To care for rats are relatively easy. It is by far my easiest daily maintenance schedule when compared to other pets. It becomes tricky when it comes to vet bills. Since rats live very shorts lives, health issues tend to pop up fast during their tiny lifespans. Exotics vets are expensive and it isn't uncommon to spend hundreds of dollars in one visit. We have rescued cats before and owned dogs. In terms of vet care, I have spent more on my rats than I have on any other animal and the others lived a lot longer.