Rat Care

[sane-ax_addict]

i've accidentally inherited a rat.

background: my brother and his girlfriend were living with our mother. girlfriend brings her pet rat. they moved out, leaving the rat. they didn't tell anyone they were leaving her and all they left for food was a bag of catfood. i know nothing about rats, but i'm pretty damn sure that catfood isn't gonna cut it.

sooo............ i need to know how to care for a rat. i'm sure i could have just come out and said it, but i'm pretty pissed about this and needed to rant.

[veganshawn]

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer...e=pets_ratcare

Here’s how to keep your smart, active friend happy and healthy.

Background
The domestic rat is a descendant of the wild brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) and has been bred as a pet for about a hundred years. Pet rats are much less fearful than their wild cousins, and when handled gently, they quickly learn to enjoy riding on their human friends’ shoulders and napping in their laps.

The average rat ranges from 14 to 18 inches long, including the seven-inch tail. These companion rodents come in a variety of coat types and colors, from curly and shiny to black, white and black-and-white. If well cared for, rats typically live 2 1/2 to three years.

Curious, intelligent and always up for some fun, rats can be great pets for kids—but young caretakers should always be supervised by an adult. These animals are not toys, and must be treated with kindness and respect.

Cost
When you first get your pet, you’ll need to spend about $35 for a cage. Food runs about $50 a year, plus $20 annually for toys and treats, and $220 annually for litter and bedding material. We recommend purchasing your rats from a breeder or, even better, adopting them from a local shelter or small-animal rescue group.

Housing
Rats are very social with members of their own kind, and should be kept in pairs at minimum. Baby rats can be removed from their litters at about six weeks of age. A pair of females is recommended for first-time rat caretakers. Males can do well together if introduced when they are young. Females, on the other hand, are more accepting of new friends introduced later in life.

Note that a neutered male can live with females, or a spayed female can live with males. Do not keep intact males and females together, as they will breed—and breed. The average rat litter is 12 young, and can be as high as 20.

Rats do best in wire cages because they enjoy climbing, and the wire offers good ventilation. A cage that is 2’ x 2’ x 2’ will generally do for a pair of rats, but a larger space would be much appreciated. If you plan to keep more than that, you’ll need a larger cage. The floor should be solid, and a bedding of aspen or pelleted recycled paper must be provided. Do not use pine or cedar shavings, which can be harmful to your pets. If you find that your rats like to make nests, provide shredded paper towels or napkins for this purpose.

A large, multi-level cage designed for ferrets can also make a great rat home, as can a large aquarium. If you opt for the latter, you’ll need a screen cover to provide ventilation, and will probably need to clean the cage more often to keep odor problems under control.

Whatever type of cage you choose, don’t forget the furniture! Provide small boxes or flower pots to hide in (it’s very necessary for your rats to have a quiet place to which they can retreat) and PVC tubes for your rats to run through. You can also add a tree branch for them to climb on. Some rats enjoy running on an exercise wheel, so you may want to get yours one. Make sure that the wheel has a solid surface without wire rungs, so their tails cannot get caught while running.

Keep in mind that a bored rat is an unhappy rat, and it’s up to you to provide the fun and games for your little guys. They LOVE toys, and you can offer yours many of the same toys that are enjoyed by parrots, including swings and ropes for climbing.

Rats can be prone to colds, so be sure to keep the cage out of drafts. Intense direct sunlight should also be avoided, as rats are highly susceptible to heatstroke. A room kept at 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit should be just right. Make sure the cage is easily accessible for clean-up by placing it away from the wall. (And P.S., it’s especially great if you can find a location where the family gathers in the early evening—your gregarious pets will love it!)

Diet
Your pets’ main diet should consist of rat blocks, a high-quality pellet chow formulated for rodents. Look for a brand that lists soy meal as the main ingredient. This food should be available at all times.

The ASPCA recommends offering small amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables to your rats every day. Peas, broccoli, carrots, apples and bananas are good foods to start with, but it’s fun to try new things and find out your pets’ favorites. Rats love people food, and you can give yours the occasional table scrap, such as cooked pasta, small pieces of egg or chicken, or a bit of pizza crust. Treats need to be limited to prevent obesity.

Do not give your rats chocolate, corn, candy, caffeinated and carbonated beverages, onions, sticky foods such as taffy and peanut butter, and junk food.

Fresh, clean water should be available at all times. A water bottle with a drinking tube that attaches to the side of the cage is the best way to go.

General Care
Remove droppings, uneaten food and soiled areas of bedding from your pets’ cage every day. Clean the cage completely once a week by replacing dirty bedding and scrubbing down the rest of the cage with warm, soapy water.

