I am just asking out of curiosity. Which of these pets are the most intelligent?

[123chewyp]

My family is planning to get a pocket pet. I am considering a rat because I have heard they are the closest pet to a dog. My other siblings want hamsters,guinea pigs and mice. But we can only have 1 species. So I am just asking out of curiosity which one of these are the most intelligent? By intelligent I dont mean instincts I mean problem solving skills and ability to learn.

[menagerie]

Rats are the most intelligent of all those listed.

[fluffy pluffy]

Rats are the most intelligent of all those listed.

I quite agree. But if you really can't get a rat for any reason,my next vote would be a guinea pig.

[degulover]

Me too, my sister has rats and they are the best. If you are looking for a pet that cuddles though this is not one of them. Yes, they will cuddle for a few seconds, but after that they are off.

[Popcorn]

I would have to say that rats are the smartest and most trainable of the group you mention and yes, guinea pigs would take 2nd place.

Me too, my sister has rats and they are the best. If you are looking for a pet that cuddles though this is not one of them. Yes, they will cuddle for a few seconds, but after that they are off.

I don't agree with this.  Just like the regular pets like cats and dogs, a lot of the "cuddly factor" depends on the amount of love and attention the animal receives.  Age is also a factor - as they get older they are more likely to want to cuddle and spend time with you.  And finally, in the case of rats, boys are much more laid back and cuddly than girls.   

[degulover]

nevermind

[degulover]

never mind #2

[Popcorn]

I'm sure your sister is great to her rats - I also suspect the ones she has are young right now.  I think you will find that they will mellow with age.   Most of the girls I've had were very jumpy, playful and curious for their first year or so and didn't become what I would call cuddly until the last few months of their life.  That why I singled out the boys as the cuddly ones.

You shouldn't be so quick to think bad things about people, especially in this forum where the members tend to be kind hearted.

[degulover]

I am sorry I did not meen to be rude. Please forgive me. I am so so so sorry!

[paulina]

Rats, without a doubt.

[LastEchoes]

As someone how has had all kind of rodents as pets, I can say that rats are definitely the smartest!
Dwarf hamsters are too jumpy/had to tame, syrian hamsters are smart and mellowish(depends on personality, of course) buy WAY too nocturnal, mice are too stinky and don't really like being handled all that much, and guinea pigs although fun, don't seem to really bond with humans much.

But please make a note that rats are SOCIAL creatures, so you can't get 'a rat', you'd have to get at least two of the same sex so she/he wont be unhappy....same goes for guinea pigs and mice(excluding male mice).

[QueenRat2007]

Rats.

[RascalRatties]

I would say rats are most intelligent. But both rats and guinie pigs will be most affectionate. Please go to a shelter/rescue to find your rats, or even a breeder. As a verteran rat owner, I have seen/heard so much about untimley/terrible deaths from rats bought at pet store, simply because they breed as feeders, not as pets.

Rats really need to be bought in pairs, or it's recommended to spend 4 hours a day with a lone rat.

Also, rats tend to live 2-3 years. Guinies usually liver to be around 7? (that a guess, i know they live much longer)

[mowgley_the_rat]

Rats are definitely the cuddliest and most people friendly.  Especially boy rats. I have 4 and they are all lovely cuddles bugs.

After rats I would have to say guinea pigs.  I have had guinea pigs and I see them at work alot and they do bond to their owners and are actually very "talkative" when they are excited.

[degulover]

my sister had 2 ginea pigs. They foght a lot, they were atso dad and son.

[Randomrat]

Guinea pigs especially males will fight in small spaces.

I would say rats and then syrian hamsters. Some syrians are well dumb but you would be amzed at how bright they can be. One of mine learned how to open his habitrail cage when half of my friends and family can't do it. =D

But rats are great companion animals aswell.

[dream_chaser023]

I would say rats all the way (remember if you plan on rats you need to get a least a pair as they are social creatures.  on top of that they need 2 cubic sq feet of space EACH. so you'll need a cage that is a least 4 cubic sq ft to fit a pair.) 

I have females and they are very active.  One of my girls will snuggle but she didn't really do this util she was  1.5 yrs old.  Boys are definitely laid back and lazy and are more likely to snuggle longe.r

I have never owned a guinea pig, but i do know they are good snugglers.  They also should be in pairs and the cage should be 7.5 by 7.5 for each piggy.  You can lean more about cages at cavycages.com.

I think mice are smart to.  However,  because of their size, they can be a bit timid.  Just as with rats, the females are going to be more active and less likely to snuggle, but a boy mouse will be more laid back and more willing to snuggle and accept scritches.  If you get female mice, the smallest cage I would put them in is a 10 gal and you can utilize the whole space like this --> http://www.petbrags.com/photo/album/show?id=1002763%3AAlbum%3A41463 .  However, if you decide on a male, it is best to house them alone as sometimes they become territorial and will fight to the death.  However, if you would like a pair keep an eye on them and if they ever start fighting a lot, you may have to house them separately. 

Good Luck!!!!

