So, You've Decided on a Rat
Well, of course you have a number of places to choose from when you decide to adopt. Here, we will cover information on the most common places to find your next furry friend: breeders, rescues, and pet stores (which should only be used as a last resort).

Which one you decide to choose from will vary depending on the type of rat you are searching for, the availability of each in your area, and your own personal adopting preferences. Remember that each one will have its pros and cons, but generally speaking breeders are the best place to adopt any new pet!



Depending on where you live, there are some online listings of breeders available. Some of these include:
Rat Seek (Multiple Countries)
The Ratster (Multiple Countries)
Altpet.net's Rodent Breeders List (Multiple Countries)
AFRMA's Breeder List (USA)
RMCA's Breeder List (USA)
Contact the NFRS to help you find a breeder (UK)
Ratty Corner (UK)
The Dapper Rat (AUS)

Many of the lists above are run by clubs from those areas and are a fantastic way to find a good breeder. Keep in mind, however, that not all breeders are alike and some are better than others. It is up to you who you choose to contact. Due to the vast number of breeders available all over the world, =rat-club cannot sponsor or recommend a breeder for you. It's always safe to ask around and do your homework to ensure that you never regret who you choose!

When searching for the right breeder, you should take a look at their breeding lines. How many varieties do they offer? Do they offer pedigrees? Do they track health through the generations[1]? A breeder who really tracks their lines will keep up with their rats even after adoption, so that any health problems can be recorded and traced. The first two things a breeder should be striving for are good health and temperament. Everything else (color, markings, etc.) are just cosmetic. If you are looking for a true companion, you should always search for the healthiest and friendliest rats you can find.



Each breeder has different policies concerning their adoption. Some have what is called a "Closed Rattery[2]," which is when the breeder does not allow outside visitors into the rattery. This is done to prevent transmission of parasites and illness, not to hide their rats from you. Some of these ratteries will allow you to handle rats who are related to the ones you will be adopting, sometimes including the parents. Since temperament is largely inherited[3], you can get a good idea of what your new rat will be like in this way.

"An ethical breeder does not produce a litter because they want to experience the miracle of birth, because their rat would make a wonderful mother or because their rat has a wonderful temperament and they want lovely babies just like her." [4]



There can be a waiting list, and this is important because it shows you something about the breeder. How long is their waiting list? If it is a long list, they are likely a reputable breeder and many are willing to wait for rats from them rather than find another breeder. Breeders will not just put any two animals together to produce babies, they will instead find the two that are best matched and put them together when the time is right and the babies are ensured a home. Most breeders have a certain number of planned litters in a given year. Each litter should have a goal, such as: To improve the look of hooded markings while retaining high health and temperament standards. See examples at Deer Creek Rattery. Breeder quality rats are often chosen first by health and temperament, and secondly matched with mates who will produce beautiful offspring.

It is important to leave the breeding to the breeders, and to follow the guildelines set forth in your adoption contract. Each breeder will have one, each with different requirements. If you don't want your pet taken from you, it is wise to stick to the papers you sign! Many breeders will seize their animals from you if you are in breach of contract, and they make this clear on the papers you sign! If you are not a breeder, do not breed your rats! This is why there are so many rats being sold for food, or being released into the wild, or being turned into shelters! Don't become part of the problem[5]!



Rescue Rats
Some areas are lucky to have shelters accepting rats near them. Anyone who has ever adopted a rescue animal will be familiar with this type of selection. There are many stories about happy adoptions that can be found on websites run by these rescues. Try Rathelp.org (which has rescues in multiple countries), or, in the US, Kim's Ark, Rattie Ratz, and Huron Valley. (This is not a complete list by far.)

Some breeders also second as rescues for rats. Some individuals who do not breed also keep rescue rats. Many of these rats can be just as wonderful as any you purchase from that breeder's line, and it shows that person's dedication to the animals. If you are not particularly concerned with a certain color, these can make fantastic choices for you and your family. Many people offering these rats temporary homes will share the information they have about their rescue rats with you, and will only place you with a rat which they believe will suit your lifestyle. This can depend on the other types of animals you have in your home, ages of children, and your own personal schedule. Most will always try to give you the best animal they can provide to you, or give you a referral, and you should always keep in contact with them after your adoption!



Many local shelters, however, do not know much about rats and can hardly care for them properly. Common problems with these rats are unwanted behavior, parasites, and illness[6]. When looking for a rat from a shelter, you should check the rat(s) thoroughly before agreeing to adopt them. Things to look for will be covered later in this article.

Sometimes veterinarian offices act as a rescue, or can give you the name of a rescue that will be suitable for finding a new rat. Ask around, it helps!

"Always research a pet - and the place or people you get it from - before getting one."[7]

A Last Resort: Pet Shops
I highly, highly advise this to be your very last choice to obtain a rat from. Many pet stores have little knowledge of rats and are unlikely to give you accurate care information. A lot of them buy from "rat-mills," where rats are kept in dirty, overcrowded cages and allowed to breed multiple times in succession so that they produce more litters for money. Males and females are not separated, and some mothers are only a few weeks older than their own babies. Other stores breed them on-site under similar conditions, with only profit in mind. Almost none of these shops socialize their animals or care about their qualities. Most see them as an expendable food supply and most are sold for this purpose, not as pets[8].

