Keeping Pet Rats: Caring for Happy, Healthy Rats

Rats! Just the very mention of their name can evoke mixed feelings, but to many, they are adorable, affectionate, and entertaining pets. The Fancy Rat, the most common pet rat, is vastly different from the wild rats often misunderstood in culture. These intelligent and lively creatures make excellent companions for all ages. This guide offers essential advice for prospective rat owners on how to provide the best care for their pet rats.

1. Why Keep More Than One Rat?

Rats are highly social animals who naturally live in large family groups in the wild. Keeping at least two rats, and ideally a group of three or four, is important for their happiness and wellbeing. Social interactions such as playing, wrestling, grooming each other, and sleeping together fulfil their natural instincts. Even though pet rats often enjoy human company, the bonds they form with each other cannot be replaced by interaction with their owners. If mixing sexes, be aware of the likelihood of babies unless neutering is done. For smooth introductions, try to acquire young rats of similar age, especially if adding to an existing bonded group, to minimise fighting.

2. Creating the Perfect Home Environment

A spacious, well-ventilated cage is essential for your pet rats. The minimum recommended space is about two cubic feet per rat, but the larger the cage, the better. Wire cages with multiple levels, shelves, and climbing bars provide vital enrichment as rats love to climb and explore. Ensure cage bars are spaced to prevent escapes yet wide enough to avoid trapping their paws. Avoid glass or plastic tanks as poor ventilation may cause harmful ammonia build-up from urine.

Comfortable furnishings include hammocks for sleeping and a small nesting box. Safe bedding options include newspaper, soft towels, or paper-based rat bedding. Avoid wood shavings, sawdust, hay, straw, and clay or grit-based cat litter as these can be harmful to rats' respiratory systems.

Provide food bowls and water bottles firmly attached and accessible in the cage. Position the cage in a quiet, draught-free spot with stable temperatures ideally between 18–27°C (65–80°F) and moderate humidity around 40–70%, avoiding direct sunlight and loud noises that can stress your rats.

3. Nutritious Feeding for Balanced Health

Choose a high-quality commercial rat food formulated to meet their specific nutritional needs; hamster or gerbil food is not suitable as their dietary requirements differ. You can also prepare homemade mixes combining wholegrain rice, wheat, millet, barley, oats, and a selection of fresh vegetables.

Pet rats are omnivores and can relish occasional lean meat scraps, dog food, or mealworms. However, be cautious with protein intake, as excessive protein can lead to health issues. Fresh, clean water should always be available, and water bottles are preferred for cleanliness over bowls.

4. Gentle Handling and Socialisation

To keep your rats tame, handle and play with them daily, aiming for at least half an hour to an hour. Always use a gentle scoop to lift rats, supporting their bodies securely without grasping their tails, which can cause injury. Most tame rats enjoy climbing on their owners and prefer to explore safely rather than being held tightly.

Female rats might bite defensively during pregnancy or when caring for babies; male rats may show occasional aggression or scent marking that is often resolved through castration. Be cautious when feeding treats by hand, especially through cage bars, to avoid accidental nips.

5. Cleanliness and Daily Care

Maintaining hygiene is crucial for your rats' health. Remove droppings, spilled food or water, and damp bedding daily. Thoroughly clean the cage weekly by removing all bedding, washing the cage and accessories with animal-safe disinfectant, and replenishing with fresh bedding.

Check your rats' health regularly while handling them. Look out for changes in weight, activity levels, coat condition, or signs of illness. A safe, rat-proofed room where your rats can explore outside their cage daily offers excellent enrichment and exercise opportunities.

6. The Commitment of Responsible Rat Ownership

Keeping pet rats can be a delightful and fulfilling experience for both owner and pet, but it requires a daily commitment to their wellbeing. They usually live for two to three years, sometimes longer, and depend on you for a safe, healthy, and stimulating environment throughout their lives. Before deciding to keep rats, ensure you are prepared to invest the necessary time, effort, and love to help them thrive.

For those looking to acquire pet rats, always seek reputable breeders or consider adoption from responsible sources. This supports ethical breeding practices and helps provide homes for rats in need.