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Caring for Pet Rats
Rat Cages, Rat Food, Rat Toys, Rat Pet Carrier
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Pet Rats are relatively small compared to other traditional household pets but that
doesn't mean they do not require as much care. Careful considerations are necessary to ensure that your pet
rat stays healthy and happy.
Shelter
Rats are very active. The cage needs to be large so that they can move around freely. Thick horizontal wire walls
are advised for ventilation. It also allows the rats to climb the walls when they want. The floor should be solid.
Wire floors can result to dumblefoot. Regularly wash the cage, change the bedding every 3 to 5 days, and disinfect
the accessories including the cage once a week.
Exercise and Playtime
Pet Rats love to play and run. They require toys and accessories to keep them busy while inside the cage. Consider
installing ropes, wheels, tunnels, ladders, platforms and hammocks. They also need something to chew like
cardboard, crumpled papers and other commercially available rat toys. They need to have some time outside the cage.
One hour each day is ideal. Make sure thought that your place is rat-proof since they chew just about
everything.
Companion
A rat is happier, healthier and stays more active if paired with another (same-sex) rat or if kept with other rats;
while a lone rat can become timid, bored, clingy, and may suffer from depression. If you have male and female rats,
one of them must be neutered or spayed. Do not be misled, mice and rats aren't the same and they don't get along
quite that well. Do not combine rats and mice inside a cage.
Diet
Like other pet animals, rats require a healthy diet. Provide them with
a supply of block type or pelleted diet. Dog food will do just fine but make sure that it contains less than
8% fat. While pellets provide complete nutrition, they still need fresh fruits and vegetables. Make sure, however,
that they are fresh, not sprayed, and washed carefully. Do not feed your rats with chocolates, cookies, candies,
potato chips and other junk foods. Foods should be placed in it's dish at all times and not through the spaces
between the wires of the cage as they easily learn that everything that is poked in are foods, including your
fingers.
Emergency Veterinary Care
While rats are very inexpensive to acquire and
maintain, they are prone to different illnesses.
Make sure that you save for emergency veterinary care. (Still, prevention is better than cure so
keep your rat healthy and happy through accessories, proper diet, substantial exercise, and attention.)
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