Rats are highly intelligent social animals with complex behavioral needs. Appropriate enrichment and companionship dramatically improves welfare outcomes for these undervalued companion animals.
Rats are profoundly social animals whose behavioral and emotional needs are among the most underappreciated in companion animal keeping. The scientific evidence for rat sentience, social bonding, and capacity for positive and negative emotional states is extensive. Single housing is one of the most common welfare failures for captive rats, causing demonstrable distress and behavioral abnormalities. The intelligence that makes rats such engaging pets also means they experience boredom, loneliness, and frustration acutely when their needs are not met. Their short lifespan makes the quality of each day particularly important.