[PirateCaptainLoo]

I don't agree with this.  Just like the regular pets like cats and dogs, a lot of the "cuddly factor" depends on the amount of love and attention the animal receives

That's really a little crazy to say. The SWEETEST, CUDDLIEST, NICEST animals I have EVER had the pleasure of knowing have been either neglected or abused.. Just because my girls aren't "cuddly" doesn't mean they don't get a crap ton of attention/playtime, as well as being spoiled more than I ever was! The most loving dog I had was a scrony little guy that another of our dogs had brought home from some far off farm where he was rarely fed and beaten with sticks. I know this because the jerk had the guts to come to my house and say "Well I reckon ya found my ol dumb dog" then a neighbor told us about him.

Anyway, my point is that affection coming from an owner doesn't make the pet what it is, the animal is there, it already has a personality. The animal is already affectionate or not. It seriously varies from animal to animal.

To answer your question: In my experience, guinea pigs are the most intelligent. That is in my experience. I've not had my ratties long, but the three big girls don't seem be the sharpest tool in the shed. They, more than likely, were pet shop rats, though which *could* have something to do with it. Hamsters, IMO aren't very smart, either. The mice we had were extremely smart, nearly as much as the guinea we had. AGAIN, I believe that intelligence varies from animal to animal, not species to species, so, perhaps instead of thinking about what species is more intelligent, think of each animal individually and what will better suit your family.

As far as I understand it, all the animals you have listed are social creatures, so it would be very important to house at least two together.

[dream_chaser023]

Well, in my opinion  I believe the intelligence of an animal can only be seen if you understand the animal. 

Guinea Pig: they are prey animals, so some may always be a little nervous when you try to get them out of their habitat. If you understand this you don't see this behavior as dumb but instinct.  Once a guinea pig gets to know you and is socialized to accept human companionship, you start to pick up on some of their silly quirks.  Guinea pigs will squeal for joy when you come home because they are excited to, see you, get a treat, come out of the cage for play time.  This is one way they express.  Another is when they "popcorn" for joy.  One of my favorite things about guinea pigs (at least the ones I have met) is they like to snuggle.  They'll sit there with you and enjoy pets.  I love it when you pet the part above their nose and they will bob their head *squee* so cute.

Rats: Rats are also preyed on, but they are also predators/ scavangers.  They'll hunt for bugs, mice, and in some cases birds (very rare though).    This instinct to hunt/ scavenge makes these guys more active thinkers then strictly prey animals who worry more about eating and hiding.  This instinct in pet rats is transformed from hunting/scaveging, to exploring new things and enjoying life. Because of this activeness, we humans can relate a bit more to them and it is easier to see them as intelligent.

Mice: mice are very similar to rats, but they do tend to be a bit more on the timid side because of their size.  They to will hunt/scavenge, but they also have a lot more predators after them then a rat.  As pets, they may hesitate at first, but if properly socialized to understand that the human hand isn't their to hurt them, they tend to be less timid and can do almost anything a rat can do (including coming when they are called!)

Hamster:  alas... I don't know much about hamsters.  I have no clue how they are in the wild and their for I can not understand them, therefore I have no opinion on their intelligence.  My only experience with hamsters is the ones at the pet store I work for.  I understand that dwarfs like their territory and can (not always) be a bit nippy.  But take them out of their territory, give them a treat, and they are the cutest lil things   I know that Syrian hamsters tend to a bit more on the gentler side and love set schedules.  I have read of some cases where a hamster will stand on his/her house when they want out of the cage or want a treat.

Chinchillas: again i do not know much.  I know they will tolerate being held, but they prefer to bounce around and have fun. 

Bunnies: They are prey animals so they will act similar to guinea pigs, but not completely the same.  Some will run when you try to take them out of the cage (I would be to if some giant thing was reaching in to grab me) and prefer to come out of their cage on their own terms.  They'll tolerate being held a lot better then a chinchilla, but they do prefer to run around and explore.  However, they will snuggle in your lap, but mostly on their own terms.  (any of this sound familar *cough* cat *cough*  ;3   )  I believe rabbits are a lot braver then guinea pigs, because they actually have legs built for speed! and thus can travel further from their protective homes.

I guess it really comes down to how well you understand the animal.  I also believe that animals can only show their true personalities when given the proper care (cage size, social time, etc.) 

Now if you were a scientist who studied animals, you would probably say rat and mice are smarter because they require more brain activity to survive, while the others do not, therefore making their brain mass compared to their body mass less then that of a rat/mouse.

:3

[dream_chaser023]

oh! and if you decide to go with rats or mice, remember they are extremely social creatures and benefit from a same sex/species companion. 

rats, it doesn't matter whether male or female they should get along with no problem as long as one isn't hormonally unbalanced (one reason that may cause aggression)

with mice, it is easier to house two females together just fine, but males can become territorial and will even kill each other.  I have read somewhere that this is only a big problem in America as somewhere in the breeding process something got skrewed up.  If you want a male it is ok to have one.  If you want a pair your best bet would be a pair of males from the same litter or father and son.  However, if they begin to fight regularly, they will have to split up.

best of luck! :3

[rowan138]

That is a very smart way of looking at intelligence in animals!I had never really thought of it that way!Thanks for helping me learn something today!

[Mousie452]

American mice can get along just fine. I've had 7 live their lives out together and most of the rest of my boys have lived in pairs. Most breeders are strict and nazi-like and refuse to even give their males a try to see if they can get along. I got booted off a forum of old fuddy-duddy mouse breeders because I keep American males together. There's no freakin' difference between the average temperments of American bred mice and others. Its a flip of the coin whether they will get along. Females will fight to the death as well sometimes.