Rats Like Socialising
Rats are by nature social animals, living in colonies in the wild. Though it is a common mistake, particularly of first time rat owners, myself included, getting a solitary rat isn’t a good thing to do if you want a happy, healthy and well adjusted animal.
Things have changed so much over the years that most reputable pet shops will not sell lone rats. There are some people who still say that lone rats are more affectionate and bond with humans better, and while it may seem like this in some cases its not the full story. Anyone who has seen two or more rats interacting, grooming, or tussling with each other will see behavior that no amount of human interaction can replicate. On top of that there are those long lonely hours when the rat is left alone; school, work, social activities and of course every human needs to sleep.
Multiple Rat Interactions
As a rat owner it is far more rewarding to interact with multiple rats than a lone rat, if only for the simple fact that they are choosing to play with you rather than having no choice. Watching them play fight, cuddle up and just their general interactions is not only fun and rewarding, but it gives you a glimpse into rattie behavior and teaches you many wonderful ways to play with your rats.
Even Cleaning Out is Play Time
Regardless of how many rats you have, their cage will still need cleaning out at least once a week. So it is as much work to have two or three rats as it is with just one. Often having two or more rats will actually reduce your load because your rats are not completely dependent on you for entertainment. You should still aim get your rats out to play for at least one hour a day, whether in one solid session or throughout the day. As you bond with your rats you’ll probably find both you and them will want to be together whenever possible.
Rats of All Shapes and Sizes
The only limiting factor on how many rats you get, within reason, is cage size. There are many rat cage calculators on the Internet to help you work out how many rats will fit in your cage. It is worth remembering 
that rats, just like humans, come in all shapes and sizes. The size they are as babies does not reflect the size they will be as adults. And while females are usually smaller than males, this is not a fixed rule. Don’t try and and put as many rats as you can into a cage, your rats will always appreciate a little extra space.
If you do find a solitary rat at the pet shop don’t think that this means they must stay on their own. With a little patience you can introduce rats to each other and give them the social rat interaction to keep them fulfilled.
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7:52 pm on November 4th, 2008
Hi Lindsay,
Having come across your blog recently I have to say I’m impressed! It’s been a while since you last posted though so I hope you are still about? :)
In regards to how many rats a person should keep - I agree with you, always more than one.
Like you, the first time I had just a single rat. While his life wasn’t negatively impacted by it, I believe he could of had a lot more fun with ratty friends too.
Personally I would never recommend less than two rats, even for a first time owner. As you say - there is barely any extra work involved. Yet there is a whole lot of reward!
Watching rats play is so entertaining. They truly are wonderful and exciting little creatures.
Good luck with your blog! I have subscribed via RSS and hope to see some updates soon ;)
Kind regards,
Jonathan Hunt
5:34 pm on November 6th, 2008
Thank you for your kind words Jonathan. Yes, I’m still about :-) Unfortunately some of my rats have been very poorly and it has been hard to focus on anything but them. I’m pleased to say they are doing better now and almost back to being back to their troublesome selves.
Thanks again,
Lindsay.
5:18 am on November 30th, 2008
Hi there….your website is extremely helpful. We bought my 9 year old daughter her first rat 4-5 months ago and have so many questions!
Is it too late to get another male rat for our rat Pepper?
How do we trim his toe nails?
How often do they need to be held/interacted with?
Is there any hope for shy rats to become more socialized?
We are a busy family and enjoy our rat, but we haven’t had much guidance and don’t want to ruin him (if we haven’t already!)
thanks,
Melaine
4:29 pm on November 30th, 2008
Hi Melaine
It’s really great to hear you have benefited from my site. I remember what is what like to be a first time rat owner and I made plenty of mistakes. I really want this site to be everything I wish someone had told me, so to hear you have benefited from it does mean a lot.
1,Is it too late to get another male rat for our rat Pepper?
It is never to late to get a friend for Pepper. He may be a little surprised by the new arrival at first, but rats thrive on the company of other rats and it will relive the burden for you and your family when you cant be with him.
2, How do we trim his toe nails?
