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RATS!!
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Rats can make great pets yet many people unfortunately seem to dislike them still. They are surprisingly affectionate and friendly, very active and entertaining to watch. You need to take great care when buying a rat as the temperaments can really vary. I will start by telling you my experiences with rats and then give more information and advice but please do not be put off by Frisky’s story!

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Skippy
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Skippy was a black hooded rat which belonged to a friend of mine when we were in junior school. To the horror of my parents I volunteered to look after Skippy while my friend went on holiday for a month. Skippy was an extremely affectionate and friendly rat and would happily sit on my shoulder or climb up on my head! Caring for Skippy was not too hard and I began nagging my parents to let me have a rat of my own. When my birthday came, I went with my friend to a very large pet shop and picked out a rat which my friend brought me. We got a large cage and all the necessary equipment and I couldn’t wait to get my first little rat home!

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Frisky
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Frisky was the rat which was brought for me. I have no idea why I named him that but never mind! Frisky was great; friendly, affectionate, well behaved, etc…well ...........with me. However, despite developing a good bond with me, Frisky seemed to take an instant dislike to everyone else in the world! He would happily sit on my shoulder and let me pick him up but if anyone else went anywhere near him, he would lunge at him or her! After several people being bitten (except me!) it was decided by my parents that perhaps the rat should go back to the shop! I objected and so Frisky stayed with us for a bit longer. Unfortunately during this time my dad tried to form a bond with him, but the only bond that was formed was between Frisky’s teeth and my dads finger!! As my dad put his hand to the top of the cage Frisky latched on to his finger and we walked into the room to find my dad shaking his hand frantically in the air with a rat attached to his finger!! Fortunately my dad’s finger survived but it was decided that Frisky was not safe to be in a house with children so we arranged to take him back to the shop. My dad put on some thick gardening gloves to pick up Frisky and put him in a box ready to be returned and we drove to the pet shop. When we handed the box containing Frisky over to the shop assistant she told us that the litter of rats had all been returned as they had all unfortunately been aggressive to everyone other than their primary carer! In the end we took home two gerbils as an exchange (these were lovely and I wrote a review on them a while ago!). That was the last we saw of Frisky.

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Danni
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I then spent many years with various different pets but when a friend of my brothers was selling his pet rat because he didn’t like it anymore I jumped at the chance to get a new rat. My dad (who still has a scar from Frisky) wasn’t too keen on the idea, especially as the rats previous owner didn’t want her because she had eaten her friend! This, however isn’t as bad as it seems! The rat, which was called Danni, had eaten its companion who was named Courtney after it had died, which in my mind is fair enough seeing as it was dead anyway!

So I brought Danni, complete with two-storey cage and various accessories from this boy, after making sure that it was definitely a friendly rat! Danni was quite old and unfortunately, as the previous owner had kept her cage on top of a large speaker, she was completely deaf. Danni was however quite playful and loved to climb up onto things in my room and perform amazing jumps from pieces of furniture! Danni was perfectly friendly and always keen to come out and play. I enjoyed several months with Danni but unfortunately my allergies to her bedding meant that we had to find her a new owner in the end.

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So what’s a rat like as a pet?
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One of the main things, which I have noticed about rats, is that they are very clean animals, which people find hard to believe due to the unfortunate stereotypes, which have been created. As long as they are cleaned out regularly, rats do not smell and so can quite happily be kept in a bedroom. Rats are incredibly playful and love to balance, climb, jump and run around. However, this does mean that they need to be given regular (at least once daily) attention and allowed to play and explore outside of their cage. Rats are surprisingly affectionate and will form a strong bond with a caring owner. Rats are often quite intelligent and so it is important to provide stimulation for them, such as creating mini challenges for them to do or mazes etc.