"Female rats can get pregnant as young as 5 weeks of age and you could end up with a lot of unexpected rats within a few weeks."[9]



If you have no breeders nearby and do not wish to take in a rescue animal, you can search through various pet shops near you to find what is most acceptable. I was able to find a beautiful pair of dumbo males in a pet store near me who made great companions. I was in luck when no health problems arose, which is rare among rats from these stores. They were also super-friendly and loved to play and roam!

However, adopting them was quite a chore as nobody wanted to help me see the animals. I went so far as to calling their corporate office after waiting two hours for help, hearing announcements over the speakers for an employee to come to the area, and being laughed at by the cashiers. I did receive an apologetic phone call from a regional manager, in which I told him exactly how I felt about the situation. The rats were brought home with me that day, and I have not regretted choosing them since. This is a rare case, however, as the sale of the animals only causes the store to keep more on hand. I had only happened to see these two as they watched me walk by, and their desire for human contact even though they had likely never been handled before was my only reason for picking them. There were other rats in-store, who were shy and frightened by my presence. In short, I got extremely lucky.



There are pet supply stores that double as shelters, however, and bring in only a few animals at a time. Some provide medical care and are quite knowledgable about rats (which is why they do not sell them as other stores do). Other supply stores will be able to give you some references to people near you with rats for adoption, but they will not sell live animals. These stores can be a better choice[10].

What to Look For in a New Pet
These are extremely important when adopting rescue animals or rats from pet stores. However, it is important to check rats you may be adopting from a breeder as well. Sometimes, but not very often, a breeder may miss something. Everyone makes mistakes - if you point something out, a good breeder will work it out with you until you are satisfied. You do not have this choice with rescues or pet stores.



"In choosing a healthy rat some important things to look for are bright clear eyes, good thick fur (except with hairless), and clear breathing. Watch out for things like puffed up fur, swelling around the face or neck, drainage around eyes or nose, sores, noisy breathing, sneezing, a foul smell from ears or mouth, or scabs on the body (parasites). These are all indications that there might be an illness in the rat and/or the entire colony."[11]

The most obvious, and first thing you will notice about a potential new pet is their personality. Do they run away when you try to pick them up? If they do, they are not properly socialized. The younger they are, the easier they will be to break of this habit. If you are adopting an older animal who is unsocialized, they may eventually accept human contact but will almost always retain their skittish nature. Not being handled causes them to not trust humans, as they are not always sure what will happen to them. If a rat is curious of you and allows you to pick them up easily, they have either been socialized well or are eager to become that way naturally[12].



Another obvious thing to look for is the presence of parasites[13]. Mites, fleas, and other bugs can be present, usually in rescue or store-bought animals. Sometimes the infestations are advanced and will require multiple treatments. Not only are the parasites visible on these animals, but you will notice patches of missing hair and/or scabs on their body. This can sometimes make the rat irritable and it will not want to be handled. If you see any rat with parasites on site, it is best not to adopt any rats from said place because they spread very, very quickly. Keep in mind that not all veterinarians will accept rats as clients!

Aside from parasites, rats can have other signs of illness or disease[14]. Do they have labored breathing? Are they lethargic? Do they have large secretions around their eyes and nose? Do they wheeze or sneeze often? Are there visible tumors? Scabs can also be caused by rats fighting in an overcrowded cage, or they can have bedsores. As you gain experience with rats, you will be able to tell the difference between a healthy and an ill rat. Their coats can become dull, they can acquire a severe head tilt, or you may notice that their walk is abnormal. You may notice loose stool or severe diarrhea in their cages. They may fight with their cagemates. Many of these signs are caused by poor breeding and horrible care. Some illnesses can spread among rats quickly, others can be caused by poor diet, and some are genetic.



These animals should not be adopted unless you plan to care for them and bring them back to full health with the assistance of a veterinarian. If you are not experienced with rats, or have little experience, you should avoid this situation entirely. Though you may not pay a lot to adopt your pet, your vet bills can go through the roof very quickly!!! It is always best to wait and seek out other options; you are likely to find a healthy rat elsewhere, and avoid this completely. For a sample of various vet costs, see here.

On the other hand, you may find a suitable pet who is perfectly healthy and who bonds with you instantly. Keep in mind that rats should be kept in same-sex pairs[15]. Rats are more active at night than during the day, and while they will love to be handled by you, nothing can replace the presence of a cagemate who spends every hour of the day with them. Rats are highly intelligent and social creatures who rely on contact, both human and rattie, to stay healthy and stress-free. Many rat owners compare this companionship with that of a dog[16].



In general, males are larger and females smaller. Males have a tendency to be more laid back and females more curious and active. The traits you desire in a rat will be different than the choices of others. Of course, some males will be very active and some females quieter. Each personality is quite different[17].

Good luck with your adoptions - wherever they originate! For even more adorable rats, check out ~cycle-of-menace's gallery!



Citations:
[1, 3, 4] Fancy Rats - Choosing a Breeder
[2] Rat Roadhouse - Closed Rattery
[5] AFRMA - Breeding Beyond the Basics - Ethics
[6] R.A.T.S. - Forms and Policies for Shelters
[7] Small Victories Rodent Rescue - How to Adopt Rescue Rats
[8] R.A.T.S. Home Page
[9, 11, 17] Ratguide.com - Care Guide: Choosing and Obtaining a Pet Rat
[10] Small Victories Rodent Rescue - Good Pet Stores
[12] Sarah Skilling - Socializing Rats
[13] Ratguide.com - Health Guide: Ecto-Parasites
[14] RMCA: Rat FAQ
[15] RMCA - Why Rats Need Company
[16] About.com - Rats as Pets (Pop-up warning)