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Choosing a Rat and Bringing it Home

Click on a link below to find out more about choosing a rabbit:

• Are You Ready For A Furry Friend?
• Bringing Your Rat Home
• Which Rat Will You Choose?

Are You Ready For a Furry Friend?

Before buying a pet you must make sure that you can care for it properly as it can live for up to 2 years.

You MUST be able to:

provide the right housing
have room for it to exercise
feed and water it daily
handle it daily
exercise it daily
groom it regularly
clean out the cage daily to control germs
check for signs of illness or disease
take your pet to the vet for regular health checks and other procedures
know someone who will look after it for you when you are away

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Bringing Your Rat Home

Once you are happy that you can provide everything that your new pet will need you can then choose the perfect rat for yourself. Make sure that you have everything ready for him before you collect him, so that you can pop him into his new home as soon as you arrive and he can spend the first 24hrs getting used to his new environment. Don’t forget that he will be missing his brothers and sisters and will like you to talk to him. Allow him to settle in peacefully and quietly overnight without pestering him – this way he can familiarise himself with his new surroundings. You will soon know when he has settled in as he will begin to eat, drink and groom himself.

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Which Rat Will You Choose?

The domesticated rat’s ancestor is the Brown Rat. Rats were bred in captivity from the 1800s for scientific research until the scientists discovered how intelligent and tame they proved to be. They started to become popular as pets from that time and, nowadays, there are many different varieties, and many Rat Clubs who help to dispel the myths about rats and educate owners.

There are many different coloured rats, with varying markings and coat types. The most common colours include Black, Mink, Champagne and Albino. The “hooded” pattern is quite common, ie: the coat is white and the face and head are coloured. Other patterns include Irish, Berkshire, Capped and Variegated.

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