Have a Lone Rat? - Problems with keeping rats solo

Rats are social animals that thrive in the company of their own kind, so if you find yourself with a lone rat, it’s important to make a plan. Leaving a rat solo can decrease their lifespan, increase their risk for chronic diseases, and degrade their quality of life. Every ethical breeder and rescue does not adopt out rats to live solo because of the risks to the rat's mental and physical health. Use these questions and considerations to determine your best course of action.

Myth: "Rats can be housed alone if you spend a lot of time with them."

Humans cannot groom, sleep with, communicate, or play with rats as other rats can. They live in packs in the wild and need same-species companionship for optimal mental and physical health. In the wild, they live in groups of up to 200 members! Rats communicate via ultrasonic vocalizations, which human ears cannot perceive. Imagine having a best friend that did know a word of your language, it can become very lonely.

Rats are crepuscular meaning they sleep during the day and are most active at dawn and dusk. While they can adjust to a human's schedule, forcing mammals out of their natural circadian rhythm increases their risks for chronic disease. Humans are generally most active during the day when rats are sleeping, so spending a lot of time with them is actually harmful to their health. Disruption to circadian rhythm (natural sleep cycle) can lead to sleep disorders, mood disorders, metabolic problems, cardiovascular issues, immune system issues, and may worsen neurodegenerative conditions. All these problems increase the risk for chronic disease and reduce lifespan.

It is common to misinterpret loneliness as a sign of contentment. Just because your rat is more cuddly now that they're solo, it is not a sign of happiness, but a a cry for help for some friends they can talk to that speak their language.

Decide: Do You Want to Continue Owning Rats?

If yes, the best option is to adopt 2-3 younger rats that you can introduce immediately. This prevents your rat from being lonely and continues what’s called a “rolling rat group,” where new rats are introduced before the last one is left alone. If you only get 1 rat, you’ll be faced with the same predicament of a solo rat when your older rat passes.

When adopting new rats, always get them from an ethical breeder or reputable rescue that prioritizes health and temperament. Babies from good sources are typically adopted out at 6-8 weeks old, meaning after a 2-week quarantine, they are the perfect age for introductions. Baby rats are big enough to defend themselves at 8-12 weeks, making them much easier to introduce to an adult. In general, introducing babies to adults is easier than introducing adults to each other, and female introductions tend to be smoother than males.

It’s always best to adopt before your rat is alone, especially if they’re a senior. Older rats can become depressed without companionship, making it harder for them to bond with new friends. Even with the best planning, introductions don’t always go perfectly at first, so you should be prepared to house rats separately if needed.

What If You Don’t Want to Continue Owning Rats?

If your rat is elderly or ill and has a poor quality of life, the kindest option may be to have them euthanized. If they are still healthy, rehoming is the next best step.

• If your rat came from a reputable breeder, reach out to them first. Ethical breeders often take back rats or help with rehoming.

• If your rat came from a rescue, returning them to the rescue ensures they will be placed in a home with other rats.

• If neither of those options applies, private rehoming is possible through trusted groups like local Facebook small animal or rat rehoming groups or Rat Rescue Network UK.

Never Re-home to Just Anyone

Rats should only be placed with experienced owners who will house them properly with other rats. Avoid giving them away for free, as this can attract people with bad intentions. Never adopt out rats with aggression, rehoming an aggressive rat can make them more aggressive due to stress and you can be responsible for injuries or hospitalization. And it’s not kind to dump your problems onto someone else.

Aggressive Rat Considerations

It is also common to misinterpret aggression as a sign they need to be alone. Untreated hormonal aggression can be the reason for rats to fight, and can be fixed with either a neuter, spay, or a Suprelorin implant. Imagine having raging hormones and you feel the need to punch a wall, but you can't. That's what it's like to have hormonal aggression as a rat, and sterilization can reduce their rage and make them calm and safe around other rats again.

Illness or pituitary tumors can also be a reason for rats to be aggressive. Consult an exotic veterinarian for treatment for any aggression, do not assume that a life solo will be better for them.

Rats aggressive to humans are either ill and need to see a vet, come from bad genetic background, or experienced a lot of trauma in its life. A rat that is afraid and lashes out at its caretaker may be considered to have poor quality of life. Options in this case are to consider consulting with a rat behavior specialist for help, or in extreme cases of human-directed aggression, humane euthanasia.

"But I've tried introductions, he/she doesn't like rats..."

Failed intros are often the fault of the human, not the rat. If you have only tried introductions once, or you only tried one method, I implore you to try again. Try another method, try another group of rats, even try the opposite gender that's been fixed, there is often just a preference your rats have for their friends. I know that I don't get along with everyone either!

If you are failing to successfully introduce them after a few attempts, consult a professional breeder, a local rescue, or rat behaviorist. Your rat may need someone more experienced to bring them into another group.

Conclusion

In short, if you find yourself with a lone rat, the best course of action is to adopt at least two more from an ethical source. If you can’t keep your rat, responsible rehoming is the way to go. Always prioritize their well-being—rats deserve companionship and the best possible care!

Some resources:

Housing familiar male..., Science Direct

http://www.ratfanclub.org/single.html#:~:text=Rats%20play%2C%20groom%20each%20other,the%20company%20of%20another%20rat.

https://www.nfrs.org/articles_company.html#:~:text=Rats%20are%20social%20animals%2C%20gaining,kept%20alone%20as%20a%20pet.

https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rodents/rats/company#:~:text=As%20rats%20are%20social%20animals,how%20to%20keep%20rats%20together.