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Pet Rats - Fancy RatsBrown Rats, Black Rats, Rattus

Family: Muridae

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Black Black-hooded Fancy Rat "Amara"Rattus norvegicusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Lisa Kelbon

     Active and smart little animals, rats can make great pets especially for children!

     Rats can live 2 to 3 years, are easy to house and feed, and are mostly odorless. They are inexpensive, small, and have lovable personalities. Rats also tend to be hardy little animals.

     When looking for a rat to purchase as a pet, make sure it is a young, healthy animal. It should ideally be between 4 and 8 weeks old. Make sure it is plump, has bright eyes, good sound teeth, and a healthy coat. Listen to the rat's breathing, if you hear any wheezing or it makes a sound other than a distinct "eep", these are signs of respiratory illness. Though the rat itself is inexpensive, visits to a veterinarian are not.

     Either sex will make a good pet, however if you plan to buy more than one, make sure they are of the same sex. Females are generally more active while males tend to be more cuddly. It is a good idea to buy atleast two as they are highly social creatures and thrive with a constant companion. But don't buy a male/female pair unless you want babies.

For information about Small Animals and their care visit:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Small Animal

Scientific name:
Rattus norvegicus
- Brown (or Norway) Rat, common pet
Rattus rattus
-   Black (or ship) Rat

Background:      Rats have been around for an extremely long time, and different varieties can be found almost everywhere in the world. Rats have often been thought of as pests because they have found advantages in living with people. People have always provided a good source of food for rats in their houses, buildings, and ships. The Brown Rat, which is the most common pet rat, traveled by ship to different countries across the globe. It gained prominence in the United States in the 1760's when there were large numbers of European immigrants.
     In the European Middle Ages, rats carried the deadly plagues (such as bubonic plague) which killed hundreds of thousands of people. This resulted in them being though of as a scourge. In other places they were seen as a possitive signs, such as a good luck symbol to ancient Romans and as a messenger of the gods to the Japanese.
     In today's world, many rats are domesticated and bred to display many different fur types and colors. They are also bred and used extensively in research laboratories to study heredity, and the effects of drugs and foods. One reason for this is that they can reproduce fairly quickly.

Description:      Rats can vary in size, but normal pet rats average about 14 to 18 inches long including the tail, with an average weight of approximately half a pound. If well taken care of they can live from 2 to 3 years.
     There are several varieties of rats, some well-known ones include kangaroo rats, packrats, bushy-tailed woodrats, African giant rats, and spiny rats. The disease-carrying rats of the Middle Ages which today are the most common pets, are the black and brown rats.
     Pet rats can come in many different colors, including black, brown, beige, albino (white with red eyes), and many combinations of colors. Most rats are commonly a solid color or hooded. Hooded rats have one color covering their head with usually a stripe coming down their backs, with the rest of their bodies a different color.

Environment:      When considering what type of cage to buy or build, make sure there at a minimum, it is 16" x 10" x 10". Glass aquariums, or metal cages with small bar spacing are usually ideal, because they can't chew through them or squeeze through the spaces.

"Vanilla" Photo  © Animal-World Courtesy Jasmine Brough

     The cage can be kept inside or outside as long as it does not drop below 40 degrees and as long as it is not kept in a direct draft. They are not as heat tolerant as humans, so should not be exposed to extremely high temperatures.
     Provide a good soft bedding that is clean, non-toxic, absorbent, relatively dust free and easily acquired. Shredded paper or tissue, processed corn cob, wood shavings, or a prepared litter are preferred bedding. Avoid cedar or chlorophyll impregnated shavings as they have been associated with respiratory and liver disease. They love to burrow so make sure to give them a good layer, at least 1" thick. Cages with removable trays may be a consideration, since they can help make cleaning easier.
     Put in a cardboard house or logs for the rat so that he has a place to go when he is tired. Consider different toys also, such as wheels for young rats, mirrors, logs and ladders.
     Clean the cage thoroughly with hot water at least once a week.

