Frequently Asked Questions!
On this page I will try and answer some frequently asked questions about rats. I will answer them from my own experiences and knowledge, some answers maybe considered as a personnel opinion . So I recommend you read around the subject that you are interested in and make your own opinion of what is best for your rat (except in health conditions where you should consult a vet). One way to find out information is looking at internet articles you can find some varied articles on my Article page which may help you in your search for knowledge. Other ways to find out information are books (mentioned below), Internet news groups, forums, clubs, communities and also by asking more experienced keepers.
I would like to say that for the new rat owner it is always a good idea to buy a good book about rats and seek veterinary assistance if you are at all worried about you rats.
For Rat book reviews follow this link
Q1. What makes rats good pets?
I have had many different types of rodents and I always come back to rats this is mainly because they are such intelligent, sweet and just plain fantastic rodents! When you talk to a well socialized rat you know that it will interact with you, unlike some other rodents that will ignore you or run away. Other factors that make rats good pets are that they are clean and actually spend a lot of time cleaning themselves, they also don't take up as much room as a cat or dog but you can have a similar type of relationship with them. They are also fairly cheap to look after once you have done the initial spending on a cage etc.
Harvey showing just how cute rats can really be!
Its important to add a warning here that although rats make fantastic pets, as with any animal in order to look after them properly you have to devote a lot of time to them! Before you get any pet make sure you have the time, long term commitment and money to look after it!
Q2. How long do rats live ?
On average a rat can live from 2-3 years but they have been known to live to 4. I have found that where you purchase your rat from (see below) can have a big effect on the life span of your rat! Some of my rescue or pet shop rats who had bad starts in life didn't make it much past two as some of my well bred rats from breeders have lived past three!
Q3. Where is the best place to buy my rats from ?
Personally I would say a breeder! but other options are pets shops and rescue centres. I prefer to buy from a good breeder as then you can insure that your rat has been bred for the qualities you desire in a good pet e.g. health and temperament and not just for a quick sale that can be the case in many pet shops. Breeder rats will also have been fed the correct diet while growing up and should have been well socialized and generally have had the best start in life. At a breeders you should be able to see your new rat's parents and judge their temperament and type. Most breeders will stay in contact with you once you have bought the rat home and will give you any advice you need.
Pets shops on the other hand will usually supply you with a big "?", you will have no idea how the rat was brought up and you will have no idea what temperament its parents had etc. On the whole pets shop rats are bred in bulk and therefore the rats do not have the individual attention they need when young and so will not be as friendly. The staff will usually not be able to tell you much about them either or offer any advice. (Although this is not true of every pet shop.)
To get a better idea of where pet shop rats may start their life, follow this link to the Alpha Centauri Ratz website article on rodent farms!
Rescue rats can have a bad history and are there for not always best for the first time owner, they will need a lot of time and patience to gain human trust again. However some rats from rescue centres may have been tamed for you. A big plus for rescue rats is that with a lot of time and effort they can become tame again and this can be very rewarding.
Finally with any establishment that you decide to purchase your rats from remember to have a good look around, check it is clean and ask lots of question! e.g. How old are the rats ? (they should be over 6 weeks old ), what age where the sexes separated? (they should be separated at 5 weeks), what are they fed?, Are there any history of diseases/problems in the line? etc etc. Look at the other rats on site, do they seem happy and healthy? If it is a pet shop try and find out who bred them and maybe get in contact with them and find out more about the rats. If you are at all worried then walk away, remember that you are making a commitment to a rat that will live up to 3 years so its got to be right!
Q4. What should I look for when I'm buying my rats ?
You should basically look for a healthy rat, that will be lively and have bright, clean eyes. A clean nose with no nasal discharge, its anus should not be stained with signs of diarrhoea, its ears should have no nicks in them and they should be clean inside. Look for red/brown colouring around the eyes and nose this could be Porphyrin staining and is a sign of stress that could be caused by underlying illness. The coat should be flat (except with rexes) and sleek, run your had over the animal part the fur and look for bites, mites and scabs etc. There should be no signs of flaky skin either. Also listen to its breathing, make sure it isn't wheezing or having trouble breathing. Finally watch it move make sure it isn't limping etc.
Q5. How many rats should I buy ? (at first).
Rats are social animals and should never be kept alone. Although you may feel that your rat will not be as tame in pair, the opposite can actually be true. Rats in pairs seem to gain confidence from one another and If one is particularly timid of people it will watch the other one socialize with people and learn from it. Rats being more active at night while you are asleep will appreciate the company another rat will give them at this time, the same can be true when you are out in the day. Having done my degree in behaviour I feel it is cruel (unless in exceptional circumstances) to keep social animals like rats on their own. Living a solitary existence prevents the rats from displaying valuable parts of its natural behaviour repertoire such as mutual grooming, playing and group sleeping.
Rats are sociable animals and should be kept in at least a pair!
Q6. Which sex makes the better pet ?
Strictly speaking this is down to personal preference. However there are some difference between the sexes. Generally does are more active, have softer coats, smell and sent mark less then bucks. Bucks on the other hand are far more laid back have a slightly rougher coat that can be oily and sent mark their territory a lot more, even when they are out of the cage. Bucks are also bigger then does.
Q7. Are rats available in many colours, types ?
