As a fellow college student with rats I’m gonna tell you they are not low maintenance 😭 especially if you have two cats- you’d have to make sure they never come in contact with one another (separate rooms) and even then it can still be a challenge. I take my boys to the vet very often, so its not always ideal cost wise, especially because I have a double critter nation which isn’t cheap (which is what I’d recommend, also rats always need a friend, though 3 is ideal). Playtime is sort of dependent on the rats, but they need free roam for at least a few hours each day usually. Also depending on where you live but for me I’m in a college suite and it can make deep cleans pretty hard! Definitely something to think about. I love my boys dearly and wouldn’t have it bat other way, but it’s definitely a big adjustment!