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Would I make a suitable owner?
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To give a rat the full care and attention it needs you must be able to spend at least an hour a day playing with your rat and letting it explore. You will need to be able to provide a good stimulating environment for the rat; both inside and outside its cage. Most children are not capable of caring for a pet properly on their own. Rats need regular cleaning out of their cages as well as being fed, played with and given fresh water daily, so a child should not be expected to care for a rat on their own as it is too much responsibility. As with owning any pet, you will need patience. Training a rat takes time and you will need to be able to watch them and learn their behaviours and use it to understand their needs. Rats need to be kept indoors, so you should also be willing to have the cage in one room of your house, which also means noise of the rat playing and possible mess from overflowing bedding.

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Where can I get a rat?
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If you have properly considered the responsibilities of keeping a rat and think that you can care for one properly then there is a selection of different methods of purchasing a rat:

Pet shops

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Many small pet shops do not sell rats but if you find a large store you will often be able to choose from a variety of different rats. You should always try and find out as much as possible about the rats, such as how often they are played with and where they have come from.

Advantages – You will be able to buy the necessary equipment at the same time.

Disadvantages – Rats in pet shops have often not been handled much and so will be harder to train. It is also likely that you will not be able to see the parents of the rat and so you will not be able to take a note of the health and temperament of the parents. The rats may also have picked up illnesses from other rats or animals which they are with in the shop.

Breeders
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Buying rats from a breeder allows you to know more about the pet you are getting and you should make sure that the breeder knows what they are doing and has really cared for the rats and played with them. You should also watch out for people who are just out to try and make money quickly and don’t really care about the rats they are breeding.

Advantages – Breeders will have probably spent more time handling and playing with the rats than a pet shop so the rat should be more friendly and happy. You can see the parents of the rat to ensure that they are healthy and have a good nature.

Disadvantages – The breeder may not be able to give you much advice if they do not really know what they are doing.

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What else will I need to buy?
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When buying a rat you will also need to purchase the necessary equipment.
Below I will list the basics:

A cage – This is where your rat will be spending most of its time so it should be spacious and specially suited for a rat. A standard hamster cage is far to small for a rat. You can buy specially designed rat cages from large pet stores, but the bigger it is, the better. A cage with different levels allows the rat to climb and jump which makes it more interesting for him. The best type of cage is a wire one as it provides the ventilation needed for your rat too stay healthy, it also is great for the rat to climb up and play in and it can also easily see into the room and watch and smell what is going on.

A food bowl – Your rat will need a bowl to contain its food. A heavy bowl is best as it wont be tipped over or thrown around. Food bowls of all sizes can be brought from pet shops.

A water bottle – A standard rodent water bottle will be needed for you to fill with fresh water daily. These can be brought from all pet shops and come in a variety of sizes.

An exercise wheel – It is important that your rat is able to exercise and so a wheel is an ideal addition to the cage. However it is important that the wheel is made from plastic and not wire (with gaps in) as the rat could get its tail caught in the gaps and be seriously hurt.

Toys – A rat will need a wide variety of toys which is can play with both in and out of its cage. Flowerpots are great for climbing in and on, ropes tied in various positions provide tightropes as well as climbing aids, large tubes are fun to hide in, cardboard boxes are good for climbing into and on, most toys designed for rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, ferrets and parrots are suitable for rats too. Sticks from an apple tree can be put into a hutch for gnawing on, but many woods are harmful to rats so apple tree wood is the best.

A bed – Rats need a bed where they can sleep, hide and snuggle up in. You can buy specially designed ‘houses’ in pet shops but a bed could also be easily made from a small cardboard box. Soft bedding should be put inside the bed so that the rat can keep warm.

Bedding – In its bed your rat will need some form of bedding, which is soft and provides warmth. Various soft, suitable beddings can be brought from a pet shop. Some bedding types can be toxic to rats so it is best to ask for some advice on what will be most suitable for the cage you have at the pet shop.

