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Do Pet Rats Attract other Rodents (2024)

Do Pet Rats Attract other Rodents

Some pet rat owners often believe that rats attract other rodents. And while the answer to that is often subjected to various reasons, depending on the person involved, there is a single reason why this assertion isn’t true. Let’s find out why.

From past experiences, there are no proven records that pet rats do attract other rodents. However, you will need to be careful in cleaning their cage frequently and thoroughly, since leftover food can indeed be a magnet for other pests. Here is the relationship between pet rats and other rodents.

Facts and Myths About Pet Rats

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PET RATS AND OTHER RODENTS

A lot of people are often scared of having pet rats because they feel their presence would invite those of other rodents into the house. Now, while this assertion has been widespread, that doesn’t mean it is true. Pet rats do not directly attract other rodents, however, their actions and yours could invite these rodents into your home.

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One of the ways rodents can be attracted to your house is when you don’t make an effort to keeping your pet rat’s cage neat

. Now, often, your pet rats are going to litter the entire space with food crumbs like bread, and so on. And if this should linger for a long time, without you cleaning it as soon as you find it, the remaining and the smell of these foods are going to attract other rodents into your home.

Other than that, if you have a house that has lots of exit routes, clutter, left out food and garbage around for wild mice and rats to be tempted, then the answer would be yes, other rodents are most likely going to infest your home. Of course, this has nothing to do with the pet rat in the cage since this would happen even without it.

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If you end up having a rodent problem in your home, it is best to protect your pet rat since if the wild rodents get too close to it, they could attack one another, and your pet might get injured or even die, bring parasites, fleas, and Mites.

This is valid for pet rodents as well, which is why you should never try and have your pet rat coexist with a hamster, for example, since the results could be disastrous.  If this is the case, here are some ways in which you can prevent rodents from getting into your home.

Pet Rats Get along With Other Pets

Also Remember the Things you have for your Pet Rat, will be enjoyed by other Rats and Mice. Make sure all Rat Food and Rat Treats are in Protected Sealed Containers.

HOW TO PREVENT RODENTS FROM GETTING IN YOUR HOUSE

Fill-Up Gaps, Holes, And Cracks

One of the ways rodents are most likely going to find their way into your home is through holes, cracks, or gaps in the walls, or on the floor of your home. As such, make sure any of these holes are closed using either cement or any other thing that can help in sealing the spots. 

Food Attraction

As stated earlier, most rodents are attracted to your home through food particles and leftovers. So, don’t feed them by leaving these things carelessly in your home. Instead, make sure to always clean everywhere from your kitchen to the garbage trash can. Dump them regularly and don’t store any waste product. These things attract rodents.

Rodents Dont attract Other Rodents – Food – is what attracts others Rodents

Places for Rodents to Nest

If you have old objects in which you aren’t using, like wheels, tires, appliances, and so on, it’d be in your best interest to do away with such things in your basement, as rodents are most likely going to live there. Once they have a place to live, you can rest assured they’ll put in every effort in infesting your home.

Landscaping

Given that rodents are not great at skipping, you’ll have to trim trees, shrubs, and limbs back, at least four feet from your home. Keeping a Rodent Free Habitat Permiter around your House will do a lot to keep Rodents from coming in.

Set Traps

Traps are one of the ways to get rodents. There are so many of them out there in the market, which would help you in reducing the number of these rodents in your home. We have had great luck in setting live box traps, to capture unwanted visitors to a new home. We have caught rats, Squirrels, Ground Squirrels, Raccoon, Opposums, and Groundhogs. Most of them looking for Shelter and food scraps laying around.

Baits and Poisons

Baits and poisons can be used in killing rodents. They’ll work, twice as much as traps, as it will help in killing them off one after the other. However, one needs to cautious when keeping these poisons as it could be harmful to humans, especially children. So, always keep it off, the reach of children.

They will also kill your pet Rat, so be hesitant to use them anywhere your pets have access. Protect from

  • Children
  • Pets – Rats, Rabbits, Dogs, Cats,
  • Food Contamination

Neighborhood Varmits

The environment could also pose as a contributing factor to the increase of rodents in your home. As such, you’ll have to check your surroundings for any signs of holes or dirt around your home, which could also be contributing to the growth of rodents in your house.

In living in an area that has a lot of close housing, you could have the scenario that Rodents are encouraged to leave your neighbor’s house, only then to move in with You.

Rodent Pesticides

Another option is in the use of pesticides. You can find pesticides for various rodents in convenience stores, pet shops, online stores, and so on. When you spray these pesticides, it will help in making your home a very uncomfortable place for rodents to live. This will help push them away for good.

Natural Unwanted Rodent Repellants

  • Cat
  • Mothballs
  • Ammonia
  • Human Hair
  • Peppermint Oil
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Cloves
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Unwanted Rodents

Call The Pros

If after all is said and done, none of the methods seem to work out; then you’ll have to employ the assistance of some professionals in the art of pest and rodent control. Given that they are trained personnel, they’ll be able to use the right technique, which will help in taking rodents of your home for good.

In a nutshell, pet rats do not attract other rodents into your home; instead, their actions, as well as your recklessness of not cleaning or paying proper attention to their deeds, could contribute the infestation of rodents in your home. And to prevent these rodents from infesting your home, you can either do it yourself by applying the above techniques or call a professional. Either way, the days of having rodents in your home will soon become a thing of the past.

We hope this article has helped prove to you why pet rats don’t directly attract other rodents into your home. Plus, if you already have rodents in your home, you can try the above-listed techniques and let us know in the comment section below how well they turned out for you.

Rat Breeder Associations

Rat AssociationLocationLink
American Fancy Rat $ Mouse AssociationUnited StatesAFRMA
Rat & Mouse Club of AmericaUntied StatesRMCA
National Fancy Rat SocietyUnited StatesNFRS
North of England Rat SocietyUKNERS
UK National Pouched Rat SocietyUKNPRS

FAQ Rats