Important Pet Rat Information
There is a lot of information out there about pet rats and we think only about half of it is accurate! We are learning new things every day about these amazing little creatures by trial and error, study and research. We would like to share some of the most important things we think you should know before bringing ratties in to your family.
One Rat or 2
Rats are very social animals and should always be kept in pairs or more. Some people seem to think that a pet rat will bond to them more if there is only one rat, this simply is not true. Rats are curious and social in nature towards people yet they always need at least one other rat buddy for sleeping, grooming, cuddling, playing and/or arguing with. Caring for two rats is really no more work than caring for one. There is however a very rare exception to this rule when a male rat is too aggressive toward other rats and can only safely be housed by himself. We have found that getting an aggressive male rat neutered solves all problems!
Some people have chosen to dispute us on the fact that rats need another rat buddy. We will not change this opinion. Thousands of domesticated rats have now come through our doors here at Best Friend Rodent Rescue and one rat will not bond with you more if he does not have a buddy. If you have ever found this to be the case, it was simply in the rats nature and I can guarantee that rat would have bonded the same with you, whether he had a buddy or not, it was simply in the rats personality to be more social and affectionate with humans! Are you able to groom you rat or sleep with your rat at night, fit in to a hammock with your rat? Bicker with your rat, over who get the last pea? The quality of your rats life truly depends on him or her having another rat buddy. If you still don't believe us come for a visit and we will show you, or contact us, and we will tell you the stories of rats that have had companion rats all their lives and still act like puppy dogs to their owners, following them around the house and never wanting to leave their side!
Here is our favorite video of all time to help you understand why rats should always have another rat companion:
Some people have chosen to dispute us on the fact that rats need another rat buddy. We will not change this opinion. Thousands of domesticated rats have now come through our doors here at Best Friend Rodent Rescue and one rat will not bond with you more if he does not have a buddy. If you have ever found this to be the case, it was simply in the rats nature and I can guarantee that rat would have bonded the same with you, whether he had a buddy or not, it was simply in the rats personality to be more social and affectionate with humans! Are you able to groom you rat or sleep with your rat at night, fit in to a hammock with your rat? Bicker with your rat, over who get the last pea? The quality of your rats life truly depends on him or her having another rat buddy. If you still don't believe us come for a visit and we will show you, or contact us, and we will tell you the stories of rats that have had companion rats all their lives and still act like puppy dogs to their owners, following them around the house and never wanting to leave their side!
Here is our favorite video of all time to help you understand why rats should always have another rat companion:
The video above pretty much sums it up, however if you would like to do further reading on the subject here is a great article on why rats need another rat: http://www.nfrs.org/company.html
Housing Requirements
Rats need a lot of living and climbing space in their cages. They should not be kept in aquariums. Not even aquariums with toppers. They need air circulation so the ammonia in their urine doesn’t build up and harm their lungs.
Is your cage big enough, please see this link: http://www.rattycorner.com/odds/calc.shtml
It is a great reference for the cage size required. Be sure to change the measurements to imperial (inches). The minimum base of any cage should be about 2 square feet then allow 2 to 2.5 cubic feet per rat. This gives the rats enough room to romp around. All wire floors should be covered with cardboard, linoleum, Formica or fabric to prevent bumblefoot which is caused by always walking on wires. Don’t forget to add hammocks and huts or nesting boxes! Rats love these items.
NEVER use Cedar or Pine bedding or shavings - it's TOXIC to rats! They contain chemicals called phenols (aromatic hydrocarbons) that can cause respiratory problems in your rats, and are best avoided. This toxic substance is what gives the litter the strong aromatic smell, which covers up the odors of urine, but at a hazardous cost to your rats.We use Carefresh Ultra or Carefresh Natural and Recycled paper pellets for litter boxes. We also use fabric like towels and old baby blankets, t-shirts etc. on shelves and in huts or nesting boxes. Rats have a tendency to pee wherever so we try use the most absorbent yet comfortable fabric we can find.
Is your cage big enough, please see this link: http://www.rattycorner.com/odds/calc.shtml
It is a great reference for the cage size required. Be sure to change the measurements to imperial (inches). The minimum base of any cage should be about 2 square feet then allow 2 to 2.5 cubic feet per rat. This gives the rats enough room to romp around. All wire floors should be covered with cardboard, linoleum, Formica or fabric to prevent bumblefoot which is caused by always walking on wires. Don’t forget to add hammocks and huts or nesting boxes! Rats love these items.
NEVER use Cedar or Pine bedding or shavings - it's TOXIC to rats! They contain chemicals called phenols (aromatic hydrocarbons) that can cause respiratory problems in your rats, and are best avoided. This toxic substance is what gives the litter the strong aromatic smell, which covers up the odors of urine, but at a hazardous cost to your rats.We use Carefresh Ultra or Carefresh Natural and Recycled paper pellets for litter boxes. We also use fabric like towels and old baby blankets, t-shirts etc. on shelves and in huts or nesting boxes. Rats have a tendency to pee wherever so we try use the most absorbent yet comfortable fabric we can find.
