Rat Facts
- Average life span of 2-3 years.
- Length: body 9-11 inches; tail 7-9 inches.
- Nocturnal, so will be most active at night.
- Males are called bucks, females are does, and babies are pups or kittens.
- Rats are social so do best if kept with another rat (or group of rats).
- Rats reach puberty very young - at 4-5 weeks of age. They shouldn't be bred this young, though, so make sure males and females are separated before this age.
- Females go into heat every 4-5 days (for about 24 hours) and may seem agitated or restless during this time.
- Wide range of markings, as well as varieties (e.g. standard/smooth, rex, hairless, tailless)
- Rats are intelligent, social animals that can make wonderful pets.
- Easily tamed.
- Relatively easy to care for, but are not low maintenance pets.
- Require a fair amount of attention and exercise time outside of thier cages (at least an hour a day is ideal).
- Rats are very social and do best if kept with other rats. Same sex pairs or groups are ideal. Males usually get along fine with other males especially if introduced at a young age or they are littermates. Keeping rats in groups does not make them more difficult to tame if they are handled from a young age.
- Rats are very curious.
- Many owners compare the companionship of a rat to that of a dog.
- As a rule, males are larger and somewhat lazier than females, and have a coarser coat. Females are smaller and tend to be more active and playful.
Finding a Pet Rat
- Pet stores: only if the store/staff are knowledgeable about caring for rats and keep them in appropriate, clean housing with a good diet, and handle them regularly. Look for stores that house males and females separately, to avoid a surprise litter.
- Breeders (ratteries): probably the best option for finding a well socialized young rat. A good breeder will make sure the babies are socialized and handled from an early age. Also probably your only option if looking for a particlar coat type or color.
- Shelters: consider rescuing a rat in need of a home - check with local shelters or rescue groups. Choose a rat with a good temperament; rescued rats may be a little skittish or shy at first but you can probably overcome this with patience. Avoid rats that are aggressive though, as this is harder to overcome and most rats are not aggressive.
- Whichever source is chosen, make sure the rat appears to be in good health and condition, and is well socialized.
- If buying an older rat, try to make sure it has been handled from a young age.
- Try to avoid rats that are panicky when handled, especially if they do not relax quickly, and also those that are overly quiet and calm (may be ill). Often a good choice is a rat that is curious enough to approach you.
- Rats should be alert and active.
- The rats body should be firm and well rounded. Younger rats are likely to be on the lean side.
- The nose, eyes, ears, and rear end should be clean and free from discharge.
- The coat should be clean and well groomed (healthy rats spend a lot of time grooming). The skin on the ears and tail should be clean and pink.
- The skin should be free of sores and not red or flaky.
- Watch the rat's breathing to make sure it is not labored, and make sure the rat is not sneezing or having discharge from its nose or eyes (all signs of respiratory disease which is fairly common in rats).
- Watch for drooling or wetness around the mouth, which can be a sign of dental problems.
author:Lianne McLeod,
