We adopted an all white, full grown, male rat

[zookie15]

I`ve got four rats and one of them has had a quarter of her tail bitten off becauase she was the runt of the litter but now she`s the biggest and the fatest, and I`m happy to say that a lady that i took my wallaby to has some nine year old rats so i think yours will live long too!

[replvr]

Three years max isn't entirely correct, however 2-3 years is average. There will always be exceptions to that rule as with any other rule. Heres to hoping yours are that exception!

[ladyknite]

if the owner opts to get them taken off, it can add a lot of time for the rat to stay with the owner.

Wow......I didn't know they would even attempt removal.  Cost of course.............
But even the possibility that someone could help their pet be healthier that way is great!!!

[Kazzy]

Congrats! Ratties are awesome

On the vet thing...I hate that too. It's like that animal is just a toy, and can be replaced if broken. That's an awful way of thinking.

[puffdaddy]

I know about the toy thing thats what I thought I would have like taken the rat and gotten it to the vet but mama didn't allow it 

[replvr]

if the owner opts to get them taken off, it can add a lot of time for the rat to stay with the owner.

Wow......I didn't know they would even attempt removal.  Cost of course.............
But even the possibility that someone could help their pet be healthier that way is great!!!

Absolutely an option! Its no different than removing tumors from dogs and cats...just a much smaller scale, although the rat tumors get just as large as a dog or cat tumor. People just seem to be more willing to get removed from dogs and cats than their 'pocket pets'. A really sad reality.

[Moonstream]

aww, I love ratties, especially older boys who like to curl up and sleep next to you. 

any pics of the little guy and his friends?  I love rattie pix, I always want to smush them and kiss their chubby little tummies. hahaha, and I love it when they use their itty bitty footsies to puch you away when you try to kiss them its just so cute!

[Veggieburger]

I would love to know what kind of rat lives for 9 years?