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welcome | facts | choosing | feeding | looking after | care | links | leaflets As we said at the very beginning you must be committed to providing the very best for your rat. It is amazing how many people don’t think it’s necessary to interact with their rats once they bring them home. But it is, and it is something you need to consider BEFORE you buy your pet. Click on a link below to find out more about looking after your Rats: |
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Rats can be housed in a wire cage with a plastic base, a plastic rat home or a large vivarium with a well-ventilated cover. Wooden cages should not be used as rats will chew their way out! The important thing to remember is that a rat home can never be too big, as they love to explore and exercise. Multi-level cages are a good idea as they add interest for the rat. They love to hide and climb, so sisal rope, a large rat wheel and a place for them to rest above the ground are ideal. They also need a large run where they can play and exercise. Rats are best kept indoors and careful thought
should be given to where your rat’s home is situated. The temperature in the room
should be constant, away from direct sunlight and draughts, and out
of the reach of any other pets. A rat’s hearing is extremely
sensitive so he should be situated away from loud noises.
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Cages should be cleaned out on a regular basis. This is especially important in warmer weather in order to prevent flies being attracted to the cage, as this may result in an infestation of maggots. Did you know that rats can catch nasty diseases from dirty cages? So make sure you pay lots of attention to keeping your rat’s cage clean and hygienic. Here are some tips to help you: Every day Once a week
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Keeping your rat warm and cosy at night is very important. You also need bedding that is absorbent which makes cleaning easier for you. Untreated, un-threshed straw should not be used as it can scratch your pet. It is also recommended that you provide bedding that is dust extracted, as this reduces irritation to the eyes, nose and respiratory system. To
find out more about suitable bedding products, click here.
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It is extremely important that your rat has the opportunity to exercise every day. Exercise is essential to: maintain high levels of fitness Anyway, your rat will love running around and playing with his toys! You need to provide a large, secure run for daily exercise. This can be free-standing or attached to the cage. An idea is to use a large cardboard box and put bedding on the bottom. Put in some toilet roll tubes and, as rats also love climbing, you can hang up a piece of sisal rope. Hide a piece of apple wood for him to gnaw and you will see how much fun he can have in his own exercise yard. However, you should always keep an eye on him whilst he is in his play area. If you provide a wheel in the cage so your rat can exercise, make sure that it is big enough for him. He must not have to bend his back whilst inside. Also ensure that it has a solid floor and not rungs as rungs can cause injuries to the feet and tail. Although rats sleep during the day, they are really energetic and will exercise for 3-4 hours a night, and will enjoy spending the evenings with you!
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Rats are naturally very active and inquisitive animals. They like to keep themselves busy and, when allowed, spend the majority of their time running around and investigating their surroundings. Their natural instincts are to explore and socialise. It only takes a few items to create an exciting playground for your pet. Piles of logs (natural wood – willow, beech, hazel or apple) make platforms for them to explore or rest under. Rats will chew the wood and this will help keep their teeth in trim! Feeding time for a domestic animal is often over in minutes whereas, in the wild, feeding takes most of the day as they forage for their favourite foods. By hiding food and the occasional treat your rat will be forced to hunt for his food – this will keep him occupied for many happy hours and prevent boredom.
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To ensure that your rat becomes tame and affectionate it is important that you handle it frequently and correctly. Picking up a rat incorrectly could lead to your rat being permanently frightened and may lead to it becoming aggressive. Remember that most small animals are prey in the wild. So, if they are approached from above they will see a large shadow and become scared. They might run and hide or try to attack you. Before attempting to handle your rat, make sure he is awake and alert or he might be scared and try to bite you. Talking to your rat makes him aware that you are close by and wanting to socialise. Always approach your rat calmly and gently. Once your rat knows you are near, place a closed fist in front of it and allow it to approach. If he is confident and appears interested, slowly unclench your first and open your hand to allow him to craw on to your palm. If he does not approach you, gently scoop him up and cup him in the palm of your two hands to ensure he is safe and won’t be dropped. To ensure he is safe at all times, you should hold him over your lap or close to your chest. Never squeeze or tighten your grip during handling. Never try to pick up your rat by the tail as this could lead to injury and he might become aggressive. If your rat wriggles during transportation, it is advisable to place him in a container to avoid any accidents.
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Rats do not require grooming and are very clean. If you watch them, they clean themselves, rather like a cat does, by licking their paws and rubbing their fur. Whilst socialising with your rat every day, make sure that you check their eyes, ears, nose and under the tail. Also check that his teeth and nails aren’t too long. His fur should be clean and shiny without any lumps or bumps.
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Rats are very social animals and will become unhappy if left alone. They are easy to look after so keeping them in pairs is best. Two males or two females from the same litter will get on extremely well and be great company for each other. Rats enjoy “play-fighting”, but if you introduce an older rat to another rat, they may fight seriously and cause injury. Don’t keep a male and a female together unless you want to breed from them.
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A rat is inexpensive to buy, but you must be prepared to pay for veterinary treatment if he becomes ill. |
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If you do decide to breed from your female rat, you will need to give her twice as much food as normal whilst she is pregnant, as the demand for nutrients during this time is much greater. Once she has had the litter she will need three times as much food as normal whilst she is lactating (feeding her babies herself). Do not be tempted to touch the pups for the first week as the mother rat may reject them.
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When rats reach the senior stage of life, it is equally important to consider changes in their environment and diet. Older animals tend to be less active, especially in colder weather, so their food intake should be reduced to prevent obesity. Encourage them to exercise daily to maintain as high a level of fitness as possible. This will also help them fight off disease.
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If you want to go on holiday, you must ensure that someone is happy to look after your pet properly whilst you are away, or you must be prepared to pay for them to board. |
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