Guide
Forget rabbits! Why these rodents might be the best pets
by Martin Jungfer
The perfect pet? Here’s what it’s like to have pet rats
23.1.2026
Translation: Natalie McKay
Pictures: Michael Restin
We had pet rats for almost four years. These animals don’t just teach children about life, love and death at an accelerated pace. If you want to bring some into your home, there are a few things you need to consider. Here’s how it was for me.
When Max, Moritz and Ben came home with us, all I saw at first was a huge white metal cage with three floors and red doors. I understood that even these small animals would need space. But I couldn’t at that point foresee how big a place these rats would take up in our lives.
I got my first inkling of this when I saw the happiness in my then nine-year-old daughter’s eyes as she carefully carried a transport box into the apartment and opened the lid. Three pairs of curious eyes peered out, giving white-grey balls of fur with little button noses their own unique character. Pet rats, also known as husky rats with this coat colour.
Rats are considered a kind of insider’s pet tip, eclipsed by the ubiquitous dogs and cats. If you – like our Head of Content Martin Jungfer recently or my wife at the time – delve into the subject of pets that are suitable for children, they end up on many people’s shortlists. Rodents are playful, social, cheeky – and, most importantly, they’re not flight animals like guinea pigs, hamsters or rabbits. They seek contact, but also need stimulation and extended periods of rest.
Since Martin had asked for readers to share their experiences under his article (and received some, occasionally alarmed, comments), I wanted to tell you a little about life with the animals. Because it’s anything but easy. The time you have with rats is short and intense. Their life expectancy is one and a half to three years, during which you’ll experience many beautiful and difficult moments – even if you do everything you can to give them a good life.
Life
Max, Moritz and Ben didn’t come to us as babies, but already fully grown, because they were looking for a new home. We thought we were well prepared. The Guide to optimal rat keeping (linked book only available in German) by the Swiss Club of Rat Friends helps you to prepare for a mischief of rats and all the responsibilities that come with it: do you have space for a suitably sized, animal-friendly cage? Who will clean it regularly? Do you have enough time in your everyday life to give these curious rodents sufficient exercise and stimulation?
Children's books
EUR14,90
Rattenliebe - Dein praktischer Alltags-Planer für glückliche Fellnasen
German, Carla Oblasser, Caroline Oblasser, 2019
Incidentally, the guide only recommends the animals for children under the age of 12 to a certain degree, but the responsibility lies with the parents in any case. Most children want baby rats, the guide says – not one-year-old rats. However, many kids are overwhelmed by young animals, which are unique bundles of energy and require intensive care. If the young animals lack close contact, they can become wild, bite and react aggressively.
The plan was to give the animals and ourselves a chance with the older ones. This wasn’t easy either, because they have their own idiosyncrasies, and have to get used to new caregivers. Our three brothers had each other, because rats mustn’t be kept alone. And they weren’t only interested in their familiar cage, but soon wanted to explore their new surroundings.
«I don’t know how much they were petted previously,» says my daughter, who was to become their main caregiver. However, when her brother put his hand in the cage for the first time, Ben bit it straight away. Maybe he mistook his little finger for food, maybe he was stressed by the move. Either way, he immediately gained respect and remained a feisty character his whole life, occasionally snapping. The first few weeks continued in this way, with us all getting to know each other. There was a certain shyness, but it subsided.
While the children were soon able to tell the animals apart and recognise their characteristics, I took some time to get used to my new housemates. And to the smell of their urine. Living with rats doesn’t always smell good, and is a lot of work. But it’s well worth it. I realised this every morning and evening when my daughter spent time with the animals. And I felt it myself when they later climbed over my arms and shoulders, sometimes tickling, sometimes scratching, right up to my head, where they stood up and sniffed curiously, as if they could never get high enough.
Play
My daughter built a bridge for the animals every day, putting her legs in the cage door so the rats could climb up them to her, and explore their new chief playmate in her «rat jumper». A nice ritual, because the animals could choose whether they wanted to accept the offer. Essentially, the rats wanted to experience something. They were happy to be cuddled and petted – more often as the bond grew stronger.
But they might have had something completely different in mind. Because they were unstoppable, and took themselves off on journeys of discovery. «I started to let them jump over things or hide their food,» my daughter remembers. At first, they were out and about in a free-range enclosure, then all over the room, and gradually they took over large parts of the apartment under our supervision.
Rats like to explore, but will also come back for a tasty mealworm. And sometimes their greatest source of joy was simply peace and quiet. They slept up to 12 hours a day, which basically fitted in well with my schoolchildren’s daily routine, who don’t get home until the late afternoon. We tried to pay attention to the animals’ signals.
