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Rats make wonderful pets, but need proper care. Learn about rat behaviour and get expert tips on how to keep rats healthy, happy and safe.
- Behaviour
Rats need choice, so never force them to do anything. Allow...
- Diet
Home; Advice and welfare; Pets; Rodents; Rats; Diet; Rats....
- Health and Welfare
Weigh your rats regularly, to make sure that they’re not...
- Keeping Rats Together
Pet rats should be housed together from a young age and...
- Environment
Pet rats need time outside of their cage to explore and...
- Behaviour
Have you recently welcomed a pet rat into your home, or just looking to revise a few tips? Read the Blue Cross guide to caring for your pet rat.
Pet rats need time outside of their cage to explore and enjoy themselves, but always keep a close eye on them to make sure they don't hurt themselves. Every rat deserves a good home where they can be healthy and happy. Here are our top tips for creating a great home for your pet rats.
Your rats will need somewhere safe, quiet and secure to sleep during the day. A nest box gives them an ideal place to rest. It should be: Kept dark as rats are very sensitive to light, especially albino rats with red eyes. Lined with clean, shredded paper or soft bedding material.
- What Do People Who Own Pet Rats Like About them?
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They’re social
Like so many house pets we know and love, domestic rats — the kind bred for the purpose of being pets — like being around humans and are tamer than those found in the wild. “They like to play, and they’re very social,” Bercier says. “They like to be where people are, where most of the activities are happening.”
They’re in sync with the human body clock
Compared to hamsters, another rodent that makes a popular pet and which are more active at night, rats are on the same schedule as humans, awake during the day and resting at night, Bercier says. So, there will be no wheels churning while you’re trying to sleep. And despite the reputation perpetuated by their wild subway-dwelling counterparts, a pet rat is meticulous about keeping itself clean. “The biggest misconception is that rats are dirty,” says Dr. Rachel Warnes, a New York shelter vete...
Their personalities sparkle
“They are friendly, affectionate, smart, and low-maintenance,” Warnes says. She says she loves breaking biases against pet rats by introducing hers to skeptical friends. “None of my friends are able to resist holding my rats once they’ve gotten over the initial ‘ew,’” she says. “Now they’re the life of my parties and always passed around, which they love.” Just like cats and dogs, rats have unique personality traits. “I’ve always had female rats, and they are super friendly and affectionate,”...
Ginny Shugrue, program coordinator for the Tufts Center for Animals and Public Policy, has owned seven rescue rats. Some of them, including one she named Lucky, were saved before becoming snake food. If you live in New England or the Northeast, check out Mainely Rat Rescue, a foster home-based rescue, with foster homes located throughout the area. ...
Decorate their cage
Pet rats should live in large, vertical cages, because they like to climb. Decorate their cage with hammocks and hideaways (sometimes called igloos) so they have a place to kick back, if needed. They enjoy toys, especially the kind that can be chewed and contain hidden treats. These rodents will typically keep their digs pretty clean. They can also be trained to use a litter box and are not typically destructive or messy in their cage, Warnes says.
Make sure they have company
And because rats are social animals, not only with humans but with their own species, a companion is recommended. “It’s best for them to be kept in a multi-rat type of household in the same cage, and same sex would be best,” says Bercier, who recommends you spay or neuter rats to avoid overpopulation, certain health issues and male-on-male aggression.
Use caution around interaction with other pets
Rats can coexist with other species, but always proceed with caution. Warnes plays it safe and keeps her dogs locked in a room when her cat and her rat have playtime together. “Some dogs are good with rats, but my dogs are a little too interested,” says Warnes. “Cats and dogs are natural predators, and rats are prey, so you want to be extra careful if introducing them. Better safe than sorry.”
Biting and rats
Rats don’t typically bite, but it really depends on the person handling them, says Bercier. “If they hold them too tight, it might be stressful for the rat and that could trigger a bite,” she says. “When they’re in a secure environment at home with the people that they know, it would be very surprising for them to bite.” That said, rats are not recommended as pets for very young children who may not know how to handle them. Handwashing after handling rats is also recommended. If you are ever...
Health issues with rats
The two most common conditions that veterinarians will see in pet rats are respiratory disease and mammary tumors. Respiratory disease is typically caused by a type of bacteria called mycoplasma. “A lot of rats will be exposed at a very young age, like right after they are born,” she says. “They don’t often show signs of sickness until later in life. If they go through a stressful time (for instance, experience illness or a change in the environment, like a new cagemate, house or room), that...
Pet rats are adorable and intelligent small animals that are perfect in pairs. Find out more about caring for pet rats here, from feeding to play time.
People also ask
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Aug 12, 2020 · Rats are awesome pets. They’re smart, can learn tricks, are affectionate, cheap, and relatively low maintenance. However, before you dive in and get a rat as your next pet there are some things you need to know. It’s never a good idea to go into pet ownership blindly, even when it comes to small pets like rats.
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