[Skeetersmom]

Rats require a lot of time and attention. They love being out and exploring. Every time I walk past my cage, they are climbing the bars to get out and roam. The good thing is, they can be out playing on a table or your bed and don't normally jump down. They have bad eyesight and don't jump cause they can't see the floor.

They need large cages (there are rat cage calculators to check how many can go in a cage) Rats should never go in a ball. They usually will not use them at all. A covered playpen would work as long as they can't get out of the bar spacing. 1 inch bar spacing is usually too large for smaller females but ok for adult males. Most ferret playpens are 1 inch spacing.

I think they require more 1 on 1 care and attention than the guinea pigs do. Rats crave the attention and don't do well if they do get it. They also have to be kept in pairs.