r/aww • u/[deleted] • 5d ago

Hans meeting pet rat for the first time 🥹

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21.3k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

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399

u/No-Commercial-5658 5d ago

I want a pet rat now..

384

u/triplefoul 5d ago

They're great companions. Social. Affectionate. Friendly note, they do best with a friend.

468

u/TitaniumDragon 5d ago

The problem is they don't live very long (2-3 years) so while they're very cute they also don't make it all that long so if you get attached, you are going to be sad. And you will get attached, because they are cute and friendly.

147

u/triplefoul 5d ago

That is very true. It was over ten years ago and I still miss them.

36

u/earthtopaige1 5d ago

I still miss the pet rat brothers I had when I was 10-12... 20 years ago and I still dream about them! They were the BEST

124

u/DrSmirnoffe 5d ago

On the one hand, their short little lives are the biggest downside of having a pet rat.

On the other hand, if they were engineered to live for 40+ years, they'd probably evolve into skaven. Friendly and endearing skaven, perhaps, but skaven nonetheless.

"Yes yes, cheesed to meet you!"

27

u/Freakychee 4d ago

I completely fail to see the downside!

13

u/TechieGee 4d ago

BY SIGMAR, A GIANT TALKING RAT!!!!

I’M GOING INSAAAAANE!!!

-14

u/JMHorsemanship 5d ago

People always say that but I see it as an upside. You get a new personality every couple years

28

u/Rugged_as_fuck 5d ago

Yeah, who wouldn't want to watch their cherished companion die every two or three years?

14

u/Busy_Cauliflower_853 4d ago

They’re acting the same way people talk about getting a new phone holy shit 💀

4

u/lost_send_berries 4d ago

It's not like they're killing them, it's just their natural lifespan.

Lots of people have not planned for the full life of their cat or dog.

-1

u/GenericGoon1 4d ago

Some people are ok about giving an animal the best years of their lives, no matter how long. With your way of thinking, it's like saying you wouldn't adopt an elderly dog because "they'll die soon". The fuck's wrong with you?

1

u/Busy_Cauliflower_853 4d ago

That’s not it at all, but I do appreciate your commitment to completely misrepresenting what others say to feel better about yourself 👍

0

u/GenericGoon1 4d ago

Unfortunate low intelligence specimen doesn't understand how caring for other beings works aww. Dogs and cats aren't the only animals worth taking care of. Hope you understand that one day lol.

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-13

u/JMHorsemanship 4d ago

Normal people I guess, but normals boring

1

u/GenericGoon1 4d ago

It's also an upside because it's a relativity short term commitment compared to some other common pets. So you can focus on those short years, giving the best you can, and if you're not in the right place emotionally or financially, you don't have to get another one. In reality, for example, many dog owners prioritise their own needs before their dog's. They don't really go out of their way to give their dogs the best and it's extremely conditional. If the dog is like X when the owner wants them to be Y, many of them get abandoned etc.

34

u/Freakychee 4d ago

They are also very intelligent so they are all different and memorable.

Im subscribed to the r/rats subreddit and while it is cute it can be sad often as at least 1 to 4 post a week will be something like "I lost my heart rat today" or "I had to say goodbye to my baby".

They are amazing but you need to have the right mindset to care for them understand if you loved them, it means you made their lives happy no matter how short.

17

u/Joka0451 4d ago

U made me cry remembering my boys.RIP deacon, bubble, cheato, muffintop, Ikit, Tazo and Beans

13

u/Freakychee 4d ago

"what is grief but love persevering?"

12

u/Starslip 4d ago

Yeah, their short lifespans mean I don't think I could ever have one as a pet, I couldn't deal with it. Maybe that's selfish cause if I could make them happy while they're alive that's better for them than not, but I couldn't handle that kind of heartbreak with any frequency.

11

u/Freakychee 4d ago

IMO you are not "wrong" to do what you are doing. You normally don't pick up stray rats (wild potatoes as the rat lovers call them) and take care of them Becuase it's not very safe even though it's not always that.

So mostly people get them from pet stores. The more people buy the more they will breed. You not buying doesn't mean you are saving one from having a luxurious pet life.

Its more efficient to adopt something like a dog or cat if you need companionship and want to make another life better.

1

u/Ok_Cardiologist8232 4d ago

Most people i know that have rats either juts get a new one, you get used to losing them and their life span.

Or just have 2-3 so at least you are never left without one

21

u/agnes_mort 4d ago

My last one passed away today. You really don’t think you’d get all that attached when it’s only been 2.5 years. But you really do. He used to wriggle his tail when petted, and would always snuggle next to me. They’re great little pets, but absolute heartbreakers

60

u/Joka0451 4d ago

Yea my last boy Beans was free range, litter trained and so sweet. 9ne day during a board game n8ght he came out of his cage, climbed the table and visited every player then came to me, licked me and curled up in my lap and died.

They're so sweet little creatures but that was it for me.

