WHERE TO ADOPT A RAT

So you have decided to adopt a rat.  What next?  Well, deciding where to adopt your rat from.  There are a few places:  Petstore, Breeder, Shelter.

Petstore Rats

Pet stores will often have rats as pets and/or feeders. Usually the pets will have fancier colors and markings than the feeders but often they come from the same sources. Be sure if you choose to obtain your rat from a pet store to get as much information as possible about their background. If the employees of the store can't or won't tell you their source, this is a sign that there is something to hide. 

One of the drawbacks to getting your rat from a pet store is that often they are bred “mill” style and unfortunately are not bred with health and temperament in mind. That does not mean that just because a rat is from a pet store that it will not make a good pet. Just take your time to choose a healthy, alert, and friendly fellow. Keep in mind that its life expectancy might be less, that it might have more health problems the a rat from a responsible breeder (e.g. tumors, cancer, respitory disease, etc.), and that it might not be as friendly and/or social.  Another drawback is that most pet store employees aren't very familiar with the little ins and outs of pet rat ownership...and they won't be able to answer any of the more complex questions you might have.

Also make sure that the males and female rats are housed separately. Female rats can get pregnant as young as 5 weeks of age and you could end up with a lot of unexpected rats within a few weeks.

Rats from Breeders

Local breeders are probably your best bet if you want to get a rat from a known breeding line. Also, through a breeder, you can find many different types and colors that cannot be found in the pet stores. You can find a local breeder by searching the internet.   Also, most national clubs and rat web sites have breeder directories.

Once you have found a local breeder you can contact them to see if they have any litters available. You may want to contact several to find the one you are the most comfortable with. Get references as much as possible to make sure the breeder you are dealing with is ethical, reputable, and honest. Unfortunately not all breeders are good ones. I recommend taking the time to visit several breeders.  Look carefully at their set-up and spend time handling the rats.  This will also give you a chance to see if your thoughts on caring for your rat are similar to the breeders. Also ask the breeder what their comfort level and availability are after an adoption if you have any questions. Unfortunately, as with pet stores, once you've adopted, you are on you own. 

Shelters/Rescues

Many times people have accidental litters then can’t place the babies. Sometimes the rescue rats are adults that have been abandoned by their owners. Adult rescues may have a lot of behavioral and/or health issues. Often female rescues are already pregnant. It is generally recommended that only experienced rat keepers try to adopt special needs rats. There sometimes is a small adoption fee with rescues to ensure that they aren’t being used as snake food.

To find a shelter/rescue near you, again do an internet search.  You can also check www.petfinder.com. 

CHOOSING A RAT

For more information on Rattie Express or any of our animals, please email me (Tara) at rattie.express@comcast.net.

Rattie Express, located in Reading (Allentown, Harrisburg, Philadelphia) PA, is a rattery dedicated to rat rescue, rehabilitation and adoption of rats as pets, includes information on rat adoption, nutrition and care. Rat Adoption, rat adoption PA, rat adoption Reading PA, rat adoption pa, adoptable rats, rat rescue PA, rat rescue pA, Reading, PA, rescued rats, Allentown, Harrisburg, Philadelphia.