would you ever own a pet rat?

[Karen]

Maybe some day. Nothing against them, my big brother had white mice for a science fair experiment when he was in high school, and I was a little kid, and he usually let me hold the tamest one - also the fastest through the maze - so name Speedy! It was awfully fun, my only issue with mice and rats is their brief lifespan.

[Blue_Frog]

I kind of fell between categories - I voted yes i have them (but not right now), but i've had them in the past - 2 cute little hooded gentlemen named Ratfink and Star (rats backwards). They lived for quite a while, and everyone loved them, especially my oma and opa - and I even had my nana, (who was completely disgusted by the tails) patting them after a while. Once the ratties passed on, I got my ferrets.

Maybe one day I would consider getting ratties again - i think they make great pets, and mine were very gentle and smart. Ratfink loved nothing better than to ride on your shoulder under your hair, or in the hood of a sweatshirt. We even had him trained to ride around the house on our dog Holly - which made for some cute pictures

[Argranade]

There cute but I would never own one.

[Suki Wingy]

I put yes, I own them but my dad and brothers do, not me. I want one though. He has a himi female and a black female with a litter, and 4 almost full grown. The 4 are SO tame, when you open the cage they try and crall on you and if you put your hand in the cage they will run up your arms and onto your shoulder They sit there for 30 or more minutes until I put them back. One, Cinnamon, will run right back up your arm if you put her back.

[BC_MoM]

So, where's the option "Yes, in the future?"

[lute]

So, where's the option "Yes, in the future?"

forgot about that one, sorry.

[lvpets2002]

Well I had gerbals years ago.. I think now I have too many cats to get away with having a rat..

[Sophist]

Hmm... it is a no for me. Nothing personal against rats, just not my kind of pet (like the poll says).

I've seen some beautiful ones, and have enjoyed handling other people's pet rats, but it isn't the most logical pet choice for me. When I go to get out a snake, I don't want to have to worry that I have some rat-smell left on the sleeve of my shirt, for instance.

Plus, there are simply too many other pets I would desperately love to own that I know I could never make my way through the list of things I would like to own before a rat in my lifetime.

And lastly, I think my guy might have even more issues with the whole 'snake food' angle if he got to know some rats personally, and found out how much personality they can have.

[mike001]

Same here, I'm more of a dog person. Wouldn't know what to do with a rat.