Care and feeding:      A rat's diet is a major factor in keeping your pet healthy. It needs to be well balanced and nutritrious, based on protein with some vegetables and fruits. The best way to obtain this is to buy pre-mixed rat foods at pet stores, which have all the nutrition requirements in the right amounts. Otherwise, good protein sources are dog food, fish flakes, some grains, and other freeze-dried fish foods (like brine shrimp and plankton). Fruits and vegetables are important because they provide necessary vitamins and minerals. Good sources of these would be apples, carrots, lettuce, bananas, etc.
     Since rats are sometimes prone to vitamin deficiencies, you may want to consider getting a vitamin supplement to add to the food, which can be found in pet stores. They will also benefit from the addition of calcium, which you can offer in the form of a calcium block sold for birds in pet stores.
     In general, rats should be fed once a day, usually at night since that is when they are most active. Make sure and remove any non-eaten fresh greens at the end of the day. Food should be put in heavy china or pottery dishes (making it harder for them to spill the contents) and should be thoroughly washed with hot water at least twice a week. They may also be given treats such as table scraps, soup, potatoes, meat, insects (mealworms, grasshoppers, moths), or treats found at pet stores.
     Rats teeth are also constantly growing, so you should provide them with objects to gnaw on, such as rawhide bones, nuts, or wood pieces. This will help keep them in good shape.
     Water is a very important thing for rats. They cannot survive without it, so make sure they have a constant supply. Gravity-flow water bottles, which can be found in pet stores, are a good choice, or just a plain dish will work too.

Social Behaviors:      Most rats get along together, however there are some things to take into consideration. Occasionally, males will fight with each other, especially in the presence of females. Also, whenever adding a new rat to a cage, watch to make sure the new one is not picked on. Newcomers are sometimes not welcome, and there is always a pecking order established.
     Rats are great companions for children. It's okay to have only one as long as it is given a lot of attention, however their need for socialization is very great and they will thrive best if they also have another rat companion. They should be kept away from other household pets unless they are well acquainted with each other. Sometimes rats can become good friends with dogs or cats.
     Never house rats with other rodents though, such as mice, hamsters, or gerbils, because they will usually kill them.

Handling and Training:      When picking up your rat make sure to support it with both hands; with one hand under it's shoulders and the other supporting it's hind legs. Never pick your rat up by the tail and be careful not to squeeze it.
     Rats can be taught simple tricks, such as coming when they are called and riding around on your shoulder. They can also be taught such things taking food from your fingers once they are comfortable with you. One of the best ways to train them to do these simple tricks is to reward them with a treat everytime they do something right.
     To keep them tame and friendly, make sure to spend ample time with them and handle them at least once a day.

Activities - Exercise and Play:      Rats need plenty of exercise and they also love short periods of time under supervision. They love to explore. A good source of entertainment and enjoyment for your rat is to construct a maze that they can explore. You can also put different toys, ladders, tunnels, and wheels in the cage itself to provide them with good exercise when you are not around.

Breeding/Reproduction:      When breeding, you can either have a pair of rats, or you can put one male in with several females. Both males and females are fully sexually mature between 10 and 11 weeks old, though females can get pregnant as early as 5 weeks. You shouldn't breed them until they are about 4 or 5 months old.
     The gestation period for females is approximately 3 weeks and they have from 8 to 12 young. The father will not harm the mother or babies, however he should be removed before the babies are born as the mother will become pregnant again immediately if he is in the same cage. Because the mother will be nursing, this subsequent litter will tend to be runts.
     Babies are born naked with their eyes and ears closed. They start growing fur within a few days, and their eyes usually open at about 2 weeks old. After this, the young rats will start exploring their home, and are weaned at about a month old.
     While the mother is pregnant, feed her about 3 times more food than usual, because she will need many more nutrients to help the babies grow and develop correctly. Keep the cage exceptionally clean, and make sure there is ample room for the mother to leave her young when she needs a break from them.

