Rats and rat care?

Question

Hi,
I'm planning on getting a rat soon, and it would be helpful if you knew any key information which I should know before I purchase one then please let me know.
Also If you know of any good sites to do with rats then state that in your answer please.
Thanx in advance,
Rachel.

I have been to the pet store "Pets At Home" I went yesterday, but I'm only 12, my dad said I need to wait a while before I rush into getting a rat. I'm going back soon to get one and cage etc...
Thanks for all answers they have been very helpful, I've made loads of notes so I know what I'm looking for, and I'll make sure I get a pair as I've been told to do this by practicaly everyone. I feel a bit mean leaving one on it's own.
Thanx again,
Rachel

Answer 1

With female rats... A good move while they are young is to handle them a lot, get them very used to it, and happy with it. I had females, and they had not been socialised with humans or other rats, at any attempt to touch or handle them they would bite... and I guess you've may have noticed those lovely chisel sharp teeth already ? Yeppers... BIG ouchies. Oddly though, not as nasty as the bite inflicted upon me by a chipmunk just after I saved it's life with heart massage and expensive whisky... But that’s another story.
You will need to have a decent aquarium or cage ( I prefer aquariums), and once the it'll make an ideal home. Rat's tend to grow to fill the available space and food supply, aquarium rats in my experience have reached 9 inches body length maximum, those two were Hooded rats, the first pair I had back in 1987.
A few easy pointers with rats... If they loose hair in patches, it's likely to be a lack of minerals in thier diet.
You may notice a reddish brown discharge from the nose from time to time, this is not blood, it's a pigmented mucus type stuff, and usually a sign of ill health... Vet time.
There is a common misconception that rats in pairs do not get fleas as they will groom each-other.... that’s not true, watch for fleas, as they will bring on a rapid deterioration in health and happiness.
Ok.... Now the not so nice bit.
So far... what has killed my rats ? 4 from Old age, four out of 12 had forms of cancer (common in ex lab rats like mine), 2 I had put to sleep when they got old to the point that their quality of life was severely impaired, and two have died after fighting in the cage, and having injuries go septic.... Now listen... THIS IS IMPORTANT !!! Be VERY carefull if you need to give the rats antibiotics, go for a short treatment and make sure you have a vet who FULLY understands rats metabolisms.... Basically, a mis-perscribed dosage of antibiotics killed two of my rats at two years old, please don’t let this happen to yours i was utterly devastated and heartbroken, as I had been administering the antibiotics that killed them, and I felt like a right swine for months afterwards !
The females I had both has mastitis (inflammation of the breast), one young, one old, they both had successful mastectomy operations... Keep an eye open for enlargements around the nipples, the lumps come up fast, are soft, yet solid and are about the size of a Pea under she skin.
Toes.... Be careful with the flooring of the cage or aquarium, I had one loose a toe on a hole that urine rotted through in a corner of the sleeping box.... Did I mention that ? Rats MUST have a sleeping box, an upturned she box is best, if they choose to sleep uncovered that’s fine, but if they are forced to, they will get stressed.
Some schools of thought say Rats have colour vision... I don’t know for sure, but I always stimulated my rats with bright coloured toys and other items. My rats had a six Ft long aquarium, 18 inches wide and 24 inches deep, they had logs, boxes, the outer case of an old Nintendo SNES and handset, bit's of furniture, ladders, old tea cloths, sticks, an exercise wheel that ALWAYS turned on it's side and slept in...As items suitable came to light I'd strip off any toxic parts and bung them in for the rats to play with... Stimulation = a happy rat.
Diet.... Anything really, no cheese (it makes them stink and they really cant digest it very well). A vegan or vege diet is 100% cool (I would almost recommend it), as is meat... raw and fresh steak was always well received as a treat, they are after all, scavenging omnivores by nature.. If you have any doubt about the germ content of a food item, DONT feed it to them... Simple innit ?
Best way to carry a rat, hand under it's tummy, legs dangling is ok, let it sit on your crossed arms, or shoulder, they DO jump off sometimes and can make a good distance too, basically, you pick it up, it will move about into a comfy position.
Rats.... People are scared by them ('cos people is so often idiots). There are stories that when cornered a rat will jump for your throat... This is of course BS. The rat has poor long distance eyesight, and is almost undoubtedly attempting to jump past the (kneeling I presume) person's thinnest point I.e. their neck and head. escaped rat's usually venture no further than 12 inches from a wall or wall like surface, they use the wall's as guides and pathways, hence in sewers, the rat paths are at the edges.
Don’t let their poor distance eyesight fool you, up close that are very good ! One of mine used to catch flies and moths that got into the aquarium while sitting on a trapeze... now I KNOW that sounds like a lie, but I promise you on my life it's true !!
Rats... spread disease... Yep, but so do all living animals. Next ?
Rats have nasty tails that get knotted up. Myth. Rat catchers tied dead rats by the tails for ease of counting (they were paid by the rat... BASTARDS !!!). Rats have semi prehensile tails and use them for balance and grip. Two female rats in together will eat each other ? Nope, another myth.
Male rats have HUGE testicles... Yep. Nuff said really.
Amazingly odd fact... In a study, I cant remember when / where but it was genuine... When faced with a population explosion and sudden lack of food, rats may become homosexual !!! They pair off in twos (male male or Female female) and do not produce offspring, but still groom each other like a mating couple.
Next odd fact, Rats teeth can, and have been know to knaw through... Steel, Zink, wood, lead, plastic, wire, concrete, brick, tile, slate and plate glass. Do not underestimate the escapologist nature of rats. the harder materials take many rats, and a LONG time, but they're tenacious little buggers, and they keep at it.
If you get the little card boxes that 35mm camera film comes in and fill it with sunflower seeds, that keeps rats amused for a few moments.
Rats can not do the rubic cube (Don’t ask).
Rats like bones to chew.... but not chicken, same as cats and dogs there, it splinters.
Rats will drink from a bowl, but a drinking bottle is better.
No direct sunlight without COOL shade available.
Taking a rat out in public.... make sure your friends know you have your rat. Make sure you have food. Pockets are not rat friendly. I knew a girl with an old fashioned leather and wood box handbag that had a wire mesh window in one side, it was excellent for taking her rat out.
Rat's are not happy with loud music.... NEVER let a rat hear Kraftwerk on CD, tape, mp3 or Vinyl. It wont hurt the rat, they'll just think your crazy to be listening to Kraftwerk. (and you would be... too)

