Rats make very good pets, especially for older children. They are a very intelligent animal and you should have a good sized cage with plenty of toys to keep them amused. An ideal cage for a rat is one with plenty of levels. The cage should be situated indoors and away from any radiators or windows to prevent a change in temperature. The bottom of the cage should be covered with a layer of wood or paper based litter, do not use wood shavings as this can cause irritation to the rats eyes and noses resulting in an allergic reaction. The rats should also have a private space where they can sleep with bedding to keep them warm, do not use straw for this as straw can also irritate.
Rats often sleep during the day but are not nocturnal like hamsters and will enjoy spending time with you during the day or evening.
Rats are a very sociable animal and can get very lonely. It is strongly recommended that rats be kept together in a same sex pair as human contact is not enough.
Rats live on average 2 - 3 years of age and given the right care and attention will stay healthy throughout their lives however they are prone to a number of common illnesses such as colds.
Like many of the smaller animals, your rats teeth are constantly growing and it is therefore very important to give your rat wooden toys or mineral stones to gnaw on.
In the wild, rats will eat almost anything and pet rats should also be provided with a varied diet containing all the necessary food groups. Foods such as rat muesli or rat nuggets are a good diet for rats, you can also give them fresh food such as cooked egg, cooked chicken scraps, vegetables such as sprouts, carrots and apples. If giving your rat additional treats, do so in moderation to avoid stomach upsets. Make sure your rat has water at all times as they do tend to drink more water that other rodents.
When your rat first comes to live with you, they should be left alone for the first few days to give them a chance to familiarise themselves with their new surroundings. When putting your hand in their cage to feed them, allow them to smell your hand, gently stroke them and when they are comfortable with you, then you can take the next step of picking them up, never pick them up by their tail, always gently scoop them up with both hands.
Rats do have a reputation of being a dirty vermin, but this is completely untrue. Rats are very clean, intelligent animals and will bring you many hours of amusement as they play in their cage.
RAT CHECK LIST
* MULTI LEVEL CAGE WITH PLENTY OF SPACE
* WOODSHAVINGS
* SOFT BEDDING OR HAMMOCK
* WOODEN CHEW TOYS
* TUBES OR OTHER TOYS
* PET SAFE DISINFECTANT
* CERAMIC FOOD BOWL
* RAT FOOD
* WATER BOTTLE
* MINERAL STONE
* VITAMIN DROPS
* A BOOK ON RAT CARE
