Flowers are one of the most beloved things in the world. We cut them, bring them inside and place them inside beautiful vases and position them lovingly throughout our home. They grace our dining room table, living room coffee table, bathroom or kitchen counter. They bring us so much joy and brighten up any living space. There’s only one problem: They don’t last very long. That’s what got me to thinking that rats are like flowers.
Ask 100 people why they don’t have rats as pets and most of them will say it’s because of their tails. A lot of these people will equate rats with sewers, nightmares and and all sorts of evil characters. Then there will also be a significant number of people—those that already know that pet rats are cute and intelligent and fun little companions. People like us. These people will have chosen to abstain due to what they view as the brevity of pet rat lifespans.
The long and short of it
Does anyone live long enough? What is enough?
Pet rats live, on average, about 2 years. Males often live a little less than 2 years and females often live longer than 2 years.
A gourmet feast that took days in which to prepare may be devoured in less than an hour. The brevity of the meal doesn’t stop us from wanting it again.
What we get to learn – It is not the length of the pet rat lifespan, but the depth that really matters
We shouldn’t let a short lifespan stop us from enjoying one of the most amazing pets in the entire world. I have yet to meet a cat or dog that comes close to having the intelligence and humor of pet rats.
Because our rats only live an average of 2 years, we get to live in the rarefied air in which every moment is important and precious. Especially as rats age, I find myself cherishing every moment with these exquisite beings.
It almost helps me to extend my own time. The time I share with my rats becomes even more precious, which seems to suspend it in air momentarily. The moments matter more.
Through our rats, we learn to experience our own lives more fully. I have learned to honor each day. I am well aware life won’t last forever.
Before having rats I felt like we were all going to live endlessly. We were all immortal and we behaved that way. Now I get to respect and experience each day as the jewel that it is.
Helping those less fortunate
How often do we get to enhance the life of someone less fortunate than us? Someone who could’ve ended up with a disaster of a life even briefer than it already is?
We humans can definitely make a difference in the quality of our rats’ lives. For me it’s pure pleasure—and an honor—to learn how to take the best care possible of them. I feel very fulfilled when I can provide them with the highest quality of life.
Life in abundance
Because of pet rats’ short lifespans, we get to know more of them. Each one adds something special and significant to our own life. All those countless lives—for 30 years now I’ve had rats—that are now embedded in my soul. Imprints of their little hands forever remembered if only as sensations on my skin.
Life Cycles
I am in greater appreciation of all the cycles of life, all the stages. I’ve gotten to live them over and over with each of my rats and every part of every season is significant and builds upon the next. Getting to see the phases of life in tightened succession has brought more meaning to how I experience myself and others around me.
So short in life yet long on effect
“A flower’s appeal is in its contradictions — so delicate in form yet strong in fragrance, so small in size yet big in beauty, so short in life yet long on effect.”– Terri Guillemets
The bottom line is this: I’m not going to hold it against these exquisite beings that they only live an average of 2 years. That’s absurd. Rats are like flowers. They don’t last very long but they are so beautiful and life can’t be imagined without them.
I kept my first as a teen and my last aged 34. Losing my best friends every 3ish years took too big a toll on me emotionally. Now aged 47 my preteen daughter bought herself with her money at Christmas 2021, 2 sister hoodies she named Astrid and Crystal and the little thieves stole our hearts straight away! Their antics have us crying with laughter, their affection has brought tears of love. You are absolutely right, and I’m grateful my daughter chose to have some wascally wrats to love.
Hi Penny,
Thanks so much for your wonderful comment. That’s so great that your daughter now has rats….after your having so many yourself. Astrid and Crystal sound wonderful. It is so much fun when our rats make us laugh and receiving their affection is such a special experience (unknown to most people).
Thanks for reading my post. I really do believe rats are like flowers.
Best Wishes to You, Your Daughter, Crystal and Astrid,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Thank you for this very thoughtful article. I have thought the same thing as I look at my two pet rats. I see them aging and I worry about them developing respiratory illnesses. They are my first rats and I have with my wife and it’s so sad to think of life without them and sometimes I think it’s better to not get any more after they’re gone. To spare ourselves the sadness. But your blog has reminded me of a very powerful life lessons in our rats. I will continue to be a rat owner and continue to provide them a loving and happy home. Thank you!
Hi John,
Thank you so much for commenting on my article. It makes me happy to know I can help others develop their own ways of learning life lessons from having rats. I do believe it’s as worthwhile as it is painful to have rats in our lives. (Possibly even more worthwhile than painful, actually!)
Feel free to contact me anytime if you ever have any questions.
Wishing You, Your Wife & Your Rats the Very Best,
Jasmine
This is so beautifully written, it made me tear up! I have never felt this more, as in the last few months, as two of my rats have succumbed to old age and cancer, and I said goodbye to my six and a half year old guinea pig who had a massive tumor on her back.; and I am preparing myself to send two more of my babies over the rainbow bridge when they are ready. Every moment with them is so precious!
I went through a stage where I thought I couldn’t do it anymore; I couldn’t handle any more losses. So I decided not to get any more pets. This depressed me, for months.
Then I started thinking about how much I love having animals, and how sad I am that most of them are not cared for properly where I live, with a poor diet and improper enclosure. It always gives me such pleasure when I take home an animal and see them flourish. It happens every single time- their coats turn glossy and fill out, they put on weight or loose excess of it, I watch their excitement at having a bigger enclosure to run around in. Sores heal up, skin becomes smooth. I’ve even brought home 2 guinea pigs once that were covered in lice!!!
I realize now that the heartache is worth it for all the joy that they bring. So, next weekend I will be bringing home a baby boy gpig (for Sparkles), and I will certainly be on the lookout for more rats!!! :D
P.S. My Mum used to HATE rat’s tails, she was terrified of them. Now she can even hold them!!! :-D
Hi Emma,
What a beautiful comment. You describe so well why it’s worth it to take care of our “littler” pets. It IS so incredibly satisfying and rewarding to see them thrive and know that we were able to help them.
I’m happy to hear you’ll be bringing home a new guinea pig friend for Sparkles and will be on the lookout for more rats. That’s also great that your mother can now hold rats!
Thank you so much for sharing your insights and experiences.
Jasmine