Rats shouldn’t need their toe nails trimming at all. If you watch Pepper closely while he is grooming you’ll probably notice he actually bites his own nails! Even with trim nails some rats can get their nails caught in certain fabrics, particularly woollen jumpers, but that’s just one of those things. If his nails do look particularly long I would advise seeing your vet. While it is possible to trim your rats nails, rats can be very wriggly and it is something you are better off being shown how to do in person.
3, How often do they need to be held/interacted with?
Whenever you are around and they are awake. As long as your rat has access to food, water and you keep an eye out for him getting tired, you cannot handle a rat too much. Even rats kept in pairs miss contact with their human families.
4, Is there any hope for shy rats to become more socialized?
I would love to say yes, but the truth is some rats are shy and won’t change. If Pepper is particularly timid, you will probably find getting him a companion will give his confidence an extra boost. When Pepper is out of his cage be quiet and gentle around him, try not to make sudden moves. Rats don’t have the best eye sight, but they do have very good hearing and it can lead to them being startled by things we don’t think about.
Another trick with shy rats is food. You can buy treats from the pet store, but Pepper will probably enjoy a bit of your dinner much more. A small amount of something tasty, as well as fruit and vegetables, is bound to win your rat over. Start off by letting him have his treat in his cage, then once he’s confident coming to the door pick him out and give him his food. Some rats won’t take food while they are out of their cage, and some will take it but won’t eat until they are back in their cage. Don’t worry about this, its just part of their personality. As long as he makes the association between humans and nice treats, he should start to relax.
I hope some of what I’ve said as helped. The fact that you are thinking about Pepper’s welfare and asking questions probably means you are doing better for him than you think.
Lindsay.
5:09 pm on December 10th, 2008
HI,
I have a suggestion I read from another web site about rat toe nails. If you give them rocks to play with, big enough they can’t put them in their mouths they like to investigate them and it can help wear their nails down. Get some stones and rocks of different shapes and sizes to investigate during play time.
Just an idea,
Jodi
8:00 am on December 11th, 2008
Dear Linday (and anyone else with helpful input),
I have had a closely bonded and affectionate pair of female pet rats for two years. They were named Margo and Jerry after the 1970s British comedy Good Neighbors. A few days ago, Margo died. Now Jerry has only two humans for company. I work from home, and she has the run of my rat-proofed home office most mornings and evenings, lots of toys, attention, and healthy food. She appears to be adjusting to the loss of her companion, who was a very special animal, but I worry. I wonder if she is lonely at night without a furry friend. I have taken the loss of Margo very hard, and would rather not bring home another rat at this time. Also, I want to keep her, and do not wish to find her a new home with other rats.
What would you do in this situation? Do you think Jerry can be happy as an only rat?
12:35 pm on December 12th, 2008
Hi Mia,
I have been in your situation many times, and I’m afraid to say there is no easy answer. The important thing to remember is Jerry is probably as bonded to you as she was Margo, and while you are not there all the time, she knows and trusts you will be there to spend time with her. A new rat will never replace Margo for you or Jerry, and will probably disrupt her life more. While young, new rats should always be paired up. I believe that older rats who are bonded with their human family, should be left in peace if they loose a companion. Sure, if new rats join the family then give the older rats the opportunity to get to know them, but I don’t believe it is a must.
I keep my rats as small groups, rather than keeping them as a colony that is always being added to, so I have been left with lone rats many times and have only once introduced my remaining rat to new companions. His name was Toffee and he was obviously not coping alone, he was not eating, or leaving the cage. I was lucky enough to find two males of the same age at a local rehoming centre. It worked wonders for Toffee, but then as they were all old I still ended up with a lone rat to care for in the end.
Keeping single rats when you have a choice to give them their own rattie family is very different to being left with a lone rat due to old age.
Hope this helps,
Lindsay.
7:00 pm on December 12th, 2008
Lindsay,
Thank you very much for your advice. It is very helpful. Jerry comes out of the cage, eats, bathes, hides food everywhere, fishes for peas, climbs on me, etc., so I now feel less bad about her lone rat status.
Thank you again!
Mia