Domesticated Rats Available for Adoption

By Hope Bidegainberry on April 9, 2018

The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA (PHS/SPCA) has a group of young domesticated rats available for adoption.  The rats are two months old and were recently surrendered to PHS/SPCA.

“Rats make fantastic pets,” said PHS/SPCA’s Communications Manager Buffy Martin Tarbox.  “They are extremely social, affectionate and intelligent.  We currently have nine rats available for adoption, three males and six females.”

Rats are very clean animals, and similar to cats in that they will groom themselves.  On average they live two to three years and are easy to care for.  They eat pellets known as “rat blocks”, found at most pet stores and enjoy fruits and vegetables as snacks. Rats are generally happier with another rat friend, but they should be separated by gender to avoid breeding.  It’s best to adopt rats pairs of the same gender.

“Rats can be a good pet choice for someone living in a small apartment.  They don’t bark or need to be let outside,” according to Tarbox.  “They rarely bite, so they are also good companion animals for children.”

PHS/SPCA encourages potential adopters to visit their Tom and Annette Lantos Center for Compassion at 1450 Rollins Road in Burlingame to meet the rats. The shelter is open seven days a week for adoptions, Monday through Friday 11:00 am to 6:00 pm and weekends 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Each rat’s adoption fee is $10.