How do I convince my parents to get me a pet rat?

Niko, rats are much cleaner in their habits and smell very much less than ferrets. I love ferrets, but they are messy and they do smell (mustelids are known for having a strong musky scent - don't forget, ferrets are related to skunks) . I still miss having them despite this.

Rats on the other hand are immaculately clean, easily litter trained, and have a very low level of scent. If they smell unpleasant, then that points to either illness, poor diet or insufficient care (eg, too small or poorly ventilated cage, not cleaning enough) if you want to convince your parents on this, then keep up the research, and learn as much as you can. Find out about the best cages, best litters, find a good local vet that treats rats, and see if you can track down a reputable breeder.

Rats from a good breeder will be healthier and more used to handling than pet shop rats. When you have some idea of the finer points of their care, broach the subject with them again, offer to save up a good chunk of the initial start up costs, or suggest that they can be a birthday or christmas present. This shows some good level of commitment, as it means you'd rather have them than some material thing.

It's one thing to ask just becase you want them, it's another when you wouldn't be getting something else that you like if you get them. Good research will always help a lot. Don't nag or whine.

If they have concerns do your best to address them. If you don't know the answer, say you will find out and then do it, rather than just making something up. And best of luck.

Rats can smell too if not cleaned out regularly! But to be frank - your parents would be the ones to foot the bill if anything happens - have kept fancy rats for years and if you don't have the time to handle or play with them (yep you need a same sex pair) of at least 1 hour plus per day don't have any. You need to show your parents that you are a responsible person - offer to help at a shelter or care for the schools pet - find out and learn as you go along then they may see that you are responsible after all - get a weekend job to earn money to keep them.

My daughter really wanted a duck . She wrote out 10 reasons why she should have one! We ended up with 2 ducks!

She had a dog as well, chickens etc! Do some odd jobs so you can pay for it if possible. Why don't you do a hub about rabbits?

You above all have to prove that they are low maintenance and won't stink if you keep up with the cage cleaning. Convincing my mom to let me get my lizard was basically based on that. Good luck.

Well what you should do is make a presentation for you mom. It always worked for me. Make like a power point or something.

First address a guinea pigs needs and how you will meet them. (ie: Food, water, attention groom etc...) Then address your mom's worries (smell, death and any other worries) and assure her it won't happen. The only way to assure her of this, is to mean it.

Do as much research as possible of her worries, and give her facts and knowledge of how things will be different this time. Then on paper, calculate/divide that 300 dollars into all supplies and shower her how much everything is and how your 300 dollars will be able to pay for everything (and it should, it cost us about 190 for our 2 and start up supplies) And then have a written up agreement on your chores and tasks that it takes to care for a piggie. (Like a calendar, M-F saying that you will do each thing on set day with signature) And calculate the monthly cost of supplies (Hay, bedding, food etc..) assuring her you will pay for it (or not it depends on how cool she is) The monthly costs really aren't that much.

By the time your presentation is over, she will be so impressed she won't say no. (and if she says no, don't argue with her, just ask her why, then go do more research on her reasons then in 2-3 months when she's had time to collect her thoughts, revisit the idea with NEW solutions to her previous worries.) HOPE THIS HELPS! GOOD LUCK!

Oh and BTW: you really don't have to clean their cage EVERY day. We do a quick clean every Sunday and on the 2nd Sunday of every month we do a total clean out (change/clean EVERYTHING in the cage) Guinea pigs for the most part, are very clean and pleasantly smelling rodents. I was afraid to get them, because our previous residents (mice) were so AWFUL smelling, but were surely surprised but the non existent odor.

I understand if you want to keep on top of things with cleanliness and everything but you should make a goal of every other day cause if you try and clean their cage everyday, eventually it will become more nuisance than it is good, and your motivation to do it will start to die off and more than likely stop doing it. AND another BTW lol, get your piglet(es) from a breeder if you can. If not than that's okay, just be sure to check the health before purchasing.

Pet stores like Petco and Petsmart are notorious for selling sick and pregnant animals. Please make sure your piggy is healthy before purchasing him/her or that will surely ruin ANY other chance of every getting a pet again haha. Here is a link to a site I LOVE to use when I have questions.

This link will take you to her HEALTH page. For more info on piggies in general go to the bottom of the page and go to piggy index http://jackiesguineapiggies.com/piggyhea...

Well, I hate to say it but I would be waiting a long time before allowing you another pet. How old are you? Your age may also be a factor... My daughter has been all over me for a hamster, guinea pig or rabbit and I keep saying no...she doesn't do her chores without being asked and doesn't help with the pets we already have (2 cats and a dog) so there is no way I am adding to our household.

She could afford the start up supplies too but is too young to have a job so all of the other expenses would fall on us (parents) to provide. Also, as an FYI - guinea pigs are social and like to live in groups...if you get one, you should consider getting two...

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.