Temperament and company
Pet rats are highly sociable and cannot live alone. Keep them at least in pairs of the same sex, ideally rats that grew up together. Human company does not replace another rat, although they enjoy their owner's company.
Rats are clever and curious: they learn their names and tricks and recognise people. They are liveliest in the evening and at night but adapt to the household's routine. Without something to do they get bored, so daily contact is part of their care, not an extra.
Housing
Rats need a tall, roomy cage with several shelves, hammocks and hideaways. Floors and shelves should be solid: wire hurts their feet. Choose a dust-free bedding, never cedar or pine shavings, and do not give cotton wool or similar fluffy material for nesting, which can wrap around their toes.
Let your rats out every day to run in a safe, checked room: hide cables and block gaps. Keep the cage away from draughts and direct sun, and clean it regularly so an ammonia smell does not build up.
Feeding
Rats are omnivores. The basis is a food made for rats, with a little fresh vegetable every day. Fruit and animal protein, such as cooked egg, can be given in moderation.
Do not give sweets or fatty or salty human food: rats put on weight easily. Hide some of the food around the cage so it has to be found, since foraging is good enrichment. Clean water must always be available, and new foods should be introduced gradually.
Handling
Tame rats like being picked up. Offer a treat from your palm first, then slide one hand under the chest and support the hindquarters with the other. Never lift a rat by its tail.
Spend time every day on play and simple training with treats: it calms them and builds the bond. Children should handle rats with an adult watching.
Everyday health care
Check your rats every week: clear eyes and nose, no red discharge around the eyes, no lumps under the skin, front teeth that are not overgrown. Weigh them regularly: weight loss may be the first sign of illness you notice.
Rats have sensitive airways, so sneezing, wheezing or noisy breathing is a reason to see a vet. Find a vet who sees rodents before you need one.
What you will need
- A tall, roomy cage with shelves and solid floors Cages · 848 products
- Dust-free bedding, not cedar or pine shavings Bedding · 401 products
- Food made for rats Food · 2,671 products
- A heavy bowl and a water bottle Bowls & Feeders · 258 products
- Hammocks, tunnels and chew toys Toys · 259 products
- A house or hideaway for sleeping
- Treats for training and games Treats · 965 products
- A carrier for trips to the vet Carriers & Crates · 57 products
The links lead to product categories, never to a product or a brand. Not a recommendation.
When to see a vet now
See a vet straight away if your rat breathes with effort or noisily, stops eating, is dull, tilts its head, has diarrhoea or you see blood. Rats hide illness, so do not wait for it to get worse.
Sources
Lifespan, weight, social needs and diet are taken from these sources. The text is our own.