Do Rats Need Another Rat?

Introducing a new rat into an established rat home is a rewarding experience. However, it is important to know that not every rat reacts well to another rat, so you can’t rush the introduction. It can take as much as a week for your older rat to warm up to its new mate. For this reason, you should always spend as much time as possible getting to know your older rat before introducing him to a new rat.

While introducing a new rat to your existing pet, be sure that the new rat is kept in a separate cage during the day. The remaining rat will be left out and may become lonely without a rat companion. The best way to avoid rat loneliness is to keep all your pets together, but if you can’t separate the two, you can introduce the new rat gradually, keeping the original rat out of the new rat’s cage at first. This way, your existing rat won’t be aware of the new rat’s presence, and you won’t spawn a territorial behavior.

Introducing a new rat to an existing rat can be challenging, especially if the rat is over a year old or has never had a companion before. Although most rats are easygoing and can accept a new rat, others may be very resistant, aggressive, or antisocial.