I'm probably going to get a pet rat in January?

Question

I've never had a rat before, and though I think they are awesome, I don't know a whole lot about them.

What do they eat? Is it hard to prepare their food? How much does it cost?

How much room and exercise do they need? How much time do they need for attention daily?

How do you keep them from smelling really bad?

I really want a rat, and I really want to take care of it properly. I just need to know more about it, because I am in college and I might not be able to keep a rat if it smells bad or is expensive.

Answer 1

What do they eat? Is it hard to prepare their food? How much does it cost?

They can have lab blocks found at your local pet store. These are just blocks that provide them with the nutrition they need aside from fresh fruits and veggies. Make sure the main ingredient in the one you choose is not corn. Corn is just a filler and should never be the main ingredient in their food. Reggie rat is a great option. Make sure to provide plenty of fruit and veggies for your new friends. Check the forbidden food list for a list of foods you should never feed to your rat: http://www.petratscanada.com/forbidden_foods.htm Food can be around $8-15 a month depending on what you get for them and how much they go through.

How much room and exercise do they need? How much time do they need for attention daily?

They are fine in a large cage (the larger the better!) and do very well with a companion as a rat friend will wrestle and play with them so that they get the exercise they need. Rats need things to chew such as wooden bird toys (no plastic parts). You will need to play with your rats more in the beginning to bond with them. Twenty minute intervals a few times a day during this time should be fine. Later the sessions can go longer (and they learn to control their bodily functions) and be fewer. I try to spend at least an hour a day with my own. If you have a single rat (I would never ever recommend this!) then you will need to spend several hours a day with him or her. A single rat is a lonely rat and spends its days waiting for you to play with them.

How do you keep them from smelling really bad?
Bathe your rat every other week or so with safe shampoo. There are small animal shampoos that work well. The bedding is important in keeping down smell. Pine and Cedar are no-nos and should never be used. Aspen is preferred by some owners as it smells like a sweet wood and can mask any smells. Carefresh is good at keeping down smells and ammonia, but some rats sneeze quite a bit due to the dust from this and some owners (such as myself) find the smell of Carefresh itself unpleasant. I use Yesterday's News. It's nice bedding that keeps the smell down well for a week or so. Cages should get a complete clean out once a week. This means the cage wire should be cleaned and any toys should be as well. Wooden housing units can be the cause of some smells as rats will urinate on these and the wood absorbs it. I use pocket hammocks for them to get away in and I use cardboard boxes for shelter and privacy that can easily be thrown out at cleaning time.

If you are going to be in a college dorm, make sure they allow rats or other small animal pets. If they don't, do not take the chance they will find out and you'll have to get rid of them. I have seen people do very well hiding them until someone accidentally leaves something out or tells someone. Some colleges also have fire drills that you are not aware of and they will randomly check a few rooms on each floor before allowing you back in. If you are one of those checked rooms, you'll be written up. Also, a roommate may be allergic so be careful. If you are living alone off campus, they make amazing pets!

Expensive? They can be. Rats are around $3-10 a piece. The cages can cost around $60-140 for a good solid cage for rats. Young rats can squeeze out of the smallest place so when purchasing a rat cage for young rats or females, stay away from ferret cages or guinea pig cages. They are great size wise, but the bar spacing is easy for a young rat to slip through. Also, rats can grow lumps and can show signs of upper respiratory infections. This is a time when they should be brought to the vet. A vet bill can be quite hefty.

I suggest purchasing your rat from a breeder or a shelter near you rather than a pet store. This is because a breeder will bread for temperament and health and a shelter has many rats in need of homes (many of these were from a pet store anyway).

