How can i convince my mum to let me get a pet rat?

OK, my mum says she won't let me get a pet rat, even though i tell her she won't see it or interact with it because it'll be in my room the whole time, and half the time it'll be with me at my dad's but she still won't let me get one. Can anyone help me to convince her?How can i convince my mum to let me get a pet rat?
do a lot of research!





MUST websites to learn from:


http://www.petbrags.com/profiles/blog/sh鈥?/a>





Here are some things to know before ever considering rat(S) as pet(S).


how many: You can not just get one rat. Rats are extremely social creatures and live a happier life with a cage mate of the same gender. Having just one will result in a rat that is bored and depressed. Could you imagine only spending a few minutes to an hour with your friends and then the rest of the time being locked up in your room? Don't subject a rat to this depressing life. Get two rats, so they have 24 hour/ 7 days a week companionship. :3





the case against single rats:


http://ratfanclub.org/single.html





What cage: Aquariums are not good cages for rats because aquariums have very poor ventilation. Rats have sensitive respiratory tracks and the ammonia that builds up fast in aquariums will aggravate their lungs and cause an upper respiratory infection or even pneumonia. The perfect cage is a wire cage. The ventilation is great, and even more the rats can climb!





Also, make sure you provide 2 cubic square feet of space per rat (so for a pair you will need at least a 4 sq cubic cage for 2 rats). Look at the following link for cages:





http://www.petbrags.com/profiles/blog/sh鈥?/a>





Bedding: do not use pine or cedar. Cedar has been proven to cause many health problems including: respiratory problems, skin irritation, and liver cancer. These health problems are caused by oils called phenols, which can also be found in pine bedding, but is not as strong. However, I have seen animals housed on pine to have respiratory issues, skin irritation, and eye irritation. Liver cancer has not been proven with pine bedding, but why take a chance?





Some safe beddings for rats are: Aspen, Carefresh, Yesterday鈥檚 News, and Critter Country.





Food: Food mixes found in stores are really unhealthy for rats. The only store bought mixes I recommend are





-Mazuri- a block formula


-Reggie Rat- seed mix... however, even this food has fillers that are not necessary, like the alfalfa pellets. Rats can not digest alfalfa and will leave these pellets alone resulting in wasted food. If you can get Mazuri, get it instead.





Online bought food:





-Oxbow Regal Rat- one of the TOP leading pet food companies, who actually works with the customers to see how the food is working out. So far, their food is the absolute best you can find! Sometimes you can find their food in small pet stores, but if you can鈥檛 buy online :3


-Harlan- used to feed lab rats. Because lab rats need to be in top health, this is a good formulated block.





Homemade Mixes: Some people like to make home made mixes. I myself you the Suebee鈥檚 mix.





-Suebee鈥檚-


http://www.ratsrule.com/diet.html


this mix is not complete without a high quality dog food (like Natural Balance Reduced Calorie, Wellness, or Solid Gold) and without fresh fruits and veggies. You can also subsitute Oxbow or Harlan blocks for the dog food.





-Rat Fan Club-


http://www.ratfanclub.org/diet.html


a bit hard to put together, but if you can more power to you! :D








Toys: Rats will play with toys. Check out this link:


http://www.petbrags.com/profiles/blog/sh鈥?/a>





Chews: rats need wood chews to gnaw on.


http://www.petbrags.com/profiles/blog/sh鈥?/a>





Where to get your rats: please do not get them from a pet store.





Why not to get them from a pet store:


http://www.brecklagh.com/petshops.html


(I work for a pet store and I refuse to buy animals from any pet store including the one I work. Everything on that site is true!





try to rescue:


http://www.petfinder.com/


http://craigslist.com/





if not, try to find a breeder. Google search rat breeders where you live (town, county, near by city) and hopefully you鈥檒l find one.





Extra: rats need vet care to! If you or mom or dad refuse to provide the rats with vet care merely because they are rats, then DO NOT GET RATS! These are LIVES! LIVING THINGS! They deserve to be given a happy and healthy life. They require vet care just as much as your mom or dad have to provide you with doctor care when you are sick. Sure, a rat may only live for 3 years, but what if the rats get sick when they are only 6 months old? a year? maybe even 2? all the more reason to give them their FULL life. Its short, so let them live it to the fullest! Don鈥檛 cut their life even shorter because you do not want to be responsible! :3





Ok, now take your research from the websites and the knowledge I have presented you and present it to your mom. Also present her with a care schedule laying out when you will give your rats out of cage time (45 mins a day!) to when you will clean their cage, that you will make sure they have food and water. Also, tell her that if she has to anything for the rats (like give them water if the water bottle is empty or clean the cage) she can take out of your allowance. Speaking of allowance, show her you are responsible and use your allowance to pay for their food and toys. Put aside a bit of money each allowance period as a back up if your rats ever need vet care.





Good Luck! And remember, these rats (and any pet for that matter) are your babies! yes babies! you are the parent! You are responsible for their up bringing! You are responsible for their LIVES!)





:3How can i convince my mum to let me get a pet rat?
Ok, I am a mom. I said No to a rat but a mouse would be ok. Till I got to the pet store. There was another mom getting her kid a rat-their third one! She laughed and said she was me a year ago. I learned that mice don't do well by themselves so two or more is better. Rats have bigger brains and look to you for company. Mice never get used to being handled the way rats do. And if you let it out it can be trained to come to you, mice don't. Both my son and daughter had rats. They were pretty good pets. They are much cleaner than people think. They clean themselves like cats. Both lived a little over three years. Good Luck!
Tell her all the advantages of having one- you won't be lonely, they're cute, and also the good things- they don't need as much responsibility as dogs ( like you don't need to clean up after them every time they do their business,) they have a reasonable price, and they don't take up a lot of room
Maybe UR dad will let U have the rat @ his house and you can get fish @ UR mom's! Or you can tell her that my Grandma was set aginst my getting 1 (I stay w/ her alot) and that over time she warmed up 2 it! Just tell her why it's important 2 U 2 have 1! They R sweet despite the cartoons! LOL! If U get it e-mail me 4 advice ! I am a rodent expert! LOL!





You have 2 claen up their cage every night and depending on how much they grow you may need a HUGE cage!
Show her how much you want one.Tell her you'll pay for the rat, food , cage bedding, etc. And to proove it earn the money and show it too her. Also show her how responsible you are do chores, help your mum with the cooking etc.


Luv yahh! And good luck!








Answer Mine Please? =))





http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?鈥?/a>
Well... for a rat it probably won't work. i have been begging for one but they just don't like rats, due to their negative history. My dad thinks that they are from the black plauge and cary desieses like swewer rats. I am only allowed to get a hamster. Sad right?
Listen to her, even though there is nothing wrong with having one. My daughter always wanted a cat, something i would never allow. After she got her own apartment, one of the first things she did is gat a kitten. Consider this route.
All you have to do is tell her all the positive stuff about rats. Sometimes people make videos, it shows your parents that you will take full responsibility and how it will teach you a very valuable lesson in life.
Show her secret of Nimh and tell her that it is a special genetically engineered rat that talks to crows and moles. She will love that.
Don't sneek it you should tell your mom some facts mabye that will work if i doesn't then ask OVER a hundred times look i have 2 mice 2 dogs and 3 cats it works!!!!!!!
Show her that u are responsible by taking out the trash, Feeding your other pets if you have anymore,Doing the dishes,babysitting, petsitting,ETC. Good Luck!





Allison Martin, Age 10 PA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xim0yrt-orQ


show her that :D they are so cute
get it anyway.. if she wont notice it .. then it wont matter right? show her how cute they are.