Information on rats?

Question

Can you please tell me everything you know about pet rats including the differences between males and females, care, common health problems, what they eat, how they act, where to get one, and anything else? Thanks.

I know I could just Google it but I wanted info from you guys. And it's more fun to get answers this way.

Answer 1

Rats are clean, intelligent, affectionate animals which bond to their human companions in much the same way that dogs do, and with the right care should provide a comparable level of companionship. They are the same species as the wild brown rat, Rattus norvegicus, but have been selectively bred for looks and temperament for at least the last century and are now quite different in temperament from their ancestors. They are far less aggressive towards humans and rival rats, and display a number of behavioural differences from wild rats, which have been noted by researchers.

Rats become very attached to their owners, make playful, sensitive pets, and can be taught to come by name and learn a variety of tricks. Unlike many other rodents, however, rats are a fairly high maintenance pet. They need at least an hour's playtime outside their cage every day. Because they are much more intelligent than many other small animals, rats can suffer greatly if not given enough attention, free-range time, and environmental stimulation. While rats are extremely rewarding pets and will repay any attention and affection you give them a thousand fold, they may not be suitable for everyone; if you cannot guarantee to give your rats at least an hour of quality time every day, then perhaps a lower maintenance pet would be more suitable.

It is best to buy your rats direct from a responsible breeder, for many reasons. A breeder who has only a few litters of baby rats (called 'kittens') at a time should have handled them from an early age, so that they are well socialized. The rats will have been spared the traumatic upheaval of moving to a busy shop at a young age, and so will have suffered less stress. They have had fewer opportunities to catch diseases from other animals. You will be able to meet the parents and relatives of the baby rats, and to check that they are healthy and friendly. A good breeder will be able to give advice after you have taken the rats home, and will usually take her rats back if you have any problems with them.

Buying rats from a pet shop is more of a gamble than buying direct from a breeder. Some pet shops have knowledgeable staff, who handle their rats daily and treat them well. Others may see small livestock as just another commodity to be piled high and sold cheap. Advice from pet shop staff can be unreliable; no qualifications, or even experience, are needed to sell pets or to advise people on their care. Incidentally, the size of a store is no guide to the quality of its advice; some of the large chain 'pet superstores' are notorious for their poor animal care. If you buy rats from a pet shop, look around before choosing a store. Find out where they get their rats from. The best options are stores which take in small numbers of rats at a time from local breeders, or which breed small numbers of their own rats, and give them lots of attention. However, many pet shops purchase their small livestock from pet wholesalers, and this is the worst possible start for an animal. These rats are bred in huge numbers, then transferred to the wholesaler, who sells them on to pet shops. They can suffer great stress, and have lots of opportunities to pick up diseases. In order for the rats to reach the pet shops while they are still small and 'cute', they are often taken from their mothers far too young.

Before you buy from either a breeder or a pet shop, consider whether they meet up to the following standards. Good rat breeders and good pet shops put a lot of time and effort into breeding and socialising pet rats; they will only breed from good quality, healthy, friendly animals and will allow the mother to rest between litters. The babies will have been regularly handled from a young age - before their eyes have opened - and should be confident in human company by the time they are ready to leave home, not hiding away or urinating in fear when they are picked up. They will usually be over six weeks old, and certainly no younger than five weeks; the breeder or pet shop should be able to tell you their date of birth. They will have no problem telling the sexes apart - rats can be easily sexed from a few days' old, with a little practise. They will have kept male and female rats separate from the age of five weeks, because females can become pregnant even at this age. Good breeders and good pet shops will certainly care about the welfare of their animals, and will want to make sure that you have suitable housing and know how to keep rats, before they will let you buy any from them. If they were not concerned that you would look after the rats properly, it might indicate that they did not care about the animals themselves.


Goodluck!