A white rat, "Snowflake" is seen here with her babies!
Babies are a few days old	Newborn babies

Photos @ Animal-World: Courtesy Jasmine Brough

Ailments/Treatments:      Rats are hardy animals and rarely get sick. However, if not taken care of properly they can become ill, and they are very prone to respiratory illnesses. Most ailments are preventable simply from taking proper care of the animal.
     Signs that the animal is not feeling well include: listlessness, huddling in a corner, a dull matted coat, refusing food, labored breathing, runny noise, watery eyes, and constipation. In most cases, there are medications available at pet stores which can be used to aid in treating the animal. In other cases a trip to a veterinarian may be required.
           Respiratory Infections - Pneumonia: The indications that your rat has a respiratory infection or even pneumonia are runny eyes and nose, coughing, sneezing, and labored breathing. Respiratory Infections can be caused from being in drafts and/or damp bedding. Make sure he is taken out of drafts and the cage is completely clean and dry, and place a dry cloth over the cage. Pneumonia will require an antibiotic therapy, and possibly a visit to a veterinarian.
           Diarrhea: If your rat has watery droppings and appears to have diarrhea, then the cause is most likely from having too many fresh greens. The simple remedy to this is to remove them completely and not feed them at all for a few days until he appears to be getting better. Then slowly re-introduce greens by giving them every few days.
           Constipation: If it appears that your rat is constipated, then it is most likely either not getting enough greens or water, so check both of those.
           Lice and Mites: If your rat is constantly scratching, it could be a sign that it has either lice or mites, which are parasites that live on the skin. There are sprays and powders available for the remedy of this.
           Fleas and Ticks: Fleas and ticks are bigger than lice and mites, but cause the same scratching and discomfort as lice and mites. Completely clean and disinfect the cage. The best way to naturally control fleas is as simple as a flea comb, hot soapy water, and a good vacuum cleaner. A home remedy used for dogs and cats is to season their food with brewer's yeast and garlic, a natural flea repellant. Medication designed for cats can is often suggested for use, but a cat treatment flea dip can be harmful. Flea products are known to have caused deaths and illness in pets, so despite strong warning labels, we are hesitant to recommend them.
           Ringworm: Ringworm is a fungus infection on the skin. It is best to go to a veterinarian for this.

Availability: Pet rats are readily available.

