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Urbanization has caused the pet rat to perhaps be the perfect pet. When space or locale eliminates the possibility of a dog or cat, the rat can be ideal. They are very inexpensive to keep and require no vaccinations. Very little living space is needed to house a rat. The domestic rat has been domesticated for over 100 years. The domestic rat or pet rat is very unlike its wild relatives. They have sweet personalities and are very affectionate. Though they do have one small quirk: they are terrible little kleptomaniacs. They love to steal and stash!
Rarely let your rats run free. If you do let him run loose supervise him 100% of the time. Many calamities that can strike a rat are found in a common household. Some of these dangers include getting trapped under reclining chairs and rocking chairs. They can escape out of the smallest of places. The rat will find holes they must investigate. You have to consider if the people that lived in your house previously had hidden rat poison in a out of the way place, like behind the stove. When you do let them down on the floor, supervise their play very carefully.
Picking Out Your Pet Rat
In the wild rats belong to colonies and are very social. They like to play together and cuddle up and sleep together. It is a good idea to purchase two rats instead of one. It should be two rats of the same sex for obvious reasons.
Make sure you pick out a healthy and happy rat. Check to be sure that they are friendly. A friendly rat will be inquisitive. Rats rarely bite, though baby rats will nibble your fingers. This nipping is very normal and is not biting. If a rat comes up and licks your hand you have found a very sweet rat.
Check out the rat's coat. Is it glossy and healthy looking? Make sure there is no discharge coming from the nose, mouth or eyes. Is he listless or hunched up with a ruffled looking coat? This is an unhealthy rat. Go to another pet store. Male rats are larger than the female rat. The rat's lifespan is from 2-3 years.
Housing and Accessories
An aquarium with a secure screened top works great. Metal cages are ok, except that they can corrode and the bedding gets all over. Rats' little legs can become trapped in wire cages where the gauge is too small. If the gauge is too big they can escape. They do make cages especially for rats now that are constructed of wire but are safe. They have shelves that are easy to clean and the animal can't get trapped. Make sure the cage is plenty big enough. I've seen far too many rats housed in cages that are much too small. They need room for their little sleeping house, a running wheel, feed dishes and a water bottle, plus additional room to run around. Remember that the rat is intelligent and needs toys and interesting things to do.
Bedding material has to be non toxic. Never use cedar or pine; it will cause damage to the rat’s respiratory system and can cause serious damage to his vital organs. There are great hardwood shavings that are safe for the rat’s use. Aspen is one of these hardwood shavings. They also like to take old cloth and make into bedding. An excellent bed for your pet is a Quaker Oats box. Be prepared to change it periodically since the box can be transformed into bedding.
The food dish needs to be heavy enough so not to tip over. The water bottle should have a chew guard designed for a rat.
Rats like to chew. In fact, rats have to chew, in order to wear down their teeth. Rat gnawing blocks are great to hone down teeth. You can also use dog biscuits, rawhide bones and cooked soup bones.
Your rat will need an exercise wheel, make sure it is big enough for a rat, about 14 inches in diameter.
Make sure the cage is not in direct sunlight or in too hot of a location. Especially if he is housed in a glass container, it gets hot, quickly, very much like a car with the windows closed.
Sanitize the cage once a week. Clean and sanitize the food and water container once a day. The rat's bedding should be changed every couple days if your rat wants you to or not. If he has a stash of real important stuff, you can sort it out for him and return it to the cage. Don't use pine cleaners or any cleaner that can injure your pet’s respiratory system. Ask the pet store or the pharmacy what would be a safe sanitizer to clean you rat's cage and accessories with. Some people use peroxide and vinegar combinations. This combination works great in the kitchen, too.
Toys are important to your rat, they are much more complex and intelligent than some people give them credit for. Toys such as ladders, PVC tubes, wooden bird toys and boxes are great toys. My rats just loved the bird toys that had a treat hidden inside. It takes them awhile to figure the puzzle out, but they will get it.
Feeding your Rat
There are plenty of rodent foods on the market. They contain the correct nutritional requirements for the rat and should be available for him all the time. You should supplement the rodent food with fresh fruits, vegetables and greens. Make sure you wash all fresh fruits and vegetables. You can also give your rat whole grain breads. If, in a pinch, you don't have access to rodent food you can feed a very high quality dog food, but make sure the fat percentage is not over 8%. Cat food is too high in fat and protein for a rat. Make sure he has plenty of fresh water and change it daily.
Bonding and Training
The first couple days leave the rat in his cage, but spend small amounts of time talking to him. After he adjusts to his new home start offering him treats with your hand. Treats like banana or cheerios work well. It may take a little time before he'll take the food from you. Speak his name when offering him food. He will get to know it and will come to you when called. After awhile you can begin training him to come when called. Put him down on your bed or floor, a short distance away. Take a treat and hold it out to him, calling him by name. Soon you can substitute some of the treats with hugs and kisses and he will be every bit as delighted.
Summary
Rats are sweet natured and intelligent. They are easy and inexpensive to keep as pets. Pet rats are perfect for the urban home, since they require very little space. Rats make sensational pets for children, especially the 8-12 year olds that really needs a trusted companion to share his life with. A rat is a good pet to teach your kids responsibility. Treat the rat with love and you will have a wonderful little companion.
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