Answer 2

Rats, Don't get just one or they can die of lonliness if you arent constanly with them! Food: They love to have dried rat food and a snack everynow and again! You can now and again give them some cheese, cucumber, a fried egg, meat thats cooked and many vegetables but not I reapeat NOT cabbage, or lettuce it is poisonous Housing: You must get a big cage for them and have a little house or hideaway so that they can getaway when they are nervous or for when they want to sleep for a long long time. They are veryy Lazy Breeding: Don't breed if you are not prepared and if you cant find homes for the babies they have about 8-15 on their first litter, and it takes about 2 secs to breed so do not mix them up!! If they do get prego then the getation period is about 21-24 days. EmaI ME FOR MORE INFO ON THIS Cleaning: Clean them out at least 1 a week with special disinfectant and a cloth, there is no need for newspaper on the bottom on the cage. Grooming: Rats do not need much grooming at all since they groom themselves, Try to not bath the rats as they can get infections if there heads go underwater so do not bath them Surrondings: They do not like loud noises or hissing noises. They hate the hoover and you shouldnot spray air freshener around the cage as it can cause illnesses! Old Age: Rats won't become more playful when they get older and they live for about 2-2 and a half years. They do not like to get newer companions when they are older so keep them alone from anynew rats when they are older Females+Males: Females are more livily and males are more relaxed, females are freindly but more friendly than the males, I preferre females because they smell less! Email me if You need any more help!!

Answer 3

Rats can be awesome companions-- they're smart, friendly & playful. A well-socialized rat is very unlikely to bite, although some rats (especially babies) might nip you in play, like a kitten or puppy will. Males are usually larger than females & tend to be calmer & more "cuddly." Females are often more active & curious than males. This is only a generality, everyone has a distinct personality-- our hooded girl is as cuddly as our boys are but our hairless girl is a little maniac-- always wanting to chase the cats & frustrated that we don't let her ;-)
Respiritory problems are common in rats, unfortunately. You might want to do some research on mycoplasma. If caught in time, a vet visit for antibiotics can save their lives. Also, pine & cedar shavings are really unhealthy for them, but you can use aspen, Carefresh or another good litter.
Aquariums are too stuffy & pretty boring to live in-- give them a roomy, well-ventilated cage with various levels for climbing & playing. A lot of rats aren't interested in exercise wheels but some are so you might want to try a Silent Spinner. They usually enjoy hammocks & cardboard boxes to nap in. They also enjoy gnawing things, so offer them chew toys, nuts with the shell on them, hard dog biscuits etc.
The best way to adopt rats is through a rescue or a good breeder, if you live near one. Otherwise, pet shops are ok. We got our boys from a rescue about 18 months ago, they're the sweetest guys imaginable. Our hairless is from a breeder & she's not only gorgeous & personable but amazingly healthy. Our hooded girl is from a pet shop & she's always been a little sweetheart. We just lost another petshop girl, she was over 2.5 years & we got her when she was a baby, but we were never able to socialize her & she was the only consistant biter I've ever known. It's pretty unusual for this to happen, but it's best if you ask to handle anyone you're thinking about adopting so you''ll know how social they are. The majority of rats are very loving & affectionate.

Answer 4

that's so cool! I had a pet rat once, i named her Jerry, she died when i was 12 i had her for almost 2 years-that's about how long they live, well there easy to take care of, i gave mine allot of different food. they love peanut butter.
normal rat/mouse food is better for them.
mine was very friendly, you could pick her up and everything, some will bite though. i got mine at Pet-smart.
if you take it out, be sure he/she doesn't get away, that happened to me twice and its very hard to capture them+ she chewed the wire for my controller to my N64.
they can be destructive at times, also don't mix rats with other rodents-including rabbits or guinea pigs, mine didnt get along to great with my pet guinea pig.

Answer 5

ok im not gonna copy and paste like some of them ill just give you a site that talks about rats with lots of pictures.....
Theres also more rat things on the side.

http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Animal,%20Rat%20I.htm

Answer 6

I have a rat named Toby...

Answer 7

Is a rat right for you?
Rats make extremely good family pets; they are very intelligent and become quite tame with regular handling. There are many different colour variations available such as white, black, agouti and chocolate. Rats are not very expensive to keep, but you should buy the largest and most interesting cage you can afford. Rats live, on average, between two and two and a half years.

