Is It Possible To Socialise Adult Cats With Pet Rats?
I have 2 adult cats who regularly hunt and kill birds and mice. I am planning on getting a couple of pet rats soon and wondered if there was any way that they can learn that the rats are not prey. Obviously I’m not going to do anything silly and leave them unattended together, but I’m just interested in whether I could discourage the cats from trying to get to them or whether the hunting instinct is too ingrained in them now that they are adults?
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I Have 2 cats (both are15 years old and both are bird and mouse hunters) and 2 rats (18 months old) and I haven’t had many problems.
The only incident I had was one cat trying to get a better view inside the cage by standing on it’s hind legs with its paws against the front of the cage. I told the cat “No” and then shut him out of the room.
If at any point after that either of the cats were showing a bit too much interest in the rats they were told firmly “No” and would then be promptly taken outside. They soon learnt that if they wanted to be in the same room they would have to leave the rats alone.
It also helped that when the cats were present I would go to the rats cage and play with them in full view of the cats (hopefully) making the cat realise that the rats are not prey!
I’ve let them all have a sniff of each other (keeping a firm hold on the cats) so they are used to each others scent as my cats are always incredibly interested by anything new whether it be a huge rat cage or a new cushion for the sofa!
My cats are now not interested in the rats at all and don’t even give the cage a second look when they come into the room.
I really wouldn’t recommend trying this, even though rats are comparatively large rodents, the cats innate hunting instincts are likely to prove over any attempts of socialisation and deem the risk too high.
I had three cats and a pet rat, my rat used to sit on my shoulder as i moved around my home when i sat down the rat used to run around the sofa my cats were fascinated and used to watch him if they ever used to take a swipe at him either he would run back to the safety of my shoulder or i used to shout at the cats no so they knew what they were doing was wrong, it’s never going to be an ideal situation but they will learn when you are around they can’t get near but like you say i would never leave them unattended it’s an instinct for them to try and kill, rats make lovely pets you will really enjoy them, two boy’s together or two girls together make sure they aren’t opposite sex’s u will be over-run!
no absolutely not cats will attack your hand if waved under something they wont see it as a rat just something to play with ……and kill what fun ..
Sensitive issue. Thanks for your point of view.