23

u/crystalzelda 4d ago

I’ve always wanted a pet rat but I think this comment just dissuaded me for good. That is so fucking traumatic, omg, I would have to be sedated.

I am so sorry.

27

u/Joka0451 4d ago

No honestly. he was 4 years old which is ANCIENT for a ratty. They are the sweetest, playful, affectionate, loving animals. Also very clean and can be litter trained (rats being stinky and dirty is mostly a myth. Cheese makes em stink. if you dont clean their toilet areas they will stink). It is hard to watch them go but it is natural (well they would live much shorter lives in the wild unless theyre lucky.)

When friends asked what theyre like I say its like having tiny puppies!

Baby rats are called Kittens too btw!

2

u/Ok_Cardiologist8232 4d ago

Its not a myth they are are stinky and dirty, its just wild rats are well wild.

And they are immune to a lot of diseases, so wild rats spread disease because they get them and don't die from them.

So they got hate for being little badasses.

2

u/halithaz 4d ago

my budgie died curled up on my chest. i feel you brother

13

u/SpecialistNerve6441 5d ago

And super fucking smart

9

u/closefacsimile 4d ago

I had two or three as a kid. I don't know why I put myself through that. So cute and loyal, though

6

u/kai-ol 4d ago

That was my problem. They broke my heart every couple years and I just couldn't take it anymore. But everything else about them is great.

4

u/Soulicitor 4d ago

Every rat you take in from a pet store is a rat that didnt end up being food. It always hurts to see our friends go but man does it feel good knowing what a great life they got to live. Every rat iv ever had has been amazing.

3

u/Impossible-Ad-3270 4d ago

This, I had two rescued rats for a year and a half and it was horrible when they died. Never again.

1

u/Internal_Set_6564 4d ago

Many folks are feeding daily blueberries - trying to get them to the 4-5 year range. I have read of it working, but not seen any studies.

1

u/RealHarny 4d ago

Do they bite?

1

u/Chemical_Count5054 4d ago

No they don’t bite. They’re super affectionate and friendly but if you want one, you have to have 2. They’re very social and clever creatures. Check out Rat Tricks on YouTube.

1

u/RealHarny 4d ago

Thanks, I will!

9

u/ih8every1yesevenyou 5d ago

I’d love a pet rat but I have a cat. Do they do well with other animals? I mean, the one in this post obviously does haha but is that normal for rats?

28

u/VeeVeeLa 5d ago

This I would say is fine since it's a small puppy, but I wouldn't introduce a rat to an adult dog or cat. If they're kept in seperate rooms, it may be fine. It's too dangerous to let them interact though.

13

u/SpecialistNerve6441 5d ago

I at one point had a dog 6 cats and two rats. Everyone ran around together all the time 

5

u/agnes_mort 4d ago

Depends on the cat. Mine was a stray so absolutely not. Others are uninterested, particularly if you have them as a kitten

6

u/EasyasACAB 4d ago

My dog is a terrier mix and is absolutely not safe around rodents. The puppy in the video is young, which makes it safer, and doesn't look like ratting dog to me.

Dogs are very social and learn quickly as puppies.

2

u/triplefoul 4d ago

Didn't have a cat at the time but our two labs seemed indifferent to them. Our rats were curious about the dogs but also didn't seem to go out of their way to make friends. They loved exploring the apartment most of all.

5

u/wasdninja 4d ago

That's too mild. They need companions to be healthy at all. Don't get a single rat.

2

u/triplefoul 4d ago

You are absolutely correct

1

u/Back4TallBois 4d ago

Then there's the smell. Let's not forget about that one hehe.

1

u/buahuash 4d ago

Don't they poop all the time or can you train them not to?

1

u/triplefoul 4d ago

I don't know that you can train them "not" to poop 😂. I was lucky with our rats. They were very clean and only went in their cages, but I made a point in keeping their house clean.

40

u/hotniX_ 5d ago

You will be so heart broken, they're dam near perfect pets, but they die within 24-36 months :-(

10

u/JMHorsemanship 5d ago

Rats and pigeons unironically make the best pets

5

u/Freakychee 4d ago

Look at the neck feathers of a pigeon. They are quite... Iridescent (hope I used the word correctly) and I did read a long time ago they used to be favourited pets.

1

u/linwail 4d ago

Such great pets would recommend. Just be prepared for them to leave you quickly:(

1

u/Caridor 4d ago

They are wonderful animals. The only downside is they only live 3 years. They're like tiny short lived dogs

Also, you want two pet rats. They're very social and need company

1

u/BudgetBotMakinTots 4d ago

I highly recommend, such smart, affectionate, buddies. Only problem with pet rats is that even in a perfect environment with perfect health they really don't live much past 3 years.  :(

0

u/DickVanSprinkles 4d ago

No you don't. They're too good for us. Smarter than dogs and form more meaningful attachments, and they're gone faster than you can blink. Rat ownership is a heartbreaking endeavor.