Help on keeping rats.?

Question

I will be buying 2 rats next week. i have been on the internet looking at how to keep rats but im still unsure on what bedding ect to put in the cage. Somewhere said shredded paper, but wont that cut their feet. Another place said put kitty litter on the bottom of the cage as pine and cedar wood shaving is toxic. It that correct?
Any info on what i should use would be helpful.
Many thanks

Oh and what are the best rat toys to buy?

Answer 1

Care fresh is the best you can get for ratties.
If your cage is large enough, get them a flower pot to play in, the clay type it helps to wear down their claws, they like old towels that they can burrow in. A digging box is a great toy and lets them work out that urge to dig. PVC pipe that they can run through and hide in, paper bags, shredded paper, make them a hammock, I made mine a tire swing with a dog chew toy, they also like to roll cat balls around, vertical and horizontal ropes for them to climb, and of course play with them lots.
Rats are a great pet and you'll discover how smart thay are pretty fast. http://www.dapper.com.au/ has some really great ideas for toys and other things.

Answer 2

I am a rat owner and I use Biocatolet cat litter (in pet at home) and this is also for use in all small animal cages, It is also Eco friendly and also shredded paper can be used and my 7 have no problems also they have never had cuts from their shredded paper and my lot love the shredded paper. Don't use wood based cat litter in the cage or wood shaving as this is bad for the rats chests. As for toys put in a ladder that clips on the top of the cage and this also has ropes for the rats to climb and my lot like sleeping on their ones also they like hammocks to lie on and you can also put ferret toys and parrot ropes in the cage. Good luck with your ratties because they are a joy to have and they are also very loving.
Please remember Rat are very Intelligent and remember to check their sex before taking them home because I know many people who have brought the wrong sex home and ended up with surprise babies.

Answer 3

Hi
I have two rats of my own and i would suggest two or more rats because they are very social. The bedding would be the shavings that you can find anywhere in the pet, grocery, kmart, or any other stores. I would suggest pine because cedar is really strong smelling. You can put torn up newspaper or paper towel to keep them warm. They do love to cuddle with eachother so I'd recommend an igloo where they can sleep together. Keep the rats next to where things will be happening because they love company. Unlike hamsters or guinea pigs, rats don't bite. They love to be held and some like to be carried on the shoulders. I encourage you to follow through with getting the rats because they are the cutest, friendliest little darlings in the entire world.

p.s get the same size rats

Answer 4

Well, I have 3 pet rats and I have pine wood shavings. Hasn't killed them yet and I have had them for over a year. I have never heard of putting kitty litter in the cage. That would be a choking hazard if ingested. Make sure you change and clean the cage as often as possible.
Heads up...get an all wire cage, from top to bottom, as the rats will chew their way through a cage with plastic bottoms. (Make sure that the part you put the bedding on is plastic and not wire, as this will mess their feet up). Glass cages are not good for the rats, as they do not have the ventilation they need and will hold ammonia from the urine that can be toxic to them. Also, if you get two rats and want to keep them in the same cage to keep from having to buy two cages, make sure when you buy them that they come out of the same cage at the pet store. This will keep them from trying to kill each other.
Also, spend as much time as possible with them. They adore affection. And always keep fresh food and water available. Get as much toys as possible because they like to play. (i.e. exercise wheel, tent, etc.). Try to avoid plastic toys, they will chew them and possibly choke on them.
You may also want to keep their nails clipped, they will scratch!
Hopes this helps.

Answer 5

Carefresh is a shredded paper bedding that is good for rats, it is like shredded paper towels, not like shredded office paper (although that would be fun in a big box for them to play in)

Kitty litter is too dusty and will make your rats sick, pine and cedar have toxic oils in them that will actually kill your rats.

We use fleece bedding, just sheets of fleece from the clearance fabric at walmart, cut to fit the bottom of the cage. Shake off the poo outside and launder every couple of days, good as new. Old tee shirts, jeans legs, anything that can be hung from the top of the cage to sleep in will be very popular.

Check out the rats rule forum at http://www.goosemoose.com for more help, the people there are very knowledgable and willing to help.

Answer 6

These are really great answers! I only have one suggestion. I'll tell you why, first. I adopted two rats (Mama and Baby). Baby developed a tumor and I told a professional about it. He said that a lot of rats that are being sold now were bred to be "feeders" to snakes, and that they were horribly inbred and developed tumors. He was told that to operate, the rat may live awhile longer, but that since other tumors might develop elsewhere. So, my suggestion, which hasn't addressed the litter issue, is to tell you to research where you buy the rats first. I adopted mine at a large, popular pet store, one of which I'm sure you have all heard of. And yes, they are all right on their answers! Be careful what you put on the bottom of their cage. Some of the junk is toxic!

Answer 7

From experience, I've found CareFresh to be the best litter for my ratties. You can use shredded paper, but it does get soiled and smelly alot quicker than bedding. You can find Carefresh at any petstore. I've also found that alot of toys that are made for parrots, like the toys with rope and wood toys on it, make great toys for rats. They also really like tunnels, problem is most seem to be smaller like for hamsters rather than rats. Also if you introduce them to a wheel younge enough, I've found almost all my rats love to run in them.Just make sure you get the solid plastic ones, as any of the kinds with spaces are dangerous, because their tails can get caught.

Answer 8

yes pine and cedar are toxic to all rodents. use an aspen bedding, paper bedding or corn cob. the corn cob has to be changed more often because it goes mouldy if it is left in the cage after getting wet. kitty litter is a bad idea because if they eat it they can become severly dehydrated or it can cause blockages. make sure that you never use a cage with a wire bottom because it can and usually will cause bumblefoot. the same goes for wire wheels. the tail can also get caught in a wire wheel. check out the rat list in yahoo groups. i belong to it and i've been getting great tips as a newer owner.

Answer 9

Yesterday's News is the best litter/bedding for rats because it is not dusty at all so your rats' respiratory systems won't get messed up. Carefresh is good but it can be on the dusty side unless you get the Ultra stuff (but that is pretty expensive). Good luck and rats are awesome pets, I'm sure you will love them!!

Answer 10

I use CareFresh bedding for my rat. He tends to nest in it, and seems to be more comfortable. Do not put regular cat litter, pine, or cedar shavings in the cage. It is bad for them. I recommend products that are low dust, low odor (such as CareFresh and similar products). I also give Spot lots of chew toys. He has a ball, and a jungle gym type thing for outside of his cage.