How Much Does a Rat Cost? (Monthly and Lifetime)
In 2023, Household Pets carried out research into the total lifetime cost of owning a rat in the UK. This analysis will be useful for current and future rat owners.
Methodology (How Costs Are Calculated)
1) This breakdown has been created using the individual prices found online, from products available at petsathome.com and other sources, to offer rat owners a comprehensive understanding of their financial responsibilities.
2) Due to the various sizes of pet rats available, Household Pets has also considered this by analysing costs for small and large rats.
3) The lifetime costs have been accurately calculated by using the forecasted inflation for future years, such as 2024, 2025, and 2026, and a rat’s average life expectancy of 3 years.
This report aims to provide pet owners with the information they need to make an informed decision when deciding if a rat is the right pet for them.
Results
The lifetime cost of owning a pet rat can also be split into the average monthly costs. For some people, the monthly costs are easier to budget for.
As rats vary in size, the amount of food consumed can also vary. This will affect the lifetime and monthly costs of owning a rat.
Lifetime Cost of Owning a Rat
| Rat Size | Minimum Lifetime Cost | Mid Lifetime Cost | Maximum Lifetime Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Rat from a Breeder (350g | 3 years) | £990.64 | £1,775.64 | £3,039.38 |
| Small Rat from Pets at Home (350g | 3 years) | £1,004.64 | £1,734.64 | £2,953.38 |
| Large Rat from a Breeder (650g | 3 years) | £1,040.86 | £1,843.59 | £3,125.09 |
| Large Rat from Pets at Home (650g | 3 years) | £1,054.86 | £1,802.59 | £3,039.09 |
Monthly Cost of Owning a Rat
| Rat Size | Minimum Monthly Cost | Mid Monthly Cost | Maximum Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Rat from a Breeder (350g | 3 years) | £27.25 | £49.32 | £84.43 |
| Small Rat from Pets at Home (350g | 3 years) | £27.91 | £48.18 | £82.04 |
| Large Rat from a Breeder (650g | 3 years) | £28.91 | £51.21 | £86.81 |
| Large Rat from Pets at Home (650g | 3 years) | £29.30 | £50.07 | £84.42 |
Detailed Data - See All the Costs of Owning a Rat
The lifetime cost of owning a rat can be broken down into two main categories – initial and ongoing costs.
Initial costs are purchases made when first getting a pet rat, such as a cage, bowl, water bottle, and the rat itself.
Ongoing costs are purchases that need to be made throughout the rat’s lifetime, such as food, bedding, and parasite treatments.
The tables below show the individual prices of the required products when owning a pet rat.
Initial Costs
The size of the rat and where the rat is bought from can affect the initial costs. In the first year of owning a rat, most rat owners can expect to pay between £320.63 and £1,019.77.
Cost of the Rat
| Type of Rat | Minimum Cost | Mid Cost | Maximum Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rat from a Breeder | £0.00 | £55.00 | £100.00 |
| Rat from Pets at Home | £14.00 | £14.00 | £14.00 |
On pet listing sites, some rats are available as “free to good home,” but the prices can go up to £100 in some cases. This is more than the price of a rat from Pets at Home; £14.
Other One-Off Initial Costs
| Item | Minimum Cost | Mid Cost | Maximum Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowl | £1.00 | £3.00 | £5.00 |
| Water Bottle | £1.50 | £3.25 | £5.00 |
| Cage | £80.00 | £108.00 | £182.50 |
| Bed | £5.00 | £10.00 | £14.00 |
| Toy | £1.00 | £6.00 | £17.00 |
| Harness | £5.00 | £5.50 | £6.00 |
| Carrier | £6.00 | £15.00 | £16.00 |
| Brush | £5.00 | £7.00 | £9.00 |
Ongoing Costs
The size of the rat can affect the ongoing costs, such as food and bedding. A larger rat will need to consume more food, and it might need fresh bedding more often.
According to data compiled by Household Pets, rat owners can expect to spend between £990.64 and £3,125.09 throughout their rats’ lifetimes.
Cost to Feed a Rat
Rats are omnivores, so their diets consist of vegetables and nuggets. They can also be given cooked, lean meat as a treat. Nuggets are often one of the most expensive aspects of a rat’s diet, costing up to £52.43 a year.
Monthly Food Costs
| Rat Size | Minimum Monthly Cost | Mid Monthly Cost | Maximum Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Rat from a Breeder (350g | 3 years) | £2.86 | £3.21 | £3.57 |
| Small Rat from Pets at Home (350g | 3 years) | £2.86 | £3.21 | £3.57 |
| Large Rat from a Breeder (650g | 3 years) | £4.25 | £5.10 | £5.95 |
| Large Rat from Pets at Home (650g | 3 years) | £4.25 | £5.10 | £5.95 |
Lifetime Food Costs
| Rat Size | Minimum Lifetime Cost | Mid Lifetime Cost | Maximum Lifetime Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Rat from a Breeder (350g | 3 years) | £102.80 | £115.67 | £128.50 |
| Small Rat from Pets at Home (350g | 3 years) | £102.80 | £115.67 | £128.50 |
| Large Rat from a Breeder (650g | 3 years) | £153.01 | £183.61 | £214.22 |
| Large Rat from Pets at Home (650g | 3 years) | £153.01 | £183.61 | £214.22 |
Cost of Bedding
A rat’s enclosure should be cleaned twice weekly, meaning bedding is an ongoing cost. It is estimated that bedding will cost £38.12 a month. This will vary depending on the type of cage the rat is kept in.
Monthly Bedding Costs
| Item | Minimum Monthly Cost | Mid Monthly Cost | Maximum Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedding | £9.52 | £17.69 | £38.12 |
Lifetime Bedding Costs
| Item | Minimum Lifetime Cost | Mid Lifetime Cost | Maximum Lifetime Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedding | £342.71 | £636.89 | £1,372.33 |
Other Ongoing Costs
| Item | Minimum Annual Cost | Mid Annual Cost | Maximum Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hay | £65.96 | £123.96 | £175.96 |
| Treats | £7.13 | £35.34 | £66.00 |
| Shampoo | £4.00 | £4.50 | £5.00 |
| Flea, Tick, and Worm Treatment | £30.00 | £30.00 | £30.00 |
Final Words
As rats are social animals, they should be kept in pairs or groups; this will affect the total costs. Also, not all costs are included in this report, like emergency vet care.