Caring for Pet Rats
May 12th 2008 15:25
Caring for pet rats is actually pretty simple once you get the basics down. Fancy rats, no matter what color pattern, are probably one of the best pets that you can have. Well, in regards to small mammal pets, that is. They're friendly, healthy, and just all-around sociable. Rats are least likely to bite when compared to mice, hamsters, and gerbils. Yes, they're a little bigger and require a larger cage, but the rewards in the long run are just so much higher than the other small mammal pets.
Ok, well discounting guinea pigs, rabbits and ferrets, rats are probably one of the best small mammal pets. Ferrets are like cats on crack and require more care and a more watchful eye; rabbits are messier, on average; and guinea pigs are quite as friendly or sociable.
Pet rats are just great pets for anyone as long as you're prepared to take on the responsibilities involved in caring for them properly. Rats aren't pets that you can throw in a cage, feed, water, and never pay attention to.
Tip: Make sure that you get at least 2 rats. If you're already going to be housing 1, you might as well get two. They'll be happier and healthier in the long run. (Healthier mentally, not necessarily physically.)
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Anonymous3, that is one example of how they can get along in groups.
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Comment by RATS NEED COMPANY
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and my rat got stuck in our printer but after all that they were very very tired it had been a really big day
thanks
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Dog food is not recommended for rats to eat.
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Rats cannot control their bladder, and will urinate small drops while in or out of the cage. You can litter train them to poo in the cage, but sometimes they can't help it when out of the cage.
Also depending on the play pen, they may be able to climb out of it, so consider a lid.
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Rats poo and pee pretty much anywhere at first. By the 4th day, my 2 ratties were potty trained. I have a little box thing in the corner of the cage and that's where they poo and pee. Nowhere else. They'll even hold it in when they're out.
I use newspaper and puppy pads in my cage. It makes cleaning them SO easy and less smelly.
I clean them once a day and they never smell.
Oh, and I had one male while ago. Gerald was his name. He was so miserable. He would climb up to the top corner of the cage and hang there all day. ( minus when he ate and drank )
He started to outgrow his cage so I had to get rid of him
Now I have 2 beautiful ratties. ( all my rats were naked ) I have them in a bird cage, actually. They have a lot more room to climb ad whatnot. They're both girls. Eleanor and Opal. Gerald's babies, actually. They're so happy and lovvvve to play. Eleanor likes to run around and climb, while Opal likes to cuddle and give me kisses
How many rats you get really depends on how much you're going to play with them. While I'm in school, mine play and cuddle with eachother. Gerald, on the other hand, was just a lonely fellow when I wasn't with him. Not very sociable either.
I definitely recommend having 2.
Even better, from the same litter.
Good luck
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Why didn't you just get a bigger cage? That makes more sense.
I'm quite surprised they don't destroy the puppy pads. If they do the dust can cause pretty bad problems, being their respiratory system isn't equipped for that.
Comment by Anonymous
They never chew it and it's actually recommended for them.
and I didn't get a bigger cage because the cage was already huge and I didn't have the money or room for another one.
And yeah. My rats dribble when they're out but they never poop unless they're in the litter box.
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I'm about to get 2 rats, and ive had some before (2 females).
But my friend says that male rats have a much better personality and are lazier. But i like active rats that i can play with.
What sex should i get?
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i am soooooooooo troubled about what sex to get. i want a rat that will cuddle up to me and will enjoy a bit of 'quiet time', but also will play and be active and energetic. im thinking female because i dont want little dribbles of pee all around, and because females are more tidy and less smelly. i really dont know. any advice?
thanks,
olly
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Comment by HAVING ONE RAT IS NOT A PROBLEM.
also. everyone says males are more affectionate. i beg to differ. my rat would sit in my shirt, or sit on my chest for ages- or she'd sit in my hair. she just likes to be near me more than anything. so i dont think having one rat without a friend is going to be a problem. especially if you interact with your rat a lot.
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I have a baby wild rat that we found when about 2 weeks old it is now about 8 weeks old male and we would like to get it a friend
would this be ok and where in sydney can I get one? i am having trouble finding out/
thanks
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is this normal? i wanted to get another rat fairly soon so she had company but not if she is going to react like this. can someone give me advise on what i should do?
Comment by Anonymous
This was about a month ago and still situation has not changed unfortunately. So, i would think carefully about getting it a friend. If possible in a situation where you could try them together first, but always get same sex same age.
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I am a rat breeder, and I have had well over 100 rats in over 10 years of having pet rats and nearly 2 years of breeding. But when I first had a rat I made the mistake of having only one rat, and defended my decision to those who told me otherwise. But now, even though she lived a seemingly 'happy life', I feel terribly guilty for not keeping two or more now that I know better.
Rats are very very social animals, living in the wild in large family groups. I have seen for myself over the years evidence of rats getting depressed when living on their own. Some rats can be too aggressive to live with others, but this is usually only an issue if they are not introduced at a young age or not used to new members coming and going from their group. I have 10 girls living together and 9 boys living together and they all get along just fine. They are all different ages, not many are related, and they are introduced to new young rats every few months. Most of my early rats came from pet shops, and I've had some good ones and some very bad ones, but now all of mine come from other breeders or my own litters. Aggressive behviour is is very very genetic, and a lot of pet shops sell rats that grow to be aggressive towards other rats, or even people, as they age. All decent private pet breeders will never breed from an aggressive rat, and so you should never expect to experience aggression from a well bred rat, as aggression is quickly bred out over just a few generations.
Rats are also all individuals, and their personalities are shaped both by genetics and conditioning. Some of my rats ADORE me, seek me out when free ranging and snuggle with me like a cat, boggling(the exquivilant of purring) while sitting in my lap. But others are a bit more alouf, not avoiding me or hiding, but just prefering to do their own thing. And I love them all for their differences. It is true that they can compete for your attention, but if they are bred against being aggressive, then it should all be fun and games.
And I do not believe that rats cannot hold their bladders, except in some cases of old age I've seen. I have witnessed many times rats awakening, climbing down and running to the kitty litter for a wee first thing in the morning. And I've seen the same with well trained rats waiting until being put down or put back in their cages before releaving themselves. But it is true that probably about half of rats 'scent mark' with tiny drops or dribbles of wee to mark territory, or in the case of rats with bad sight (like pink-eyed or blind rats) so that they can mark trails and follow them about by smell. It is a big sign of a scared untame rat if it regularly poos and wees when you handle it,
again a big problem I see with pet-shop rats. Good pet breeders will handle their baby rats every day, so they are usually very tame. But a calm nature also has alot to do with genetics again, as I've seen people deliborately breed over years a line of 'rag doll' like rats that just flop about, they normally don't have much personality though, kind of zombie like.
Anyway, If you want a lot of up-to-date and correct info about rats, I suggest joining or just searching terms on- www.australianratforum.com. I have been a member there for almost a year and have learnt so much from the many great experienced rat owners, breeders and feederbreeders there. I find that site invaluable to me as a rat owner and breeder, and I find I check it every day, sometimes 5 times a day.
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