rat care sheet

So, you want a pet rat, eh? Excellent choice! Rats seem to have a bad reputation because of their ancestors, but if more people were willing to give these lovable little guys a chance, that would very quickly change. Rats are affectionate, curious, and arguably as smart as a cat or a dog. (Why do you think the wild ones are so hard for the farmers to get rid of?) Rats are also very clean; you'll find them constantly grooming themselves, ridding themselves of every knot and tangle. Afterall, they need to look good for their adoring fans!

Housing

 Rats are a very active rodent and because of this, need a large cage to accomodate them. They love to climb, fall, roll around and chase each other. A glass aquarium would be a bad choice, as there is no way for the rat to climb, and the ventilation in an aquarium is terrible at best. We reccomend having at the very least,  a two storey hamster cage for one rat, and adding at least a tier for every additional rat you add. Feeret cages make wonderful rat cages, especially the models with the large tubes for them to run through. Keep in mind that if you house a male and female together, the inevitable will happen, and you'll end up with ''pinkies'' every 28 days or so. It's usually best to house two females together, as unfixed males often have a stronger musk than the females.  You should place the cage in a warm room away from windows, doors, vents, and hungry dogs or cats. Make sure that your cage is on a sturdy stand, because if your rats get loose, you're going to have a hard time catching them. (Unless you train them to come when they're called, which is a great idea regardless.)

Food & Water

Your rat should always have access to fresh, clean drinking water. It's best to use a bottle, as standing water attracts bacteria, feces and substrate, not to mention the fact that rats love to play in water, and will knock over any bowl you place in their cage. At least once a week, you'll need to clean your water bottle with a bottle brush, as sediment and bacteria build up in the bottle. For food, we reccomend a high protein extruded diet supplemented with fresh foods every so often. Rats have different protein requirements than hamsters, so if you do feed a hamster specific food, be sure to regularly supplement it with high protein foods like fish, cooked chicken, nuts and seeds, as well as vegetables and timothy hay or alfafa. Rats love to eat fatty foods that are bad for them (just like people), so  it's best to not feed those foods at all.

Bedding

There are a few options for bedding, though most are controversial. There are pros and cons to all types of beddings. Some can cause respitory problems when used long term, some are difficult to clean, and some are mistakenly eaten which can cause internal problems. The best substrates are those that are disposable, safe, and cheap.

Handling

Rats are friendly, and love to interact with their owners. They love to ride around on your shoulder, curl up in your pocket, and hide in your hooded sweatshirts. However, you should always begin any handling session by scooping up your rat with both hands, or picking it up by the base of the tail. NEVER grab your rat by the tip of the tail, as this is very, very painful for the rat and can cause permenant damage. Rats typically don't bite unless you smell like food, or you're hurting them.