I have one rat. Should I get another?
Yes. You should certainly consider getting a second rat. Rats are very
social animals and are happiest when they have friends. Two or three rats
in a cage is perfect.
My new rat potties on me!
When you get a new young rat, they will tend to potty in your hand at
first. This is a combination of not having very good body control and
being in a new environment. This is normal and goes away after a week
or two. They will learn to control themselves but you will have to watch
for signs that they are getting antsy and want to go back to their cage
to potty. They are very smart and will potty train themselves very quickly.
My rat has fleas! What can I do?
You can wash the rats in the sink or bathtub in a gentle puppy or kitten formula flea shampoo. Scrub the cage in hot water, change the bedding, and make sure to put flea powder on the carpet around the cage. Do not put flea powder in the cage and do not leave flea collars lying around where the rats could chew on them. Do not use any of the topical flea drops (like Advantage) that you would use on a cat or dog. a few drops of garlic solution in their water supply will also help discourage fleas. Also flea bathe all other animals in the house.
What's better, cages or aquariums?
Wire cages are great. They have better air circulation, less buildup of
ammonia, and are easier to clean. Your rats will like them better since
they can interact with the "outside world" easier and can climb and play
on the bars.
How big of a cage do I need?
Go to your pet store and look at the rabbit cages, because this is an
ideal size. Hamster cages are much too small for rats. Something the size
of a ten gallon aquarium or equivalent cage is good for two or three rats.
The smaller two-story wire ferret cages are your best bet . A large bird
cage can also make a nice rat cage.
My cage has a wire bottom. Is that bad?
YES! Wire bottoms might make cleanup a little easier, but they are dangerous.
Rats will develop a condition from always walking on wire bottoms where
their feet will swell up and the infection may reach their bloodstream
and cause a very painful death. If you can remove the bottom wire, please
do so. If you can not, cover it with wood or heavy cardboard. If there
are multiple layers to the cage, you don't have to cover the wire levels
as long as the rats have a solid bottom on the main floor.
What's the best kind of bedding?
The best bedding is CareFresh, which is recycled newspaper pellets. Newspaper
makes a great lining and torn up newspaper strips are fun for them to
rearrange, burrow in, and drag into their favorite sleeping space. DO
NOT USE WOOD CHIPS of any kind. These chips have harmful dusts and oils
that can KILL your pets.
What should I NOT feed my rat?
Citrus fruit (pineapple, papaya, oranges) are POISONOUS to rats. Chocolate
and Soda drinks are also harmful, and the effects can range from indigestion
to death. Please watch out!
How do I make sure they have plenty of water?
Always keep a full bottle of fresh water in the cage. Hamster bottles
work fine. Make sure to touch the tip with your finger to be certain that
the water is flowing freely.
My rat has strange growths on its body. What do I do?
TAKE HIM/HER TO A VET! Rats can develop tumors that when removed early
enough, your rat should lead a long healthy life.
My rat is having trouble breathing. What do I do?
TAKE HIM/HER TO A VET! If your rat sneezes excessively or wheezes
I'm looking for a new pet, how do I find a healthy one?
Outgoing, playful rats are usually the healthiest. Stay away from obvious
problems such as excessive sneezing or limping, and animals that look
lethargic. Often rats that are shy in the pet store will come out of their
shell with handling and love, but rats that just lay in one spot when
you come to their cage may not be healthy.
How long do rats live?
Three years is a pretty average life span. They can give you a lot of
love and joy in those three years!
Do you have any suggestions regarding Breeding?
Yes. Don't do it. Just as a responsible dog or cat owner will spay or
neuter their pets, you should not try to breed yours. There are plenty
of homeless rats that could use your help without you contributing to
the problem. Also, keep in mind that caring for pregnant rats and rat
babies is HARD work. You are risking the health and life of your mommy
rat. Also, rat personalities change DRAMATICALLY while pregnant and while
around their kittens. Often they will never become their "sweet selves"
again.
I think my new rat might be pregnant. How can I tell for sure?
Rats have a pretty short gestation period. If your rat gains an excessive
amount of weight over a week or two, she is probably pregnant. Make sure
she has plenty of bedding, water, and food. Play with her, but don't get
offended if she starts to be standoff-ish, this is normal. From the time
she looks close to delivery until the babies are about four weeks old,
make sure they have a cage to themselves. Unlike hamsters, rats make very
good mothers and will take good care of the kittens. If needed, other
females will rarely ever harm a baby and will most often help raise them.
My
rat is pregnant. What can I expect?
Rats can get pregnant when they are only five weeks old. Gestation is
about 24 days. Rats can give birth to between 6 and 18 babies in one litter,
and can get pregnant within a few hours of giving birth. A rat can have
a dozen babies . Rats generally should be left alone to deliver and clean
their rats, but you should call a vet if she is in labor for more than
two hours. If any babies are delivered dead it is normal for the mother
to eat it. If she does not, you should remove the stillborn when she begins
nursing the rest of the litter.
How old should rats be before leaving their mother?
Rats, like most animals, should stay with their mother for the first six
weeks. At that time they should be eating solid food and will be fine
on their own. It's wonderful if you can raise siblings together!
What kinds of toys do your rats like?
boxes of all sizes and shapes. They chew on them, climb on them, tunnel
through them, and sleep in them. They also like small lunch-bag size paper
bags.They also like their Large Critter Ball that allows them to explore
the house without being able to chew on wires or escape.
I have all sorts of hamster cages and toys. Can my rats use these?
Full grown rats are too large (and too smart!) to enjoy hamster toys and
cages. They will not run on even extra-large wheels and may chew on the
plastic toys and swallow tiny plastic pieces. Hamster toys are fine for
mice, hamsters, and gerbils but aren't suited for rats.
How can I tell if my rat is stressed?
Rats display symptoms of stress in ways similar to other mammals. They become increasingly susceptibility to disease, for one thing. They can become irritable and more aggressive, or they can become depressed and less active.
How important is companionship to my rats?
Rats enjoy being in pairs, and you will notice a pair of rats spending a considerable amount of time playing together. Naturally, mixing genders in a cage may lead to babies, so be sure to buy a pair of same-sex rodents if you want to avoid this issue.
Why are my rats acting in an aggressive manner?
Rats are aggressive for different reasons, in part depending on the circumstances, and in part, depending on the kind of rat. Some rats are solitary by nature, and will attack others in their cage. They may also act aggressively towards other rats to establish and maintain dominance. Rats will also bite their owners when they are handled improperly or awakened from a deep sleep.
How do I introduce a new mouse or rat friend to my older rat?
When making introductions, introduce the female to the male, not vice versa, otherwise, the female may attack him. Try to set things up in advance in favor of the introduction. Use a neutral or freshly cleaned and disinfected cage, with plenty of fresh bedding, and some treats or seeds hidden in different corners. Put both in at the same time and let them look for seeds. If they fight, remove the aggressor and leave the other one in the cage; try again a day later.
How do I win my rat's trust?
Winning your rat's trust is best done through patience, gentleness, and positive reinforcement. Be very careful not to frighten it when interacting with it; fright can cause it to bite. Also, start all handling with the sound of your voice, pitched gently, to warn it that you are coming, but mean no harm. Rather than picking it up suddenly and plucking it out of its cage, use a treat to coax it onto your hand.
What behavior can I expect of a pregnant rat?
Some of the first, and most obvious, signs of pregnancy are behavioral. Pregnant rats become noticeably more aggressive towards any others in their cage, trying to keep them away from the nesting area. The other inhabitants can stay in the cage with the pregnant one, but they need plenty of hiding places to avoid the aggressive mother-to-be.