Good luck and email me if you need anything else!
=)

Answer 2

Pet rats are relatively easy to care for. They eat rat pellets and any treats you want to give them. The best rat chow I have found is Forti Diet, which is relatively cheap. Cat treats, dog treats, and food you eat are also good for a rat. You can also feed a rat on dog or cat food (the dry stuff) as long as they get more nutritious stuff like something you would eat for a meal. Rats love attention, are explorers, and can escape a cage. An aquarium isn't recommended as it doesn't allow much air to circulate, but it will work until the rat is big enough so that it cant fit through the bars of a wire cage. If you get a rat, I advise getting two, so they keep each other company when your not home. One rat will survive, it will just need more attention and exercise. Most rats I've found are happy riding on your shoulder as you move around doing things, just be careful if you bend over that the rat doesn't fall.
Also they have sharp toenails that need filed down so they don't scratch you, although if it doesn't bother you then I dont recommend it.
Also if you get two, watch our for dominance fights, as two females will fight for dominance. Female make better bets in my opinion.
If you would like more information on rats, e-mail me or something.

Answer 3

What do they eat? Is it hard to prepare their food? How much does it cost? Rats ussualy eat Hamster food or Guinie pig food. and ussualy a bag costs around 5 dollars.

How much room and exercise do they need? How much time do they need for attention daily? Rats Don't need a whole lot of attention but a hour a day with your rat would do fine and Rats Don't exersise usauly untill late time at night.


How do you keep them from smelling really bad? You can give your specil baths iif you like or if your prefering to the cage change it at least 2 or 3 times a week should do.

Answer 4

They *are* awesome. Please don't just get 1 though, they're very sociable & will be *much* happier if you get 2 of the same sex. Their food doesn't cost a lot, we used to buy Reggie Rat for about $8 a bag & that would last about a month for our rats. Our guys are on a homeade diet now, but you might want to go with commercial rat food for now as it's easier. They can also have a small amount of veggies, fruit & occasional sunflower seeds or nuts in the shell as well as a bit of whatever you're eating in many cases.
Many rats aren't interested in exercise wheels, but they need a fairly roomy cage so they can climb, jump around & play. They like hammocks & cardboard boxes to nap in. For toys, give them anything non-toxic that they can climb on or into, carry around, chew on or make noise with. Most of our guys like those plastic balls with bells in them. You probably know that their front teeth grow all their lives & they like to have something to gnaw on for exercise-- dog biscuits, chew treats made for pet rodents etc.
Don't give them pine or cedar bedding, which is really unhealthy for them. There are several other things you can use. Regular cage cleaning keeps odor down & some ppl think females have less odor than males. Our males definately are *messier* than our females, lol. Females, btw, tend to be more active & curious while males in general just want to hang out. Most rats enjoy riding on your shoulder & they usually figure out that it's rude to use you as a bathroom (males do scent mark to some degree though).

Answer 5

pet rat january

Answer 6

http://dogbreedinfo.com/pets/rat.htm

try that link evytyhing u need to know

Answer 7

A rat is a warm blooded mammal in the rodent family.

Temperament
While most people will cringe at the thought of having a rat for a pet, believe it or not, domestic rats make great pets! They are not aggressive, diseased and dirty animals, but in fact are clean, fun loving, sensitive, very social and affectionate. They genuinely enjoy interacting with people and should be handled daily. Rats are very intelligent and can be taught simple tricks, such as stay and sit and will often learn their name. They can also be litter box trained. Rats will often develop a connection with their owner, wanting daily attention. They will enjoy playing and snuggling with their owners. Rats that are well handled from birth are very friendly towards humans and very rarely bite. Children should be taught not to stick their fingers in the cage if their hand smell like food. Even the most friendly rat may be tempted to take a taste. Rats require time, interaction, and upkeep. Because rats are very social animals they can get board easily and it is a good idea to have more than one rat. Having two rats is no more work than having only one. Two rats will be entertaining to watch and will take some of the stress off of you in having to entertain them. If you keep more than one rat be sure to either have two males or two females or get your rats spayed and neutered to avoid any unwanted breeding. However if your rat is overly aggressive with other rats you may have to keep it all by itself. When you purchase your rat be sure the place you obtain your rat from keeps males and females separated. Since a rat can get pregnant at the young age of 5 weeks old, you don't want to purchase a pregnant rat and end up with more rats then you planned for! When choosing your rat, choose one that does not appear skittish or does not squeal when picked up. Males tend to be calmer than females. Males usually enjoy being held for longer amounts of time especially as they get older. Males may start to mark their territory as it matures. Getting your male neutered may help with this. Females tend to be more active than males. Toys and accessories can be provided for your rat such as tubes, hammocks, fruit tree branches, paper towel and toilet paper roles plant pots and anything else that does not have a sharp edge to it can be provided for your rats enjoyment. Keep in mind that they will chew what you give them.

