Experience unmatched comfort for your beloved pets. Luxuriously comfortable mats for dogs & cats!
Search results
Difficult to look after well
- Rats are intelligent, highly social animals and make incredibly rewarding pets to look after. They can form close bonds with their human carers – as well as cage-mates and should therefore never be kept on their own – but have complex needs and are difficult to look after well.
www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rodents/rats
People also ask
Should you consider a pet rat?
How do you care for a rat?
How long should a rat live?
Can a rat be a low maintenance pet?
Do Rats need pet insurance?
Can a child have a pet rat?
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 are quick learners, highly trainable, very clever,...
- Diet
Rats will happily dig in sand/gravel trays, or chew through...
- Health and Welfare
Call your vet if your rat:. Develops repetitive behaviour -...
- Keeping Rats Together
You can help reduce aggression if you: Avoid disrupting...
- Environment
Rats are naturally most active at night and are very...
- Behaviour
If you're thinking about getting rats for a child, they can make a more suitable pet. But, as always, an adult must be responsible for making sure the rats receive the attention and care they need. Children will also need to be supervised while holding them.
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.
- Rat Behavior and Temperament
- Size Information
- Housing
- What Do Rats Eat and Drink?
- Common Health Problems
- Training Your Rat
- Exercise
- Grooming
- Upkeep Costs
- Pros and Cons of Keeping A Rat as A Pet
Rats are social creatures, and most can learn to be comfortable with—and even enjoy—gentle handling by people. They recognize their owners and will even get excited to see their favorite humans. They tend to bond with whoever cares for them and socializes with them the most. So besides spending some time on their daily enclosure upkeep, daily inter...
Rats reach around 14 to 18 inches long on average, including the length of their tail. They weigh between roughly one-half and 1.5 pounds, with males generally being larger than females.
A powder-coated wire cage with a solid floor base is ideal for pet rats. It will allow good air circulation but still be comfortable on the rats' feet. For two rats, the minimum cage size should be 2 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet, but bigger is always better. Because rats like to climb, a multilevel cage would be suitable to give them more exercise and ...
Always have fresh water available for rats. A water bottle that attaches to the side of the enclosure is ideal, as it’s easy to keep sanitary. But offer a water bowl as well until you’re sure the rats are using the bottle. Use heavy ceramic food dishes, as they are difficult to gnaw and tip. Pelleted or block-type diets are typically fed as a rat's...
Rats are typically hardy pets. But they are prone to some health problems, including: 1. Cancer:Rats are prone to both benign and malignant tumors. 2. Parasites: Rats can get intestinal parasites, such as worms, as well as skin parasites, such as lice. 3. Infections:Respiratory diseases and other infections can affect rats. 4. Kidney disease: Older...
Litter Training
Because rats are very smartand naturally tend to pick one spot to use as their bathroom, it is possible to litter box train them. Get a litter box made for small animals that your rat can easily get in and out of, and fill it with a different kind of litter from the main cage bedding. Place the box in the spot where your rat normally relieves itself. It can help to put some soiled bedding in the box to show your rat that this is the spot to go. However, if the box becomes too soiled, the rat...
Rats must exercise every day not only to keep them physically fit but also to stimulate their minds. Rats love to climb and will make good use of ladders, ropes, hammocks, tunnels, and platforms in their enclosure. Some rats like to run on an exercise wheel. If you include one, make sure it has a solid surface, not wires, to prevent injury. Besides...
Rats are very clean animals that mostly self-groom. But they might require nail trims if they don’t naturally wear down their nails. Your vet can either take care of this for you or show you how to do it at home. Moreover, rats don’t need water for baths. But if they happen to get some dirt or debris stuck in their fur, you can help them get it out...
On a monthly basis, expect to spend around $20 to $40 on average for a pet rat. Your primary costs will be food and bedding. And you’ll periodically have to replace chew toys and other items in the enclosure. Also, make sure to budget for routine veterinary care, as well as emergencies.
Pet rats are quiet and don’t take up much space. Plus, they are quite friendly with their owners. However, they don’t have a very long lifespan. And you typically have to keep more than one to meet their social needs.
- 2 min
Jun 5, 2024 · Pet rats are relatively easy to care for, but that doesn't mean they are low-maintenance pets. They require a fair amount of attention and exercise time outside of their cages—at least an hour a day is ideal.
- 2 min
Jul 15, 2024 · To properly care for a pet rat, choose a large cage with solid flooring, levels, powder coated bars, and ramps. For every rat, there should be a minimum of 2 square feet of cage space, but 2.5 square feet or more is preferable. Rats are social, so it’s best to have at least 2 rats together.
- 853.1K
Apr 6, 2023 · Here's how to care for your pet rat—from cage setup, feeding and watering, and enrichment to long-term care—here's everything you need to know. If you've never considered a pet rat, perhaps it's time you should!