Diet
If you are able to make your rats food, that is your best bet. If not, your other option would be Lab blocks or pellets along with fresh fruit and vegetables daily! From experience and research we have found the best lab blocks to be Harlan Teklad through different online companies. We are now selling the Harlan Teklad 2018 for $1 a pound.
Another good choice is Mazuri, while it is very similar to Harlan, our rats don’t seem to like it as much, when we feed them the Mazuri, it stays in dishes much longer and the don’t even take the time to empty the bowl by stashing it everywhere in the cage as soon as it is served, like they do the Harlan. Oxbow is also a good quality pellet, the rats seem to prefer this over Mazuri, yet they still don't prefer it as much as the Harlan Teklad! Avoid the pet store brands like Kaytee as these lab blocks are not specifically formulated for rats and may not be a complete diet for your best friend. Also be sure not to feed your rats the mixed seed and nut diets it could lead to serious health issues and rats will typically pick out their favorite parts of these mixes, which means of course their diet will not be nutritionally balanced!
Another good choice is Mazuri, while it is very similar to Harlan, our rats don’t seem to like it as much, when we feed them the Mazuri, it stays in dishes much longer and the don’t even take the time to empty the bowl by stashing it everywhere in the cage as soon as it is served, like they do the Harlan. Oxbow is also a good quality pellet, the rats seem to prefer this over Mazuri, yet they still don't prefer it as much as the Harlan Teklad! Avoid the pet store brands like Kaytee as these lab blocks are not specifically formulated for rats and may not be a complete diet for your best friend. Also be sure not to feed your rats the mixed seed and nut diets it could lead to serious health issues and rats will typically pick out their favorite parts of these mixes, which means of course their diet will not be nutritionally balanced!
To Spay or Neuter
Unaltered rats should always be kept in same sex groups and rats from any rescue should never be used for breeding. We offer the option of spaying or neutering and there can be great benefits to both.
A spayed female has a much lower risk of getting mammary or pituitary tumors, it also removes the risk of ovarian, uterine, or cervical cancer or infection. You could be adding a year or two of life to your special friend by getting her fixed. A spayed female can also intermingle with intact male rats without the risk of pregnancy.
Neutering a boy rat can also reduce his chance of tumors. Neutering greatly reduce his testosterone level reducing aggression toward other rats, greatly reducing urine marking, making his coat softer and less oily/smelly, and he can hang with the ladies if he is neutered. Plus it removes those very large unsightly “male parts” that male rats have.
*note: a neutered male could be fertile for up to 6 weeks after surgery and should be kept separate from the females during that time.
A spayed female has a much lower risk of getting mammary or pituitary tumors, it also removes the risk of ovarian, uterine, or cervical cancer or infection. You could be adding a year or two of life to your special friend by getting her fixed. A spayed female can also intermingle with intact male rats without the risk of pregnancy.
Neutering a boy rat can also reduce his chance of tumors. Neutering greatly reduce his testosterone level reducing aggression toward other rats, greatly reducing urine marking, making his coat softer and less oily/smelly, and he can hang with the ladies if he is neutered. Plus it removes those very large unsightly “male parts” that male rats have.
*note: a neutered male could be fertile for up to 6 weeks after surgery and should be kept separate from the females during that time.
Rattie Health Concerns
This section is still in the process of being updated, unfortunately there are more health issues you might com across with your ratties, as time permits we will be adding more health concerns and possible solutions!
Unfortunately not only do ratties have far too short a life span, they only average about 2.5 to 3 years of age, they are also smitten with a variety of health issues. Some of the most common health problems your little friend may encounter are as follows:
Tumors – Tumors are very common in rats, especially in females. You can reduce the chance of tumor in your rat by getting it spayed or neutered and feeding a low-fat diet.
If your rat ends up with a tumor, surgical removal is almost always an option.
Upper Respiratory – This issue is very common in rats and can occur even when they receive complete care and regular cage cleanings. Therefore it is especially important to make sure that rats have a home with good air flow and clean bedding. The most common symptoms can be sneezing, wheezing and the production of porphyrin which is a red substance excreted around the nose and eyes. Antibiotics such as Baytril and/or Doxycycline can be administered to help your rattie heal. I have also been hearing a lot of wonderful success stories with the more natural alternative Echinacea.
Unfortunately not only do ratties have far too short a life span, they only average about 2.5 to 3 years of age, they are also smitten with a variety of health issues. Some of the most common health problems your little friend may encounter are as follows:
Tumors – Tumors are very common in rats, especially in females. You can reduce the chance of tumor in your rat by getting it spayed or neutered and feeding a low-fat diet.
If your rat ends up with a tumor, surgical removal is almost always an option.
Upper Respiratory – This issue is very common in rats and can occur even when they receive complete care and regular cage cleanings. Therefore it is especially important to make sure that rats have a home with good air flow and clean bedding. The most common symptoms can be sneezing, wheezing and the production of porphyrin which is a red substance excreted around the nose and eyes. Antibiotics such as Baytril and/or Doxycycline can be administered to help your rattie heal. I have also been hearing a lot of wonderful success stories with the more natural alternative Echinacea.
