My son has two rats and two cats and one dog. No problems at all. The cats don't get to close to the cage out of fear of getting nipped. As for leaving them alone I'd say no more than 48 hours max. As someone pointed out the cage would get dirty and make the rats miserable.

I don't have any advice. I just think it's cute that you're getting rats.

I once knew a girl rat named Templeton. She would play tag with your hand. That is all.

You could always come hang out in my attic. Also, I have it on good authority that rats are wonderful cooks.

And please, do not forget to make them laugh regularly.

I've never owned rats but fwiw, my two cats never ever gave up hope they would somehow, someway, kill one or more of my hamsters. Those poor bumbling rodents fell asleep and awoke to the sight of four shining suns glaring into their enclosure.

Rats are supposed to be much smarter than hamsters, maybe they know how to tell the cats to buzz off.

I love our rats.

My father used to raise pigeons and cats would occasionally stick a paw through a knothole and take out a bird.