DW knows all: pet edition

[oyceter]

So. I have had pet rats for the past 7 years, and although I love them to pieces, I think their short lifespans (2-3 years) are really wearing on me emotionally. (Poor Ed-rat. I think he is getting lonely too... he is getting kind of neurotic when I play with him.)

I think I am currently looking for a pet that isn't too high maintenance or expensive. I'm not interested in getting a dog, and I'm slightly allergic to cats. I'd prefer something that can't mess furniture up. I also tend to like the older guy rats because they're lazy and squishy and cuddly, as opposed to the more energetic girl rats. I'd also like something that lives for at least 5 years.

So far, I have been thinking of either ferrets or guinea pigs, but I have no idea outside of random things I've read on the Internet. I would also not be opposed to getting a litter-trained non-kitten cat or so, but have no idea how much work cats are. I'd also prefer adopting from a rescue agency over getting a pet from a breeder or pet store.

Also, I went to a local rat adoption fair and nearly succumbed. There was a pair of one-year-old boy rats, all fat and squishy, and one of them was a black berkshire like Fitz-rat, and one of them was a black rex like Ren. SO CUTE! Especially the black rex! He was even kind of balding like Ren! I so wanted to take them home! I always get so sad seeing the adult rats in adoption fairs, because their chances of being adopted are so low, thanks to the lifespan thing. I was trying to tell myself that if I got the two boys, maybe I wouldn't get as attached to them when they died in a year or so? Ha.

Comments

I know where you're coming from

[(Anonymous)]

After owning rats off and on for several years, I completely understand. At one point, I told my parents never to let me get rats again, and said that, if I sounded like I might be considering it, they needed to remind me how crushed I was after the death of my last rats. Then, traitors that they are, they gave me the final push I needed when I saw a little or recently weaned rats at a pet store - I was supposed to just be tagging along while my mom got food for the dogs, and I left he store with a couple babies and everything necessary to care for them.

The last of my little boys died in May, after a few horrible weeks of worsening old age problems. Like you, I love rats, but I didn't think I could face the sadness of watching them get middle aged after a year and elderly a year after that.

I would NOT recommend ferrets, since you prefer male rats that are more cuddly. My aunt had rats, and, although they were cute when they were sleeping, they tended to get everywhere while awake, and they liked to bite. I'm sure there are ferret owners who have had different experiences, but I was never entirely convinced that these ferrets liked people.

My sister recommended Chinchillas to me, which can, I think, have lifespans as long as 10 to 20 years. Like rats, they need to be handled a lot. I'd gotten to see my sister's Chinchillas before, and they seemed nice enough, but their lifespans seemed like a big commitment when I wasn't even sure I'd like owning a Chinchilla myself.

I've owned guinea pigs before and found them to be very affectionate. Personally, I think rats are smarter, but guinea pigs have some really nice aspects. For one thing, as they get older and mellow out, they can be good lap pets. For another, there's the longer lifespan - not as long as Chinchillas, but a heck of a lot better than 2 to 3 years. I also really liked that they make purring noises when you pet them. They're really vocal pets, actually - mine whistled during morning feedings.

My apartment changed its rules about pets while I was trying to decide what to do, so I now have a cat, but I would probably have gotten a guinea pig if it hadn't been for that. Sorry for the long comment - I wish you luck and less heartbreak, whatever you decide.

Re: I know where you're coming from

[oyceter]

I knooowww... Well, the good thing for me is that I used to have mice as a kid, so basically I'd get all the heartbreak without any of the fun and interaction that rats have.

I like lap pets! I suspect I am also ok with them being not as smart as rats, since I love the rats the best when they are lazy and squishy and sleep on my feet.