Published on 12, July, 2020
Does anybody keep pets to provide company/friendship? I basically only have one friend outside work, who I don't get to see very often, and live hundreds of miles away from my family. So I tend to get very lonely, especially at weekends.
I'm thinking about getting some animal company to provide a bit of company and fun around my flat, and several people have recommended rats. It seems a good idea as they're fairly cheap to keep, small enough that I could keep two (I wouldn't want to leave one on its own all day), and apparently very tame and loving. I could also fit a decent-sized rat cage in front of my window, which faces North so they'd get plenty of natural light but not too hot. People who've kept them tell me that they're a bit like little dogs: a lot smarter and friendlier than their bad press suggests, and happy to cuddle in your arms while you're reading etc.
The idea of having animals (other than spiders, moths, and the occassional silverfish) in the flat would take some getting used to with my cleanliness obsession, but it does seem like something that could help. Instead of coming home to an empty flat I'd come home to a couple of little friends. And I could know that every single weekend I could spend as much time with good friends as I liked, albeit small and furry ones.
Does this sound realistic to those of you who keep pets or am I taking too much of a rose tinted view?
Zem :)
Hi
Thank you both for your replies and advice. I did some more internet research today to make sure that I have sufficient space etc. for them. I went to another pet shop after work too and actually saw some. They were so sweet! I didn't handle them because they were quite shy but they came and sniffed my fingers. Apparently they have a hard time in the pet shop because a lot of people yell in horror when they see them, and others tap on the glass :(.
The one thing that put me off was finding out that the pellets they like to eat have meat in, and that they need the meat. I have a very strict no-meat policy in my flat and don't like even seeing raw meat. But I don't think the pellets (which in no way resemble meat) would be such a problem. Learning to share my flat with them will be part of the deal anyway, and should be good for me long-term: if I can't share it with pets I'm never going to manage with a partner.
Transport permitting I'm hoping to get some soon, and they can start learning how to look after me! I can look after myself (and things like flats and labs) OK practically, but often struggle to cope emotionally. I get periods of feeling very anxious/isolated/depressed. The rats will need me to look after them practically but will be able to provide much needed company and a positive, interactive thing to focus on during the difficult times.