Where are rats from?
Fancy rats are descendants of the brown rat, which are thought to have originated from Asia. The keeping and breeding of fancy rats became popular in the early 1900s. As a result of captive breeding there are now many different colours and coat types, such as the Rex and even Hairless!


Where should you keep a rat?
Rats need lots of exercise and stimulation, so buy the largest cage you can afford. There are many different types of rodent cages available, however it is essential that the cage you buy is designed for rats and not for smaller rodents such as hamsters. Perhaps the most suitable type of enclosure is either a large wire multi-level cage or an aquarium with a well ventilated, secure lid as rats are extremely agile and can jump up to two feet or more! The minimum size cage for one rat is 60cm x 37cm x 22cm.

You should provide your rate with an entertaining environment. Suitable items include apple tree branches, rocks, tunnels and pieces of rope. Nesting boxes suitable for birds can also be provided. The base of the cage should be covered with a layer of wood-shavings. Sawdust should not be used as it is too fine and can irritate eyes and noses, and cedar wood-shavings can cause an allergic reaction.

You can also provide your rat with paper nesting material for him to nest with. Straw is not suitable as bedding as it is too sharp and may injure your pet’s eyes and mouth.

The cage should be cleaned at least once a week with hot water and a disinfectant suitable for pets. Rats are very clean and normally do not smell. Your rat will normally use one area of his cage as a toilet; this may need cleaning daily to reduce any smell.

Breeding
Female rats are capable of breeding at an early age. She can breed from as young as 6 weeks, but should be at least 12 weeks;
Pregnancy lasts between 21-23 days;
Average litter size is 8, but can vary up to 18;
The young rats’ eyes will open between 12-15 days;
The young can be removed from their mother at 4 weeks of age.

How to handle your rat
When you first get your rat home it is best to leave him alone for the first day or two, to allow him to get used to his new home. Allow your rat to sniff your hand before you handle him, this will help him get used to your smell. Gently stroke your rat in his cage to reassure him, once the rat allows you to do this he will normally allow you to pick him up. The rat should be gently scooped up with two hands, never pick him up by his tail. Once your rat becomes tame he will enjoy coming out to play at regular intervals.

Remember your rat likes to chew, so whenever you let him out of his cage he must be supervised at all times.

Keeping your rat fit and healthy
Rats normally stay healthy throughout their lives. However, they can be prone to a number of common complaints, most of which can be avoided with correct care and attention.

Rats can be prone to breathing problems; if your rat starts sneezing and is scratching excessively and there are no signs of mites this may mean your rat is allergic to something. Cedar wood-shavings can sometimes cause allergic reactions in rats.

Your rat’s teeth are constantly growing, and if they become too long he may be unable to ear properly. Signs that your rat’s teeth may not be growing properly are weight loss and a reluctance to eat and chew. Providing your rat with treats and a mineral block will help him to keep his teeth in trim. If your pet’s teeth do become overgrown you must take him to your vet.

What do rats eat?
Rats in the wild are scavengers and will eat a wide range of foods. In captivity you should provide your rat with a varied diet. The basis of a good diet should consist of a dry rat mix containing a mixture of seeds, peanuts and biscuits. This should be supplemented with cooked egg and washed and dried vegetables such as sprouts, carrots, cress, tomatoes and apples.

Feed bowls should be sturdy earthenware bowls as they are heavy, gnaw proof and easily cleaned and disinfected. Uneaten food should be removed daily, and the food bowl thoroughly washed. Remember your rat will drink a lot compared to other rodents so make sure clean, fresh water is available at all times.

Do rats like company?
Rats can be kept singly providing that you give them lots of human contact, care and attention. However, they are probably happiest kept in pairs from a young age – but

Answer 8

no offense, but why cant you do your own research?
here i did a search just for you.
http://www.quite.co.uk/rats/

Answer 9

You can google all that just as fast as we can..............