Rats, Mice and Rabbits Oh My!
It can be overwhelming for the inexperienced and experienced alike when faced with a choice between differing species. Each type of animal has their pros and cons. I currently have--and have had for a long time--Mice, Rats, Gerbils and Guinea Pigs. I have also owned Rabbits and Hamsters. This page is not a scientific analysis, nor is it an unbiased look This page is written through my recollections and personal knowledge of my pets. Looking at each species both good and bad, I can't imagine not having each of them as a part of my pet-family.
It is your responsibility as the adopter to make an educated and correct choice about which pet to add to your family. As a breeder and owner I am happy to help you, but ultimately the responsibility lies in your own choice.
It is your responsibility as the adopter to make an educated and correct choice about which pet to add to your family. As a breeder and owner I am happy to help you, but ultimately the responsibility lies in your own choice.
Rats: Rats are often the overall best out of small pets for most pet owners. Why? Because a lot of pet owners are searching for a pet similar to a dog but easier to care for and rats fit the bill perfectly. They are friendly, trainable, intelligent and easy to care for. They are not as fragile as mice nor capable of inflicting as much damage as a rabbit. Rats are curious about their environments but also give their owners affection and acknowledgement. You can train a rat to do almost anything a dog can do--sometimes more! They are cute and come in many attractive coat colors and varieties. They live 2-3 years. Most rats are not naturally inclined to bite--however I have had experience with otherwise friendly rats biting sometimes out of the blue. Unaggressive rats can cause welts/scratches from their claws when they climb on you or are mishandled. Rats need a MUCH, MUCH bigger cage than a mouse--if your rats are big males, or if you have more than two you will need to get a "ferret" cage to give them the necessary space. Rats need and crave human attention--and a lot of it--as well as needing (not desiring, NEEDING) time outside their cage to run around. Rats produce more waste and are more destructive on their toys and environments than mice. They are more costly simply because they need more bedding, toys, food, etc. Do NOT get a rat if you don't have at least an hour a day to spend actively handling and loving at least two rats (they cannot live alone) and an additional hour of supervised free range time in a rat proofed, securable area (like a bathroom). This is on top of the time it takes for cage maintenance and daily chores.
Rabbits: If you're a cat person you will probably like rabbits. They can be affectionate--but only when they choose. You are never their master, only their companion. Rabbits don't accept handling they don't want. They will kick and thrash when frightened or when they want to get our of your arms. Even the smallest rabbit can draw blood with both teeth and claws. However a properly raised and well-handled rabbit can make a great companion. Rabbits can fairly easily be litter box trained and can run freely around a rabbit-proof house (with some chewing of walls and furniture involved). I have had New Zealands and Flemish Giants, which are some of the calmest--and largest--overall among rabbits. Rabbits are not as breakable as rats and mice, and can easily be trained to wear a harness and lead their owner around on a walk. A contented rabbit will sit on your lap if it knows you, but probably not for very long periods. When they've had enough, if you are restraining them they will nip you to let you know they are done. The gentleness of the nip depends on the rabbit but usually it isn't enough to draw blood. Unfortunately this is a habit that often frightens children. Rabbits can be trained to do some tricks but always on their terms. Some rabbits enjoy rabbit agility which you can do a google search on for more information.
Hamsters: These are usually the first animal thought of when a person says "small pet". There are a wide variety of hamsters available in stores, and with their fluffy little waddling bodies children especially zero in on them. Hamsters make good pets but I believe they are the most likely to be labled "look only" among the animals listed here. Hamsters are not a naturally social species and while they can be tamed and learn to enjoy handling it is much more difficult to accustom them to frequent handling than it is a mouse or rat. If you wake up a sleepy hamster, no matter how long you've known them you stand a good chance of being bitten. Because they aren't a social species hamsters don't care as much about getting to know you as a naturally social species such as a mouse, rat, or gerbil might. Hamsters are nocturnal and are very rarely awake during daytime hours. Many of the hamsters I've known had a very strong startle reflex. Just twitching your fingers could cause them to leap into the air, fur puffed out if they weren't expecting it. They are fun to look at and can be trained to do tricks but in my experience they still lack that curiosity and enjoyment of interacting with human beings that I have noticed in mice and rats. Note that I am speaking generally of the species here. Individuals may vary greatly--I actually DID have a hamster once that I could do anything with, even when she was sleeping. I also had a hamster that tried to kill my fingers when I needed to give her food and water. Behavior varies greatly.
Gerbils are quicker and more active than other small pets. They are considered by most as less apt to bite than a hamster but much harder to contain. It's very easy for a child especially to have a gerbil leap off their lap and run away. The good news is that the gerbil usually doesn't hide for very long--they move from place to place in their explorations. I have yet to meet a gerbil that will sit on their human's shoulders/explore calmly on their lap like my mice will. Gerbils need to be raised in same-sex pairs or more to be happy. It is very hard to introduce adult gerbils to each other, and a lone gerbil is an unhappy gerbil (Unless you have a monster like my Claddagh pictured above, who is the Gerbil version of a sociopath and must live alone). Gerbils are more likely to bite than mice and rats, but require less human-given attention than rats and produce less smell than either. Gerbils love to dig and need thick bedding in order to fulfill their natural tunneling tendencies. They need a spacious cage with a deep bottom so that they don't fling out all their bedding during these escapades.
Mice: Mice are unique among rodents. They are intelligent and have good memory, but their intelligence is easily overpowered by survival instinct. Mice only live an average of 1-2 years, although getting a mouse from a quality breeder gives you a much better chance of hitting closer to that end mark. Mice are more instinct-driven than rats. They are a bit less human oriented and more independent. However my mice are much more content to sit on my shoulder when I'm walking around than my rats. When I put my hand the cage most of my mice will come up, sniff, nibble a bit, and if they are in the mood to come out climb on. Properly raised and handled mice are not afraid of humans or human contact and will happily climb on and over their humans. Mice, more than rats, tend to live in their own little world--its always all about them. If they are curious about something, they will leave their friends to go find out what it is--only to come dashing back timidly at the first sign of "danger". While I find this endearing it is not a trait many people looking for a devoted pet appreciate. I actually believe mice are naturally very gentle with people. They are less inclined to nibble fingers than are rats and because they are smaller their claws cause much less damage when they scrabble across your arm. I've been bitten many more times by rats as compared to mice. For me, mice are the cutest. They have big ears and eyes, chubby bodies and itty-bitty feet. Mice are not very tolerant of rough handling--they hate to be grabbed around their middle section from above. They are so very fragile and tiny and they know this. The only way I've ever gotten bitten by one of my mice was by grabbing them from above, around the ribcage. I love mice because they have incredible personality crammed into a tiny package that is easy to care for and fun to watch and love. If a mouse has a large enough cage and enough toys along with other mice to play with, they will be happy even if you never hold them. However if you want your mouse's true pet potential to emerge daily handling is a must. You will develop an awesome little pal that will sit on your shoulder as you walk around the house, sniff around on your lap as you watch TV, and can even learn tricks like crawling across a rope or picking up a tiny ball!
Whichever pet you choose, extensive care from the human is involved. Never get a pet simply because it's "low maintenance". Each of these animals is capable of giving joy and love in it's own way. It's the personal preference of the individual which pet is right for them. Good luck picking out your new friend!