


If I were you I would get another one of the same sex





I have always found the males to be more effectionate than the girls, Don't know why but there it is,





Handle them often (at least once a day)


I suggest you don't feed them through the bars it encourages bitting


If one of the bites you, DON'T snatch your hand away you will injure yourself. Hold still as soon as he finds he has bitten you he will almost instantly release
go and get a cage mate for him unless you can devote most of your day and night to him. they are social creatures and need company.
even though they recommend having two for company you don't have too, I've got one and shes fine by herself, i put things in there for her to play with while I'm away and play with her when I'm home, if your gunna get another rat from elsewhere it should be fine just read up on how to introduce them so they don't fight!!!
sure y not
It really would be nicer to have more than one so it wont be lonely when you arent around but you would have to find one that it wouldnt fight with. For those humans that think rats are disgusting, rats always spend time cleaning themselves. They are very very clean animals and they are less likely to get diseases than cats and dogs are. They are clean pets.


But, as long as you spend a bit of time playing with it, it should be fine.
Rats like to have rat companions (as the sane people answering this question state correctly, rats ARE social animals and thrive in rat companionship).





I only had one single rat and we had a good time together (real tight buddies), but he lived with me free range in the (rat proof!) apartment and (rat and predator proof!) balcony.





Taking good care for a single rat takes a lot of time, they get lonely.... I would never again have only one rat if I can avoid it. It's nicer for them to have same species friends.... They love to play with each other or to lie close together just to cuddle.





When you get him a companion, you could bring him along to some rescue groups to test with whom he would be best compatible. Ask the rescue group people if this is possible. The sooner, the easier it will be to find him a companion or 2 (he's probably not yet territorial, but can be as time passes).





To avoid having to neuter one or more of your friends, you can get him one or more male friends if you decide to do so.
No then they could breed all rats should be eliminated they are disgusting vermin that infest restaurants and train stations. Honestly screw the ecosystem I know my life would be better without those little terrors. So get rid of that rat, please do us all a favor. Eh