Answer 2

Well...
I'm amazed at some of the answers you have already recieved.
Female rats eat each other indeed what planet is that person from?
And get a Male and a Female. Only if you want a hundred rats by this time next year.
Really people how long have you been keeping rats?

It's best if you get two males they are the most friendly.
Handle them often.
Clean their cage regular.
DON'T get white ones they are very prone to tumers in old age (and I mean BIG tumers)
Get a very dark colour pair
They make great pets and are very effecionate and bite far less often than hampster etc.
If one does bite you don't snatch your hand away just hold still and when it realises it has your finger it will let go very quickly.
Never and I mean NEVER feed it through the bars this encourages snatching and possible accidental bites when someone puts their finger to the cage to fuss them.
I kept rats for years and only got bitten twice and both times it was my fault for being stupid.

Answer 3

I have 13 rats and they are one of the most loveliest pets you can have! Very affectionate. They live up to 5 years. Males and females are equally friendly.

The females keep a very smooth coat all their lives whilst the males coat grow more coarse when adult.

Feed them a good rat food mix but I always add human food too! They love cereal, cheese, salad...just about anything we eat. Though no biscuits etc or they get too fat.

You will need to buy the largest cage you can afford and accommodate and put a little box in it so it can hide away and sleep.

Use wood shavings rather than sawdust as sawdust is too fine and gets into their eyes..

Put hay in their box. Clean the whole cage out weekly and scoop any mess out daily.

They love things to chew, so paper, cardboard etc. very good.

Rats don't run in wheels...so you don't need a wheel.

You should take your rat out daily to play with him.


Rats make loyal pets and when he sees you coming he'll come up to you.

Choose a rat that has clear eyes and nose and is bright and alert.

The best time to play with your rat is in the evening or mornings, they tend to sleep a lot in the day! Which is great is you're gonna be out all day.

Enjoy!

Best wishes

Answer 4

Get 2 rats as they don't like living alone. Rats don't smell as long as they are cleaned out oftern. Two rats male or female will be fine together especially if they are young when they are put together although I have 2 female rats, I resued one from a home where she wasn't looked after properly and decided to get her a friend as she seemed lonley, she is 18 months old and my new rat is only 12 weeks old but they took to each other straight away and love each other. They are always together and sleep together in a cozy rat bed.Rats only live til they are two and a half to 3 years old but they make fantastic pets.

Answer 5

Check out information on Rats: http://www.ratbehavior.org/rats.html

It tells you about Behaviour and Biology... such as
Journey into a rat's world.
Rat play
How do rats choose what to eat?
Why do rats pee everywhere?
How old is a rat in human years?

Petshop (Caring for a Rat): http://www.petsparade.co.uk/articles/?a=41

You can buy a book on 'The Guide to Owning a Rat' by Susan Fox at Amazon.

Hope all this helps.
Good luck with your pet Rat.

Answer 6

Make sure you do not buy a rat that bites. Handle the rat before buying.

Once you have a rat handle it regularly to keep it tame.

Keep it clean, they do smell if you don't.

Always put something for it to chew on in the cage.

Rats do not normally eat each other; if this was true, rats would not be a public health problem. There would be no rats!

