Pets

[timepiececlock]

I've recently become obsessed with the idea of getting a pet, and I've pretty much settled on getting a pair of rats. I've been researching, and everything I've read says that rats are the best choice for me. They're supposedly the most intelligent and friendly of rodents, and less inclined to bite or run away. I've read several articles that said if you like interacting with dogs, you'll find similar social qualities in rats.

When I was young my day care school had many different pets, among them hampsters, birds, gerbils, and rats. I played with the rats many times; I was never bit, only very lightly nipped-- more like the rat pressing its teeth against me than biting. I could ride around with them on my shoulders, and they were fun to play with. I found the hampsters to be alright, but they were smaller and were always trying to run away or get out of their cages.

If I had enough space and money, I'd buy a dog. If I had enough money, and less space, I'd buy a cat. But if I share an apartment, I would need to have my roommates consent to bring a cat into our living situation. And this year, once I move out of my parents' place, I'll probably only be able to afford a rodent or fish. And fish are terrible pets, more like living ornaments. Rodents cost only about a quarter of what cats cost in annual care.

I looked, briefly, into ownign a ferret. But from what I've read, while they make splendid and loyal pets they require training, something I might not have time to do. They're also illegal in my state, and owning one is a misdemeanor (also though there are supposedly half a million domesticated bred ferrets in California homes right now.) Later in life I might see if I could own one, if they become legal or if I move out of state. Secretly owning an illegal pet, while it has its romantic appeal, is not something I can feasably do, and I'd hate to get one only to have it confiscated and possibly put down.

So rats it is. My new year's resolution was to get a pet, so sometime this year you'll be seeing me post pictures of something cute and furry. Maybe rats, maybe a cat. But something.

Comments

[loves-bitch.livejournal.com]

I had a pet rat while in High School (Her name was Pikachu, don't judge me my brother named her.) and she was the sweetest thing ever. So yes if you don't have alot of space but want sweet cuddly things Rats are the way to go.
Although I will warn you if you have longer hair they like climbing up onto the back of your neck and hiding.

[faoiltiamatani.livejournal.com]

I am extremely partial to Syrian hamsters. (That's... pretty much everything that's not a dwarf!) I've had around 25 hamsters, and each one had been sweet, mellow, cuddly, and could not be made to bite no matter what. Hamsters are more nervous to start out with than rats, they'll scream and try and get away and may resort to biting, but it takes only a day or so of taming for them to calm down. Just in case you considered a ham! However, hamsters cannot live together - they'd kill each other. They're very solitary.

Rats are also wonderful pets. They're not as soft as hamsters, but you're right in that they are more friendly and inquisitive and would require less initial work. If you wanted to get a rat, you'd probably be really happy with them. Also, you could get two, as they're quite social.

Hi, you don't know me, but you mentioned animals and it's kind of an interest of mine!

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

Ferrets are smelly. However, the fact that they're illegal in California makes me LOL.

yay for pets! yay for rats! my sister wants a rat, and Mom lets her get gerbils instead. (My grandmother spent my whole childhood saying they were going to trade one of us in on a gerbil, and that's what they're doing to me. I go to school, they replace me with a pet. And a new car.)

[sub-divided.livejournal.com]

My housemates in college had rats -- LOTS of rats, because one of them fostered for the local animal shelter. Other housemates had mice and guinea pigs. Pet rats ARE very friendly and inquisitive -- though if you get male rats, they'll settle down after a few months. Adult male rats are lazy.

If you get a rat, you should probably get at least two, because rats are very social. A single rat would be lonely, I think.

The biggest downside to rats (after the fact that some people are freaked out by them) is that THEY SMELL. Especially if you have more than one. If you can keep the windows open and use air fresheners, it's not bad, but your roommate might object.

Have you thought about guinea pigs? They don't bite, you can keep two in one cage, and they're cute, in a stupid kind of way (guinea pigs are VERY stupid).

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I've basically figured that the only pet I could get that DIDN'T smell would be fish or a dog, the former I don't want and the latter I can't afford.

All of this hinges on where I move to in the next several months. Once I found a place to live, then I'd go pet shopping. I might even be able to get a cat, if my next job pays well enough for to allow for the care, and if my roommate was okay with cats.

The problem with smells is that in a shared apartment, I'd have to keep the animal in my own room, and that would mean fastidious cleaning. But I could get used to that, and it would be worth it to have a pet.

I thought about guinea pigs; I'd have to see. Cage size would be a factor with those. Some of them are nearly as big as small cats, and cats roam an entire apartment.