Do pet rats cause allergies?

September 7th, 2004 by admin

pet allergies
EmilyIGB asked:


I’m moving in with a friend who is pretty allergic to cats and dogs. I’m wondering if rats will be too bad for her allergies. She says she doesn’t mind if she’s a little allergic because they will stay in my room (not like a cat/dog that would roam) Does anyone know if rats cause lots of allergies?
BTW I already have the rats and live about an 8 hour drive away and will be moving directly in, so her coming to visit the rats to see how she reacts is not an option right now or she would. Thanks!

8 Responses to “Do pet rats cause allergies?”

  1. Johnny Says:
    September 9th, 2004 at 11:50 am

    Im not one of them but many people say that since there allergic to cats anddogs they get rats. I dont know for sure our friend is just going to have to find out if shes allergic.

    GOOD LUCK!!…!!!

  2. Miss Cream Says:
    September 10th, 2004 at 7:37 pm

    Yes you can still have allergies to rats somtimes they are even more severe, i brake out on my arms like crazy after holding them at work. My suggestion is to have her go into a pet store that close and ask to handle a rat or two and see what happens :)

  3. Abwettar Says:
    September 11th, 2004 at 3:30 am

    All animals can cause allergies, it obviously depends on if you have allergies or not, my pet rat is sat on my shoulder as I type this and I do not get allergies of her. Rats are acctually exceptionally clean animals and so they probably wouldn’t, although you might want to check first, just go near a rat and see what happens, then gradually move on to touching, stroking and maybe even holding the rat and see if anything happens. If not then you should be fine. Your local pet shop woukd probably allow you to handle its animals if you told them why you wanted to. Good luck! =D

  4. 4X4BABE Says:
    September 11th, 2004 at 9:49 pm

    No. I used to have a LOT of pet rats, and my dad was severly alergic to cats. Unlike your typical pet rat though, I let mine actually roam around the house. They were very smart and came to me when I called them and didn’t get into any mischief. My dad absolutely adored them and they never caused any allergic reaction. Since they are so small and have fine short hair, they aren’t going to shed like a cat or dog would, therefore not irritate your sinuses.

    Good Luck!

  5. schumigirl1956(A FAN OF MICHAEL) Says:
    September 14th, 2004 at 7:33 am

    I havent heard but just see how you friend re-acts then you will know.

  6. Jayne L Says:
    September 16th, 2004 at 7:45 am

    just wait and find out cuz some people may be allergic some maybe wont be GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!! LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  7. muddy_rats Says:
    September 19th, 2004 at 2:05 am

    If your friend doesn’t handle the rats, or let them climb around on her, and you keep the rats’ cage clean, it should be fine. I also have bad allergies and asthma as well. The rats get to me if their cages get smelly, or if they run around on me, which they always do. I live on allergy pills anyhow, and I’m not one to give up pets over allergies, or the guinea pig would be the first one to go.

  8. robins_rodents Says:
    September 19th, 2004 at 3:09 am

    People who have pet allergies will often develop allergies to another animal fairly quickly, if they don’t already start out allergic to it. I have a friend who is allergic to cats and she bred rats for many years before she began to be allergic to them. She kept them in a specially designed building away from her house, but eventually her allergies became so bad she had to stop breeding.

    It really depends on the person. Usually if a person is allergic to rats they will only get bad if they are in the same room as the rat, or the rat crawls on them. You’ll just have to see, I suppose.

    For more information about rat care please visit my website at or feel free to email or IM me by clicking the link in my user profile. Good luck!