Answer 7

Hi Rachel
I think if you choose a rat as a pet, then you should get two females. They prefer company, and the males are more likely to fight with each other. You should also try and make sure they are young, as the older ones will be more difficult to tame.
They are very intelligent animals and need lots of attention, handling and stimulation. They are prone to respiratory disease, and this can be brought on by bad hygiene, stress and beveavement. I've had pet rats for most of my life, and I've found that if one dies, I need to get another youngster as soon as possible to prevent the bereaved rat from becoming depressed. They will usually be very accepting and often grateful for a new companion.
They can be kept in larger groups than two, but you would need a large cage and a lot of time to give to them!
I have found from experience that maize in rat food mixes can cause skin disorders, especially in the lighter coloured rats. I tend to feed them a varied diet from my own cupboard anyway, a mixture of cereals, nuts, fresh fruit and veg, and occasionally select pieces of meat. They do need small amounts of meat in their diet, say once a week, and this can be in the form of a few pieces of dried dog food, although mine love roast chicken and fish. Especially from the chip shop!
They will eat most things, so you have to be careful not to over-feed, or feed the wrong things. Although they love sweet things, especially chocolate, these treats should be given in very small amounts and very rarely. Remember, their teeth have to last them for life!
My rat's favourites are baked beans, grapes, peas and pasta. They also love cheese, although this is far too rich for them and should also only be given in small amounts as a treat.
I love my rats, I hope you enjoy yours!

Answer 8

Most of the advice given is correct but as a rat owner I do not use hay or saw dust as hay can get in their eyes and saw dust causes chest problems and no rats do not eat each other and if you do get rats get a pair of male or females never 1 of each unless in separate cages. The best place to shop for a rat is pets at home I get their food, treats,toys and bedding there if you go their to shop here is a list of thing to get:
Cage (quite big) if you can afford it or get cages on eBay and for bedding get Bio catolet litter (this is 4.95p and is dust free and it is not just for cats but small animals), rat muesli, rat nuggets (both food), Water bottle, igloo (house) and choc drops for small animals, hammock to hang on the cage, food bowl and some tubes and other toys. I recommend you buy a paper shredder and collect news papers and shred them in the shredder and use this as bedding because my 6 love it and the shredder is around £10 and it comes in very handy.

When I make the cage up I line the base with some new paper then I put in the bio catolet litter in remember you do not have to use loads but make sure you put pleanty in the corners of the cage because all 6 of mine use the corners of the cage as a toilet; I then put in pleanty of shredded news paper in then their igloo, shelfs, hanging ladder and the hammock goes in then followed by the rats.
You can get small animal shampoo to bath the rats once a fortnight and also get disinfectant for cleaning out the cage and remember they need cleaning out once a week. Please get a pair of male or females because they need company oh and one of my girls had a litter of 15 babies and she was with the boy for about 1 hour and got pregnant first time so take this as a warning about mixing males & females I intended to breed skye the rat so the babies were wanted.

Answer 9

Most of the basica have already been covered here, but Rats do like plenty of toys to play with too. Don't feed your Rat Sunflower seeds as they are harmful to their health. Cheese, cereal and occasional meat treats are also good.

I got my Rats little cat balls to play with, the kind that have a bell in the middle and they love them! Remember they are intelligent pets that love to interact with you so pay them plenty of attention.

I have kept both male and female Rats over the years (2 males, then 2 females together) and I find that neither are particularly more friendly than the other, as long as you put the time into caring for them you will be rewarded with loving pets that enjoy your company. One of my females loves sitting on my shoulder when I'm at the PC too!

Rats do like warm dark places too, so make sure you have a hiding place for them, the inside of a carpet tube works well as they can also chew it up to make bedding and get in plenty of gnawing time too. When they are small a Pringles tube also works rater well, just cut the metal end off and you have an instant Ratty hotel. They will lick off any excess salt with they seem to love and then proceed to chew the tube inside to out, which is funny to watch.

Like previously stated the number one thing to remember is to make sure you NEVER feed through the bars of the cage as this leads to biting, which is not the Rats fault. They can also be trained to do little tricks. Rats have really bad eyesight, so I taught mine to stand on her back legs by holding my fingers just above her head and clicking them a few times, as they are curious critters they will rear up to see what is making the noise.

You could also try "Rat speak", in other words when you want your Rat to come to you make a similar sound to what they make, then your Ratty will be happily sitting at the cage hatch waiting for you or will come back when they are out having a roam.

Answer 10

Buy either 1 male rat or two female rats and clean out their cage every week to keep them happy. Note that rats need lots of attention so make sure you give them it. If possible find a contained area for rats to run around in and have fun again once a week a least.

Answer 11

hi there ......well you are thinking about it and looking for information well ive got some .......well done for looking into it properly ......ok the rat is a very bright and will catch onto things very quickly i had one and he was amazing .....and yes you do need to keep there cage clean .....as with any other caged pet ......but they are a very clean pet ....and you canm have them out all the time mine used to sit on me when i was watching telly at night and have a wander round .....and get the odd treat .....they do not bit unless you hurt them or tease them with food ....they are very friendly pets ........now the down side with these pets ....be very careful where you get youre pet as they are prone to cancer ,so do youre research in youre area for people who breed them and find a good breeder .......that is the down side of them ....but the fun i had with mine was great good luck if you decide to get a rat and i hope you bioth have lots of happy years together .......take care xx