Yes, rats are available in many colours and types. From Blue (light grey) ,Black, Silvered varieties (with silver guard hairs), Marked varieties such as hooded and Striped roans as well as the ticked varieties such as Agouti or Cinnamon. As well as Black eyed white, pearls, Siamese, Himalayan and the list goes on .Rats come in different types as well , there are Dumbos with low set, flared ears, Manx with no tail, Hairless, rexes with curly coats and Odd eyed rats.
The best places to look at colours and types are breeders websites, club websites as well as Genetics websites. I really recommend you take some time doing this before you purchase your first rat as later you may be a tad disappointed if you see a colour you would have rather had.
Q8. Are rats Compatible with other pets ?
This really depends on two things, if the animals where brought up together and the nature of the animals involved. For a start its is very rare for cats and rats to get along! I wouldn't try that combination. But nice natured dogs can get along with rats, you must always supervise them though. My dog Tula loves my rats, she always wants to sniff their bums! and the rats find her quite interesting too.
I would not recommend housing a rat with smaller rodents. It is important to remember that rats are omnivores (eating both vegetables and meat) and being naturally opportunistic in the wild they will eat a variety of smaller animals including frogs and even mice, so your rat may have a predatory response to the smaller rodent and attack it.
Q9. What should I house my rats in ?
Rats need the biggest cage you can supply! In my opinion cages are the best form of housing as there is now a large choice available, your rat can climb in them and they have good ventilation.
Q10. What should I feed my rats ?
This is a much talked about subject and really needs reading into before you decide what to feed your new pets. A few things to bear in mind are that firstly rats are ominous eating both meat and vegetables , it is important to find a source of food that is readily available and lastly that rats require around 14% protein in their diet. There has been some discussion that too much protein can cause skin problems.
Over the years I have fed my rats various shop brought foods and mixtures of such foods but now after advice from others and much reading up on the internet I feed a diet based on the Shunamite diet mix. This is because a lot of shop brought foods don't quite meet the specific requirements of rats and also when mixing up your own diet your cant vary it to make it more interesting for your rat as well as fitting in their current requirements. My basic mix consists of varying ratios of low protein rabbit food with out alfalfa, James Wellbeloved Fish and Rice dry dog food, pasta, low sugar human cereal and a sprinkle of Dr.Squiggles vitamins and garlic powder. For more information on this diet please follow this link to the home of this diet - The Shunamite Rat's diet!
I use fish based dog food because I was recently advised that some chicken based dog foods get their chicken from countries where growth hormones are used and when eaten by our pet rats may encourage unusual growths, such as mammary tumours. It made sense to me, so I thought I wouldn't risk it anymore!
Healthy treats include Fruit, Vegetables, Pasta, Rice, Bread, Dog biscuits etc however all treats should be given in moderation.
Q11. What substrate and bedding should I use ?
I have tried countless different combinations of beddings and substrates trying to find out what is best for my rats. Currently I use shredded paper (old bills etc that have gone through our paper shredder) and good quality wood shavings NOT saw dust!, as the dust is irritating to a rat's respiratory tracts. The best substrate I have used however is Aubiose (hemp straw) which can be brought in bales for horses at around £6-10 a bale and has no dust at all! The only reason I am not using it currently is that I can't get hold of it, although I am working on it. In addition to shredded paper good quality hay (it should look green in colour and not grey and dusty) can be used as it provides bedding and roughage for the rats.
Many people recommend cardboard based bedding, which is cut into small squares such as Ecopetbed. Other bedding that can be used include shredded paper kitchen towels, old clean rags and commercially made bedding, but beware of the fluffy cotton wool type bedding, this can get caught round limbs and if ingested tangle in the gut. As with the diet I recommend you read around the area and see what the breeder you are getting your rats from recommends!
Q12. How can I exercise my rat/ enrich its environment ?
The best enrichment for rats is coming out and interacting with there owner at play time, this is probably the most important form of exercise/enrichment as it also allows you to bond with your rat and get to know them, it also keeps them well socialized. It is recommended that rats being intelligent social animals need to come out for about an hour everyday! This is something I try and aspire too but isn't always realistic. However mine will come out for a least 4 plays a week for an hour at a time.
Rats love to come out to play and will often be found begging at the bars for attention (even if they have just been out!).
Toys play an important part in enriching the cage. You can buy a wide variety of toy from pets shops and you will often find that toys meant for larger animals such as parrots and ferrets can be great fun for rats too! Home made toys are also good for example card board boxes and tunnels systems as well as flower pot beds and hammocks. For more ideas follow this link to the toys page.
Q13. Do rats Smell ?
Rats are very clean little animals and only really smell if you pick them up and give them a good sniff ! Like any animal they have their own unique smell. However if your cage is cleaned out regularly and you use a suitable pet disinfectant then you shouldn't smell the presence of a cage in a room. If your cage does smell, then it maybe worth readjusting your cleaning schedule!
I hope you find this helpful If you have any other questions that I haven't answered then fell free to email me and I will try and answer them or direct you to the right source.
Em.
Last updated 26th August 2008
All photo's and some art work are produced by me, unless stated otherwise. Please do not take any of my art work or photos as allot of work has gone into them. If you do wish to use some of my art/gifs/photos then please email me for permission first.
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Disclaimer = I do not claim to be an authority on rodents or rats and any information on this page is just opinions and advice and is by no means a substitute for good books or veterinary advice. All the toys on the toys page are just ideas and may not have been tried out so it is up to you to implement them and judge there safety.