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Bringing a rat home
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Once you have brought a rat, it may take a little bit of time to settle down into its new surroundings. You should leave him for a day to settle in his cage and get used to the people in the house. Then, gradually you can begin making contact with your rat until he trusts you enough to let you handle him. Although he may be scared at first, he will soon realise that you mean no harm and he will get used to you. Make sure the cage is in a safe place; not near anything too hot or by a draft, not near anything which the rat could have a chew on! (eg wires!!) and out of the way of cats or other animals which may try and get to your rat. If you have young children you should explain to them that the rat will need to slowly get used to them and that they should be calm and gentle with him. Unless your rat becomes too anxious then you should begin to handle it as much as possible straight away as he will soon get used to your company.

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How to pick your rat up
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Rats are small animals compared to us and need to be handled carefully. The best way to pick a rat up is to lift him up with your hand under his tummy and then hold him against your chest so that he can grip on to you and even climb onto your shoulder. Children should always be supervised when holding a rat and it is advisable not to hold your rat at a height in case he falls or gets dropped.

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Caring for your rat
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Your rat will need a great deal of care and attention to keep him healthy and happy. Below I will list the basic care needed:

- Feeding-

Your rat will need feeding daily. There are various brands of rat food which can be brought from pet shops, but it is best to buy one which your rat eats all of, so that it gets the full nutritional value. There are other foods which are beneficial to rats as treats such as; vegetables, wholegrain bread and rice, oats, wheat, barley, cereals, fruit, low-fat meat, pasta, nuts, etc. Fatty foods should be given in moderation as it can be linked to tumours in rats but small amounts are fine as an occasional treat.

- Cleaning-

Rat’s cages will need to be cleaned out regularly (at least once a week) to remove faeces and urine soaked bedding as breathing in too much ammonia can cause harm to rats. A responsible adult who will do it properly should clean out the cage and all of the bedding should be removed and the cage, toys and food bowl should be cleaned out properly. An ideal cleaning spray is cascade bactericidal spray for small animals (see my review!) as it is safe to use in the cage and cleans well. The cage should be clean and dry before new bedding is put in.

- Grooming-

Rats are naturally clean animals and groom themselves regularly so they will not need to be groomed. However, it is a good idea to occasionally give them a shallow bowl of water to wash in and they may also enjoy splashing around in it. Rats can be given baths if really necessary but this is unlikely.

- Exercise-

Allowing your rat to exercise regularly is an important part of caring for him. The cage should be designed so that he can jump and climb but he should also be regularly allowed to explore outside his cage. I found that it was best to block off any holes where the rat may disappear into and move wires out of reach. I let my rat run around in my room under my supervision, however they do occasionally scent (wee) on things so cover anything that will be difficult to clean! You are also prone to having urine traipsed over you as it was kindly pointed out to me so its probably not the wisest idea to wear your best clothes while handling your rat!

It is fun to make an activity box for your rat, which contains lots of stimulating toys made out of simple household objects. A cardboard wine bottle carrier is great fun! If you do not allow your rat to exercise and play regularly he will become bored and depressed and may even become aggressive.

- Attention-

Most rats will love attention. My rats have loved to watch what is going on and to be talked to gently while they are in their cage. Being stroked and carried round the house is also often enjoyed and encourages sociable behaviour.

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How long do rats live?
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The lifespan of a rat is usually around 2 years but it can often be longer depending on the health of the rat and the care and attention it receives.

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Breeding rats
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As with breeding any animal, it should be thought about thoroughly before breeding rats. There are lots of things to consider such as whether you can find suitable homes for the babies once they are born, if not then whether you can care for them all, whether you can afford to feed the babies in case you cannot find them homes etc.

Rats breed easily and can produce a litter of up to 18 babies every 3-4 weeks. However it would be incredibly unfair on the female rat for it to be breeding this often and may even make it ill, so male and female rats should be kept apart until you want to breed them and they should then be separated again once the female is pregnant. A pregnant rat should have a spacious cage of her own and have plenty of clean bedding and a decent sized dark box to make a nest. It is best to leave her to get on with the pregnancy and labour on her own as it may cause her distress if she is interfered with. It is not uncommon for some of the babies to die and the mother will often eat the bodies (this is perfectly normal…don’t panic!) The babies will be dependant on their mothers for 4 –5 weeks and should not be separated from her until at least 6 weeks.