Size
About - 6-10 inches (15-21 cm.) long (not including the tail)
About - 6-18 ounces 170-500 grams)
Males are usually larger than females. Males can weigh up to 2 pounds (.9 kg.) but typically way less.

Housing
Some people keep their rats inside the house while others keep them in outside sheds or garages. Keeping a pet rat indoors is recommended as they may not get the attention they need if they are kept in a garage or a shed. Rats can live in aquariums with a wire or mesh screen top or in wire cages. However aquariums are not recommended as they do not provide adequate ventilation. The larger your rats cage the happier he will be. When looking for a rat cage, look for cages made for rabbits, ferrets, chinchillas or parrots. Often times a cage at a pet store, shown as a rat cage is only big enough for a gerbil or hamster. Rats need more room than hamsters or gerbils. Shredded paper, shredded cardboard, hay, straw, hemp, paper based cat litters, and or clothing can be used for the bedding (keep in mind the rat will chew the clothing so be sure to only use clothing you no longer want). Pine and cedar wood chips should be avoided as the fumes from these beddings can cause respiratory damage.

Clean-up
Rats are very clean animals and therefore their cages should be kept very clean. Your rat will not be happy living in a dirty cage. Cages should be cleaned every 3 days and waste matter should be removed daily. You should have a small pet carrier on hand to put your rat in while you clean out the cage. These carriers can also be used when taking your rat to the vet, or where ever else you decide to take them.

Grooming
Rats are very clean animals. They are constantly grooming themselves (like cats), so no additional grooming is required on the owners part. If you house more than one rat together they will groom each other.

Feeding
Fresh water should be provided daily in a gravity driven hanging bottle. These types of bottles can be purchased at just about any pet supply store. Rats are scavengers and will eat just about anything. Low sugar cereals, breads, fruits, vegetables, meats, chicken bones, dog food, cat food, and table scraps can be fed to rats. You can also buy rat food and treats from your local pet store. Rats especially seem to enjoy bananas, grapes, peas, broccoli, sweet corn, pasta, yogurt, eggs, meat, chicken bones and fish. Be sure you feed them a well balanced diet. Too much protein can cause protein scabs. Younger rats need more protein than older rats.

Exercise
It is important that rats get the proper amount of exercise. Rats can be allowed to roam indoors around a room that has been rat proofed. Rats like to chew and will chew things such as wires, furniture, books and anything else that looks chewable! If you allow your rat to roam free in your home you need to keep an eye on the rat to keep it from chewing something you do not wish it to chew. Rats should not be allowed to roam outdoors. Some un-neutered males may decide to mark their territory. If your rat does this you should cover your furniture or carpet area where the rat is with a blanket while the rat is roaming free.

Life Expectancy
About 2-4 years

Health Problems
Prone to bacterial skin infections, bacterial lung infections, brain tumors, bloody noses, ear infections, bronchitis and pneumonia.

Gestation
Female rats can get pregnant as young as 5 weeks of age and can reproduce young four to six times a year. There are usually four to ten young in one litter. Female rats go into heat every 4 to 5 days. Unlike other mammals, there is no discharge from them during their heat cycle. One female can wean about twenty young a year. Baby rats wean at a minimum of 4 weeks.

Origin
Rats can pretty much be found all over the world. They are mostly known as the most destructive pests in the world: spreading disease, damaging structures and contaminating food. This is true for rats living in the wild scavenging around for their next meal, however domesticated rats are very clean and intelligent making wonderful pets. It is because of their intelligence and their easy handling that they have become one of the most popular animals used for laboratory research.

Answer 8

the cage is the most expensive thing...