PSA: Where to Buy Rats

When you've done all your research and decide you're ready for rats, you'll have a big decision to make: where to get them from. Below I'll go over the three most common ones, pet stores, rescues, and breeders.

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Pet Store (Particularly Those That Mills):

Probably the most common and recognized ones on this list include Petco and Petsmart. If you're not sure where your local pet store gets their rats, you can always ask an employee or look online.

Pros - It's convient, cheaper, a close and easy option, and they'll always have rats available.

Cons - Pet store rats are generally extremely unhealthy, live shorter lives, by buying pet store rats you entice them to get more thereby promoting mills, rats can come pregnant, and no return policy.

Bottom Line

Please don't buy from a pet store if it can be avoided. You may think you're saving one rat from horrible care in the pet store, but all you're doing is giving the company money, encouraing them to keep breeding rats in horrible conditions.

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Rescue:

Rescues are places that will take in rats that are abused, neglected, or rats that someone simply can't care for anymore. You can look online to try to find a rescue that carries rats near you. Also, in this case, "rescuing" a rat does not include "rescuing" them from a pet store.

Pros - You're helping an animal in need, usually cheap, sometimes come spay or neutered, often comes with a health check, and many rescues have a return policy meaning if introductions don't work out you can take them back.

Cons - Rats could've been previously abused, which can take a toll on their personality. You don't know their gene line, how they're bred, or what situation they came from. The rescue may not always have rats available, and you may not get the specific type of rat you're looking for.

Bottom Line

A rescue is a great option! Just make sure you have the patience to bond with your rescue rat, and a generous vet fund incase they develop health problems down the road.

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Breeder:

Breeders are usually very knowledgeable about rats and have years of experience. They generally breed rats for optimal health and personalities. Make sure to do your research on a good local breeder because not all breeders are reliable.

Pros - Rats are extremely healthy, usually friendly, almost always bred by people with experience, you can get specific colors variations, and they have a return policy.

Cons - Often times there's a waiting list, can be expensive, not all breeders are reliable, you may have to fill out an adoption form, and you won't be able to meet your rats until after you've paid for them.

Bottom Line

A breeder is another amazing option! Make sure to ask your breeder lots of questions to make sure they're reliable, a good breeder will be more than happy to answer all of your questions. I personally recommend breeders to first time rat owners as they will generally be very tame and run into few health problems.

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