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Keeping rats together
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Rats love the company of other rats and if possible it is always a good idea to keep at least two together so that they can play together and keep each other company. If you do not want your rats to breed it is important to make sure that the rats are of the same sex. Rats do occasionally fight but it is normally only play fighting. Keeping more than one rat in the same cage not only makes the rats happier but it can also be really nice to watch them cuddling up together, grooming each other and just playing together. It is best to keep rats together from the beginning but if you already have a rat and want to introduce a new rat it should be done carefully. The cage should be thoroughly cleaned before putting the rats together to remove ‘scents’ left by the original rat. Rats should be gradually introduced to each other out of the cage and only put together in the cage after they are happy with each others company.

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Training
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Some people are unaware that it is actually quite easy to train rats. You can teach them to come when they are called by their name by rewarding them with food every time they do. It is rare for rats to bite humans out of anger unless you have managed to get a rat, which has an aggressive temperament (as I managed to with Frisky!) As with most caged animals, if fed food by hand or through the bars a rat may get confused between food (yum) and fingers (ouch)! So it is a good idea to train it by using certain words or noises when giving food such as simply saying ‘food’ as you feed him food by hand and he will soon learn the difference. Using a certain phrase such as ‘good girl/boy’ when giving praise is a good idea so that your rat knows when he has done something good! Giving treats for good behaviour is also a good training method.

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Health
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It is important to take your rat to a vet if you think he is unwell as rats can go down hill very quickly and die within hours. Indications that he is not well are difficulty breathing, unwillingness to eat, a messed up coat (caused by not grooming), lethargy, uninterested in attention, your rat may also be hunched up in the same position for a long period of time.

Tumours - tumours are quite common in older rats (especially females) who have a diet high in fat. Most tumours are benign but can grow too big for the rat to cope with. If this becomes the case, the tumour can be removed although this can be expensive and dangerous for the rat, or the rat can be put to sleep. If you find any lump on your rat which shouldnt be there, it is advisable to take him to the vets as soon as possible to get it checked out.

Mites - Rats can get mites or other parasites (especially if you have other animals in the house). A rat with mites will scratch constantly and may develop sore patches from excessive scratching. Medications to get rid of mites can be brought from your vets.

Dietry problems - Eating too many treats will make your rat fat. Rats should not be allowed to get overweight as it makes them more prone to getting ill. Like humans, rats can be allergic to certain foods such as peanuts, this may cause loss of fur, scratching and skin irritation and can be avoided by removing any foods which he is allergic to.

Dehydration - rats should always have a supply of fresh cold water but in the summer they can easily dehydrate if kept in a room which is too hot or in direct sunlight. You should make sure that the cage is in a room which is not too hot and that there is always cold water available.

Bumblefoot - this is a nasty disorder where a rats paws become very swollen, red and painful. It can be caused by cages which have mesh in the bottom and it can also be hereditory. It is often tough or impossible to cure so prevention is the best thing by covering wire bases with wood or plastic.

Ear infection - if your rat is tilting his head and having difficulty balancing then it is likely that he has an ear infection. This has to be treated with antibiotics so you should take your rat so the vets as soon as possible.

Respiratory problems - rats can develop respiratory problems such as infections or allergies to dust in bedding etc.An infection should be treated with antibiotics immediately and any sign of breathing problems in your rat indicate that you should take him to a vet pretty soon.

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Is a rat a good pet?
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I think that rats make great pets as long as you have the time, money and patience to care for them properly. They are great fun to play with and watch and the affection received once a bond has been formed between you and your rat is a very rewarding feeling. It is always important before getting any pet to consider all of the different commitments involved and make sure you can give the pet a happy and fulfilling life.