The rats showed you what they were in the mood for. Sometimes they came running towards us at full speed, other times they were reluctant to be lured, and occasionally they simply curled up and put their heads under their bodies. But they also became familiar with our everyday life. After a while, they knew when they would be petted, fed and left alone. These routines were good for all of us.
I was impressed by how consistently and lovingly my daughter looked after «her» rats. It’s as if they knew from the start that they wouldn’t have much time together. Because the animals aged quickly. Their coats became greyer, their personalities calmer and the noises they made more worrying.
Death
As time passed, our worries grew. Were the animals OK? Were they breathing normally or heavily, accompanied by unusual noises? Why was Ben sneezing? Were we to blame for the nasal discharge (porphyrin), were the animals stressed, or did we do something else wrong? The checklists (linked page in German) published by the Swiss Club of Rat Friends helped us assess the condition of the animals.
Rats are susceptible to illness, which can lead to self-blame. My daughter took this hard at times, studied books and websites, cared for the animals and looked after them as best she could. When nothing else helped, we went to the vet. This took time and money, and tested our nerves. From then on, the joy we got from the animals was marred because the sense of foreboding at the approaching farewell hung like a dark cloud over everyday life.
And then Ben left us.
It had begun. At the vet, they gave him injections and a few more weeks to live. We gave him, the sometimes biting alpha animal, lots of affection and the odd extra treat or two. Three months of spoiling him until the moment came to say goodbye.
After the mourning period, we were left with two old brothers, Max and Moritz, and a new question: what happens when the next one dies? Rats shouldn’t be alone, they need contact with other rats. They got Ben II and Jerry. These two were small, yet they turned everything upside down.
Love
The young rats quickly wormed their way into our hearts. My daughter slowly got them used to the old men, who didn’t mind the new company, and they were all soon living together in a multi-generational house. Max and Moritz had a few more good months before we had to say goodbye to them too. Then we got Speedy, who lived up to his name.
The three boys were the life of the party, and soon became completely tame. They never bit. If they took one of our fingers in their paws, they licked it curiously. They nibbled, scurried and cuddled – each with their own peculiarities, which we soon became familiar with. Gentle Ben, affectionate Jerry and daredevil Speedy – each of them an individual in their own right. Much loved and also good company for me when working from home.
When I was cutting cucumber, they got the first piece and retreated again, munching. When I was alone with them, they looked leisurely out of their cage while they dozed through the day in their Sputnik or snuggled up together in hammocks made from old t-shirts. Only to ramp it up again afterwards, of course. «They were usually quieter with you,» says my daughter. «With me, they thought: are we going to play or what?»
Because they loved to climb, the three of them moved into a second cage where they had more opportunity to do this. My daughter practised various tricks with them and later, when they were older and calmer, was able to hypnotise them by stroking them. The image of the three animals stretched out on their bellies with their eyes closed in pleasure will stay with me for a long time. There was so much trust and affection that any time apart from them was difficult.
Fights
My daughter was never able to fully enjoy weekend trips or vacations during this time. She missed the animals. She was also worried about whether they were being well looked after by the pet sitter. Whether they not only got food, but also enough petting and exercise. Whether they would look healthy when she was reunited with them. We were lucky that neighbours, family and friends cared for and did more for the animals than you could expect. Most people succumb to the charm of tame rats as soon as they’ve encountered them.
This was even true of our retired neighbour, who did veritable character studies, sent photos, videos and short daily summaries that helped my daughter through the time away from the rats. Nevertheless, she decided that after Ben, Jerry and Speedy, we shouldn’t have any more pets. The goodbyes, the worries, the time spent apart were too much for her to bear – even though her life was made richer by having the rats in it.
What remains are countless pictures and beautiful memories, while the difficult hours fade away. But they did exist, and they weren’t rare.
If you’re thinking about bringing rats into your home, you should be aware of this: these little furry friends aren’t easy pets, they take a lot of work and sometimes cause difficult moments. But they’re fantastic, intelligent creatures who deserve a lot of affection. If you can give them this, they will leave a lasting mark on you despite their far too short lives.
Michael Restin
Senior Editor
Michael.Restin@digitecgalaxus.chSimple writer and dad of two who likes to be on the move, wading through everyday family life. Juggling several balls, I'll occasionally drop one. It could be a ball, or a remark. Or both.
Background information
Interesting facts about products, behind-the-scenes looks at manufacturers and deep-dives on interesting people.
Show allThese articles might also interest you
11 comments
later