(no subject)
Please read over the RatEthics Questionnaire if you are new to rats:
Questions to ask yourself:
1. Are you willing to take full responsibility for this rat and ALL of its needs for the next 2 to 3 years? A pet is for life, and they are not disposable.
2. Are you willing to provide another rat as a companion for your new friend? This means that you will actually need to adopt a pair of rats, and not just one single rat. Rats are HIGHLY social creatures; which is what makes them such great pets. Rats NEED to be kept in same sex pairs (or groups) for their mental health. It’s a requirement of being a good pet owner.
For more information regarding this: (www.ratfanclub.org/single.html )
3. Are you willing to invest the time and money it takes to properly care for your pet rats? This means providing a large safe cage, quality food, quality bedding (non-pine/non-cedar), and toys. It also means cleaning their cage and repairing any damage on a regular basis.
4. If you are buying these pets for your child, are you willing to take over ALL the care of the rats (including daily play time) if your child looses interest, or fails to take proper care of the animals? Are you willing to do this for years until the rats die of old age? Are you willing to pay for any supplies including food, bedding, toys and Vet care that your child can’t afford?
5. Are you willing to make sure the rats get enough attention and exercise? Rats need to be played with on a regular basis, they need to be handled regularly, and they need to come out of the cage and run around.
6. Are you willing to spend money on proper veterinary care? Just like all animals, rats will occasionally get sick. They deserve medical care just like any other pet. Many rat illnesses can be treated (or cured) with proper medicine. It’s not fair to let an animal suffer or die just because you accepted a responsibility that you couldn’t afford, or because you are too cheap to spend the money needed for a visit to the vet.
7. Are you willing to learn all you can about proper rat care? This means that you may have to read a lot of articles on the Internet, and perhaps even buy a book.
8. Are you willing to keep the breeder updated about the rats’ health, lifespan and any problems it might have later in life?
9. Do you have the discipline to resist impulse buying the first cute rats you see, and instead make sure you are getting healthy friendly well-bred rats?
10. Are you willing to continue to accept full responsibility and provide proper care for your rats despite major changes in your life like: having children, changing jobs, or moving?
Questions to ask yourself:
1. Are you willing to take full responsibility for this rat and ALL of its needs for the next 2 to 3 years? A pet is for life, and they are not disposable.
2. Are you willing to provide another rat as a companion for your new friend? This means that you will actually need to adopt a pair of rats, and not just one single rat. Rats are HIGHLY social creatures; which is what makes them such great pets. Rats NEED to be kept in same sex pairs (or groups) for their mental health. It’s a requirement of being a good pet owner.
For more information regarding this: (www.ratfanclub.org/single.html )
3. Are you willing to invest the time and money it takes to properly care for your pet rats? This means providing a large safe cage, quality food, quality bedding (non-pine/non-cedar), and toys. It also means cleaning their cage and repairing any damage on a regular basis.
4. If you are buying these pets for your child, are you willing to take over ALL the care of the rats (including daily play time) if your child looses interest, or fails to take proper care of the animals? Are you willing to do this for years until the rats die of old age? Are you willing to pay for any supplies including food, bedding, toys and Vet care that your child can’t afford?
5. Are you willing to make sure the rats get enough attention and exercise? Rats need to be played with on a regular basis, they need to be handled regularly, and they need to come out of the cage and run around.
6. Are you willing to spend money on proper veterinary care? Just like all animals, rats will occasionally get sick. They deserve medical care just like any other pet. Many rat illnesses can be treated (or cured) with proper medicine. It’s not fair to let an animal suffer or die just because you accepted a responsibility that you couldn’t afford, or because you are too cheap to spend the money needed for a visit to the vet.
7. Are you willing to learn all you can about proper rat care? This means that you may have to read a lot of articles on the Internet, and perhaps even buy a book.
8. Are you willing to keep the breeder updated about the rats’ health, lifespan and any problems it might have later in life?
9. Do you have the discipline to resist impulse buying the first cute rats you see, and instead make sure you are getting healthy friendly well-bred rats?
10. Are you willing to continue to accept full responsibility and provide proper care for your rats despite major changes in your life like: having children, changing jobs, or moving?