It is very, very dangerous to have your rat sleep in bed with you. Its absolutely not worth the risk. Why is he alone? Have you considered getting him a friend?

 

Why is he alone? Have you considered getting him a friend?

My boy was supposed to be introduced to the girls a week ago. He had to wait 4 weeks after his neuter surgery to make sure we didn't have any baby rats. Last week, both of my girls came down with a URI and the girls are currently on antibiotics. He is back in quarantine, hopefully he won't get a URI too. I hate having to keep him seperate.
Since he is a "lap rat" and not an "explorer" I can keep him out longer than the girls. He ends up sleeping in my neck fleece or hood a lot.

Also, this rat was a rescue and after I got him, boyfriend said "no new rats". It is his house and he feels that three is enough. As soon as the girls are better, I'm starting the intros.

 

I had my rat Jasper sleep with me for around a week when he was deathly ill. We did fine, he really enjoyed the cuddles. Just keep in mind that your rat will likely go potty on your bed so you'll want to have a blanket you dont care about put down for you both to lay on. I'm not sure about your sleeping disorder, if you're not comfortable with it dont do it. I'd think if a rat was being squished to death they would bite and or claw the heck out of you. Would that wake you up or would you sleep through it? I really dont know what to tell you other than realize the dangers and make the decision based on what you're comfortable with.

 

This has always sounded like a cute idea to me...until I think more about the details...if its night time, ratties are usually up & ready to play, the potty issues...I don't think I would be able to get much sleep as I would be worrying about what my ratty is doing! I think if you have a big elderly rattie, maybe it could work? I most definitely couldn't do it! But its up to you ....oh & in my case I would probably wake up looking like I have chicken pox! I am sensitive to their nails, I get big red blotches.

 

I don't move at all when I sleep and I've slept with one of my rats in the bed before; she slept at the base by my feet. My girlfriend sometimes has her elderly girl Bella sleep next to her at night, she usually curls up by her head and will give her kisses when she wakes up in the morning! But it's not really advised because you could crush them.

 

I've had my rats out and about while I'm sleeping before. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and someone will be curled up on the back of my knees if I'm on my front, or theyll be curled up in the crook of my knees if I'm on my side. And Izzie used to sleep with me every night before she passed away. She'd sleep curled up by my stomach, or in her cube by my pillow. Then sometimes I'd wake up and make her breakfast like oatmeal with berries on top and we'd eat in bed together. XD I feel like the likelihood of a rat getting squished while someone is sleeping is a lot lower an people think, seeing as they're small and flexible enough so you'd have to roll over on them pretty exactly to do any damage. Plus from what I've observed, rats don't tend to stay in place while they're napping and I'm moving. They wake up and find somewhere more comfortable. So if they got rolled on, they'd most likely claw you up like Jokerfest said.

 

My mom used to sleep with her rat ALL the time! Actually, the rat would even crawl into the doggy bed with her pug (AH I think I have a picture of them together somewhere I'll upload sometime) during free roam. It's probably fine if he's on a similar schedule to where he's not up wanting to play all night. If you're worried maybe start with shorter naps and see how you both do

 

My boyfriends sister has had rats for years and she had one called mij, she used to escape all the time from her cage in the end she gave up trying to secure her cage and let her free range all the time, mij used to sleep in her bed and was the smartest rat I have ever met, Sophie never had a problem with mij sleeping in her bed, or any of her other girls, I personally think its your own choice if you can trust yourself I know if my boys are sleeping in my bed and Move even slightly they wake up and move over so I personally would trust myself,


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Thanks for the replies. I have debated, but I'm pretty sure I won't be letting him continue to sleep with me. After his intros with the girls, the girls will be so jealous that he is out and they are in. If I have all three out, I won't be getting any sleep. The girls will make sure of that. lol.

As I stated in the OP, I have a sleeping disorder. I have accidentally dozed off with the girls out once before. They woke me up while Kaylee was stealing my earrings out of my ears and Aeryn was trying her hand at rodentistry. This was after they took the big ziplock bag of cheerios off the high shelf and had wedged it into the opening of their cage. Oh the strange random things I found in the cage after cleaning it out later that day.

Brats. I love them, but they can be such brats.

 

I actually have a wooden doll house that stayed next to my bed lots about 6 months ago and my rat Squeakers used to have 'sleep overs' with me. He loved sleeping in the doll house but climbed up onto my bed to sleep on my chest. Because I usually sleep flat. I wouldn't risk having him do this more often because when you'll want him to sleep in the cage he won't want to.

 

i wouldn't sleep through the night with my ratties, my boyfriend rolls around a lot. but i guess it is like sleeping with a baby, you should NEVER sleep with a baby in the bed with you but a lot of mom's still do.

i was playing with my boys on the bed once and I fell asleep I woke up to Bofur sleeping in my armpit [I was on my stomach] and Bifur playing with the scratching post.

 

Why don't you put a pillow or something between the pair of you? Incase you do roll over it won't squish him! I'd personally let my boys sleep next to me but they're used to being downstairs with the cage open. Sharing the bed with ratties would be awesome

 

When I was in my senior year of college, my Peanut would sleep in the top corner of my bed (bed was right next to the wall) on top of some Shakespeare, Dickens etc books. Sometimes he'd grab some hand towels or paper towels as cushion. What a cutie 0

My mattress was on the floor, epitome of college chic derelict haha, and he could come and go as he pleased. I'm a light sleeper and never move.