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@Gitali Regarding baths, I find my girls do best when I run about an inch of water in the tub and stand in there with them(bending down to wash them). The water should be very warm so they don't get chilled. A good thing about most tubs is that they are angled so the water is deeper by the drain, and shallow on the other end. That way your rats can get out of the water if they want, so it isn't so scary for them. I used to try and put them in the tub while I kneeled outside of it and reached over to wash them, but it was a nightmare. They flipped out and kept climbing up my arms and sitting wet on my shoulder. Then one day I discovered that all they wanted was for me to be in there with them! :) Once they're clean, have a big soft towel that they can burrow in until they're dry. One of my girls actually liked me to dry her off with the blowdryer (set on low power, and warm, not hot!). But it may scare your rats, so just figure out what they prefer. ^^ PariahPoet 2010-01-29
Hi, I have a pair of white rats - Cheenu and Meenu. Now Meenu has given birth to her babies. I want to know what type of care she needs. Please help coz these r the cold winter days and I don't want any of the babies to suffer due to this.. Gitali 2010-01-10
Hi. Can u explain me that how to give them a bath? Gitali 2010-01-10
In response to Ashley Nagy about your little man Willard: My rescued albino lab rat Buddy also fell ill to a respiratory infection when he was about two years old. The vet did not consider a rat to be a real or worthy pet, and she treated Buddy like he was still a lab rat whose life meant nothing. The typical antibiotics seemed to weaken Buddy, and his breathing worsened over a few months, causing his whole body to rock with each breath, until his little heart finally stopped beating. Buddy had a way of waking me up and I awoke suddenly to find him before he was all the way gone, and I am at least happy that I could hold him as he faded away. When I picked him up for the last time, Buddy opened his eyes and he did not close them again, ever. It then took about four hours for his body to grow cold, and I have been racked with grief ever since. I will forver regret not spending more time with Buddy while I had the chance, and I don't think I'll ever visit a vet again except for emergency surgery maybe. Buddy's little friend Shadow is one year younger and was brought into Buddy's life as a companion. However, Buddy began to fall ill almost immediately upon Shadow's arrival, and Shadow's sharp teeth and 'play biting' left Buddy with a gaping wound on the nape of his neck which never fully healed. Looking back I realize that Buddy did NOT need another rat friend, Buddy needed ME to spend more time with him. Now Shadow is my special man and he needs ME, not another rat. You see, these angels (rats) don't consider themselves to be that much different than us humans. I would recommend never separating rats who were cagemates from a very early age; but, for me, bringing a second rat into Buddy's world only hurt Buddy and made him very sad. By the way, I've had great success with using soft towels, cloth diapers, and even sleeping bags as rat bedding, making sure to use scent-free laundry detergent in small amounts when laundering the bedding. Hope this helps you and others. Buddy's Forever Dad 2009-12-21
I was so begging & begging & begging my dad for this rat, and it finally worked! Thank goodness. No training needed because she's perfectly tame already, eats popcorn out of my hand, and lays on my shoulder. Hooded rats are the best! btw, her name is Tinsle. She's Great! Anybody who wants a pet, look no further than the Rat! Cady 2009-12-07
Some of the coolest comments:
I've had numerous pet rats over the last four years and each has their own personality and quirks. I've had cuddlers, adventurers, and diva's - each a close friend. Loki would wait for me to get home from work and greet me at the door when he heard my car pull in to the drive. He'd climb up my leg, onto my shoulder and lick my bottom lip when I'd say "give mommy kisses". Tony Montana loved to be slid across the floor like a bowling ball and would play fetch with toys and balls. Zoey was a mother 3 times to a total of 36 darling babies. All of our friends used to shy away from the idea of a rodent in the home, but my blue dumbo Skillet melted all of their hearts with his huge ears and tiny body. He's got the silkiest dark silver fur and is cage mates with a fluffy siamese rat. The fur by his ears, tail, face and feet turned dark just like a siamese cats. I read that the color change is temperature related - colder zones turn darker brown, the warmer zones stay a creamy off-white. My boyfriend was indifferent to rats when he met me. He got along well with the 3 rats I brought into his home, but got the full effect of special bonding when we picked out baby Hash-Bones and Skillet from a breeder friend. Now he treats them as if they were our children. Loving and caring for these fuzzy buddies have brought us a little closer to each other, and turned all of our skeptical friends into rat enthusiests. Jessica B 2009-02-16
I am the proud owner of a male rat who is almost 2 years old. Shooter is the best pet I could have asked for. My son and I adopted him from our local pet shop when he was 3 months old as a Christmas present to ourselves. We only have him because he gets soooo much attention every single day, hours of attention! His cage is in the living room because we spend most of our time there. He is incredible with my 6 year old, my son was 4 when we adopted him. Shooter is so patient with him and has even learned a few tricks from my son's training. I am an experienced rat owner, I had 13 at one time when I was a teenager. I hate when people look at having a rat as "wierd". They are just as smart and loveable as any dog or cat, maybe even more. I will be a rat owner forever, I cannot get enough of their cuteness! My advice for anybody debating adopting a rat - be prepared to be involved with your rat every single day, keep their cage clean and their food coming, and they will adore you like nobody else! mindy 2008-07-12
Comments Dr Jungle REALLY Likes to Hear!
My rat, Grapes, has major fleas. I didn't notice til now. This website helped so much!!! cc 2009-05-19
I am a proud owner of 18 pet rats. I have one Russian blue male who is 1 year old. I have 2 of his babies (1 male, 1 female) who are blue berkshires. I have one blak hooded female and I have one agouti vari female who just gave birth to 13 babies. I have owned rats for about a year and I can't imagine life without them. My Russian blue male (T.C) is the sweetest little guy. He loves to give kisses to everyone. He accompanies me everywhere and people are always amazed that a rat can be so sweet. There are a lot of misconceptions about rats. I hope that websites like this raise awareness of the BEST PETS IN THE WORLD... Samantha 2009-03-02
I used to have a wonderful blond rat named jean-bob. he was a great companion and lived in my home for several years. his favorite place was on my shoulder and he loved to crawl into my hair. he had a cage that he stayed in when i was not at home. ferret cages seemed to work wonderfully for all the rats I have owned over the years. They tend to find a way out of the lids on aquariums. Jean-bob is the only rat I ever owned that liked hot tea. He would go crazy over dried cranberries. When I would go to bed, he would bang his toys against the cage, run around, and make every noise he could until I would bring him to bed. He would then curl up in my hair and go to sleep with me. In my opinion, rats are the best companions. For adults and children. This article was very informative, but everyone should know that as long as you care for your rat and love them, they can be the best companion you ever get. tamara 2007-08-01

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