The best places to adopt pet rats are rat-specific rescues, local humane societies, and general animal shelters. You can also find rats through online adoption platforms like Petfinder, which lets you search by zip code for adoptable rats near you. Each source has trade-offs in terms of availability, socialization, and health screening, so it helps to understand what to expect from each one.
Rat-Specific Rescues
Dedicated rat rescues are the gold standard for adoption. These organizations focus exclusively on rats (or small animals), which means the animals are typically handled regularly, health-checked, and housed in social groups before they reach you. Rescue volunteers usually know each rat’s personality, whether it’s shy or bold, a cuddler or an explorer, and can help match you with the right fit.
Finding one near you takes a little digging. Start by searching Facebook groups for your state’s name plus “rat rescue.” Mainely Rat Rescue maintains a directory of rat and small animal rescues across the country, which is a useful starting point. Because these are often small, volunteer-run operations, they may have waitlists or limited availability. If there’s no dedicated rat rescue in your area, expanding your search radius or getting on a waiting list is worth the effort.
Humane Societies and Municipal Shelters
Your local humane society, ASPCA branch, or town animal control office is another reliable option. Many shelters take in surrendered rats but don’t always advertise them prominently, so call ahead or check their website’s small animal section. Rats at shelters tend to cost less than those from breeders, and adoption fees typically cover a basic health check.
The adoption process at most humane societies is straightforward. At the Wisconsin Humane Society, for example, you fill out an adopter profile online (it stays on file for two months), then visit during open adoption hours. An adoption counselor reviews your profile and introduces you to animals that seem like a good match. You’ll need a government-issued ID and must be at least 18. The whole process generally takes about an hour, and adoptions are first come, first served. Most shelters follow a similar model, though specifics vary by location.
Online Adoption Platforms
Petfinder is the most widely used tool for finding adoptable rats. Enter your zip code, filter by “small and furry,” and search for rats. Listings are posted by shelters and rescues, so you’re still adopting through an organization rather than a random individual. Each listing usually includes the rat’s age, sex, and a brief personality description. Once you find a rat you’re interested in, the platform connects you to the hosting organization to start their adoption process.
Facebook groups and local classifieds sometimes list rats needing rehoming from private owners. These can be perfectly healthy animals from owners whose circumstances changed, but you won’t get the health screening or behavioral assessment that a rescue provides. If you go this route, ask about the rat’s age, health history, and how it was housed.
Why You Should Adopt in Pairs
Most rescues strongly encourage (or require) adopting at least two rats, and there’s solid science behind it. Rats are deeply social animals. The presence of a companion reduces their stress response, lowers anxiety, and even speeds wound healing. Isolated rats show measurably higher levels of stress hormones and more anxiety-related behaviors than those housed with a cagemate. Simply being alone is aversive for them, even without any additional stressor. A pair of rats isn’t twice the work; they entertain each other, groom each other, and are generally calmer and more confident as a result.
If you already have a solo rat at home, many rescues will work with you to find a compatible companion. Introductions between rats take patience (neutral territory, short supervised sessions, gradual increase in time together), but most rats bond successfully within a week or two.
What You’ll Need Before Bringing Rats Home
Have your setup ready before adoption day. Here’s what you need:
- Cage: Aim for at least 5 cubic feet of space per rat. Tall cages work well since rats love to climb. Wire cages with solid floors (not wire mesh) protect their feet.
- Bedding: Paper-based bedding or aspen shavings are safe choices. Avoid cedar and pine shavings, which release oils that irritate rats’ sensitive respiratory systems.
- Food: A pelleted or block-form diet formulated specifically for rats provides balanced nutrition. Supplement with small amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Water bottle or bowl: Most rats drink from a bottle with a spout, though some prefer a shallow bowl.
- Hideouts: At least one enclosed hiding spot per rat. Make sure it’s large enough for the rat to turn around inside, and size up if you’re adopting young rats that are still growing.
- Enrichment: Apple sticks, wooden chew toys, and woven fiber toys keep teeth healthy and boredom at bay. A solid-surface exercise wheel (no rungs or wire) is a good addition.
- Nesting material: Shredded paper, tissues, or paper towels. Avoid newspaper or glossy magazine pages.
Health Costs to Plan For
Rats live about two to three years, and most will need veterinary care at some point. Not every vet sees rats, so locate an exotic or small-animal vet before you adopt. The most common health issues are respiratory infections, tumors, and abscesses.
Respiratory problems are especially frequent. Rats are prone to a chronic bacterial infection that can flare up with stress, dusty bedding, or drafts. A rat that sneezes persistently for more than a day or develops labored breathing needs a vet visit. Tumors are also common, particularly in females, and may require surgical removal. Head tilts can signal inner ear infections or, less commonly, brain tumors. These conditions are treatable when caught early, but vet bills for exotic animals can add up quickly. Budgeting for at least one or two vet visits per rat per year is realistic.
Choosing the Right Source for You
If you want a well-socialized rat with a known temperament, a rat-specific rescue is your best bet. If availability or location is a constraint, your local humane society or a Petfinder search will turn up options you might not have known existed. Private rehoming works in a pinch, but you’re taking on more unknowns about health and history. Whichever route you choose, adopting rather than buying from a pet store means you’re giving a home to a rat that already needs one, and you’ll typically get better support and guidance from the organization behind the adoption.