Like that of all rodents, a rat’s front teeth grow continuously. Provide unpainted, untreated pieces of wood, dog biscuits or safe cardboard or rawhide chew toys for your rats to gnaw on. This is crucial for keeping their teeth in tip-top condition and preventing dental problems.

Rats are friendly and curious by nature, but you’ll need to get your pets used to you—and used to being handled. Start by feeding them small treats. When they’re comfortable with that, you can pick them up, one hand supporting the bottom, the other over the back. When you get to know each other better, don’t be surprised if your little friends want to snuggle and be petted.

Once your rats are hand-tamed, you should let them play outside of the cage in a safe, secure area for an hour or so every day. This out-of-cage playtime is mandatory—and will keep your smart, active friends mentally stimulated and physically fit. Just be sure to supervise at all times, please.

Veterinary Care
If you think one of your rats is sick, don’t wait until your regularly scheduled annual check-up—seek medical attention immediately. Common signs that something isn’t right with your rat include sneezing, lethargy, weight loss, dull eyes, diarrhea and difficulty breathing. Rats are particularly susceptible to external parasites such as mites. If you think your animal is infested, a trip to the vet is in order to clear up the infestation.

[sane-ax_addict]

rat care rly!! much thanks veganshawn! seems fairly easy.

[sane-ax_addict]

this one is pretty timid, or at least she seems it to me. i've handled rats before, but never cared for them full time.

i really am pissed about this. i have no idea how long she's been feeding this rat catfood, her living area is small aquarium with no toys, hiding places, or even a food dish. wtf?

[veganshawn]

Make sure you get her a hiding place soon, some chew toys and some fresh veggies.

[sane-ax_addict]

and an actual cage

[Aimra]

Originally Posted by sane-ax_addict

this one is pretty timid, or at least she seems it to me. i've handled rats before, but never cared for them full time.

i really am pissed about this. i have no idea how long she's been feeding this rat catfood, her living area is small aquarium with no toys, hiding places, or even a food dish. wtf?

Actually the cat food may not be all that bad. On the recommendation of my small animal vet I fed my rats a high quality dog food mixed with their lab block and fresh veggies/fruit. Since rats are omnivores the dog food actually fits well to their diet. Just don't give them too much or they get really overweight!!!

[seitanicvegan]

Originally Posted by Aimra

Actually the cat food may not be all that bad. On the recommendation of my small animal vet I fed my rats a high quality dog food mixed with their lab block and fresh veggies/fruit. Since rats are omnivores the dog food actually fits well to their diet. Just don't give them too much or they get really overweight!!!

I'm going to respectfully differ with you here. Rats are omnivores, but they have nutritional requirements that are very different from cats and even dogs. Lab blocks are by far the best option for food because they were designed by research labs to be nutritionally complete. The idea was to create a colony of "lab rats" that were as uniformly healthy as possible. With lab blocks as a main food base, a rat would need only some fresh fruits and cooked veggies as supplements. I would recommend staying away from cat food. Since cats are carnivores, their food is designed to meet carnivore/feline dietary needs. Since dogs are also omnivores, dog food is an acceptable alternative as long as the protein content is as low as possible AND it's supplemented with a truckload of other stuff.

When lab blocks are hard to find, many rat lovers feed their rats a homemade food; there are two recipes which are nutritionally complete: Sue Bee's mix (which can be found on Rats Rule) or Debbie Ducommun's recipe (which can be found on Rat Fan Club). Debbie (also known as "The Rat Lady") has a degree in animal husbandry (with years spent studying rat behavior and care), has kept rats as pets for years and years, and started the Rat Fan Club. There may be other recipes, but Debbie's or Sue Bee's would be a healthy choice for a rat diet.

sane-ax_addict: I have another recommendation for you. You might want to order Debbie's Rat Health Care book. This is THE bible of rat care (short of going to the vet, of course). You might also want to order her other book, Rats: A Fun & Care Book for Today's Pet Owner. This book is very useful for a detailed and accurate description of rat behavior and care.

[veganshawn]

They are a lot of fun, I had 5 at once and they are really neat.

[SpeakForTheTrees]

PS. This is Ms. Etrog

[seitanicvegan]

Originally Posted by SpeakForTheTrees

PS. This is Ms. Etrog

What an adorable little girl! She looks very feisty.

[lamb]

Originally Posted by SpeakForTheTrees

PS. This is Ms. Etrog

oh my freaking god!!! the cuteness! I can't take it! That's exactly how my hamster looked, i have soft spot for the little dark brown ones