Once you have decided that rats are for you be sure to do some advanced planning before going to your nearest pet store and buying the first rat you see. Purchasing a new pet should never be an impulsive act. Research the aspects of rat ownership and be sure to have a cage, accessories, and the right food ready in advance.
Coprophagy is the eating of excrement and is a normal nutritional behavior for rats. It is essential for the maintenance of healthy gut flora and for the recovery of nutrients.Rats have a simple stomach as opposed to ruminants (which have compartmentalized stomachs) such as cows, goats, and sheep. Without the multiple digestive compartments to aid in breaking down food, essential nutrients are not...
Never put a new rat in with your resident rats without using a safe method of introduction. It is important to take your time when introducing rats to each other. An improperly done first meeting can sometimes lead to injury or emotional stress. Rats are individuals and each has its own way of dealing with newcomers. Some take to new rats with no problems whatsoever, some need a little time and...
Rats need and enjoy interaction and look forward to time spent with you. Their intelligence is higher than most other rodents making training and play time a joy. Be sure to make such activities not only fun, but also safe for your rat.When your rat is outside of its cage prepare the area first by rat proofing. Do not involve your rat in activities that will scare him. You can lose its trust and...
Your rats will be spending a lot of time in their cages. You need to add accessories that will make your rats comfortable and secure. Another very important reason to provide cage accessories is to keep them occupied. It has been proven that mental stimulation actually can increase intelligence.
Choosing the litter and cage bedding for your rats environment is important. Whatever product you decide to use be sure that you change it often to keep your rat healthy. The build up of ammonia and fecal bacteria can be extremely harmful to your rats respiratory system. Occasionally rats will be allergic to certain types. If this occurs then try different products until you find one that does not...
A clean environment will help to keep your rats healthy. It is essential to do a thorough cleaning of the cage once a week (this varies depending on cage size and number of occupants) and a spot cleaning once or twice during the week. Aquariums will need to be cleaned more often. Urine in the cage transforms into ammonia, which is very harmful to the rats respiratory system. Moist bedding and...
There are several options for housing your pet rats. Whatever you choose keep in mind that the space you provide needs to be adequate for the number of rats housed. A rat’s home needs to be a safe place. It is important to make sure that the housing you choose has sturdy latches and is escape proof. This is especially true when there are other pets in the household that might harm the rat or if...
Creativity is the keyword here. One doesn’t need to buy every toy made out there. You may find that your pet rat will think that empty toilet paper tube makes a wonderful place to hide in, or the shoe box you decided was taking up closet space will be a great place to take a nap in. How about wrapping a yummie up in a piece of tissue and watching your rattie enjoy taking it apart and eating the...
For the most part rats tend to clean themselves and often their cage mates. Some rats are not as fastidious about grooming as others and will need periodic maintenance. And on occasion, even the cleanest of rats may need some assistance with their personal hygiene.
Nutrition is the basis for maintaining good health in your rat, and a good base diet that contains essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals, along with a variety of fruits, nuts, and vegetables will do just that.Rats are omnivorous requiring both plant and animal food sources in their diets (much like humans), and specially formulated diets help to meet those nutritional requirements.