Play a game of hide and seek with a rat. They catch on quick to the goals of this game. And they will win every time. A rat can think around corners and through the strategy of hiding and seeking. I watched my eight-year-old daughter teach her standard grey hooded rat, Shmee, how to play the game in less than fifteen minutes. Shmee became a professional. He relished her surprise when he ran out from hiding. Jumping up in the air and scrambling into her lap.
Rats are personable, loving, intelligent, and surprising.
Rats are not dirty. They spend more time grooming themselves than a cat. Fastidious in self-care, and cage cleanliness, rats will use litter boxes if they are provided. (Rats do leave a minute urine trail as they wander around, to find their way back or for their cage mates to follow.)
Rats are on the same sleep schedule as humans. They are ready to go when you are, and ready for bed as you are at night.
Every rat is different and has a personality. Shy, silly, fearless, funny, childlike, serious, thinking. The traits are endless.
Rats do not come in breeds (different shapes and sizes) like other species. They come in varieties (different coat types, ear type, no tail)
Standard –Short, smoothhair
Rex – Curly hair whiskers
Tailless - Like hamsters
Hairless – Like skinny guinea pigs
Satin – Thin, long, shiny hair
Dumbo – Large ears set to the side of their head
Bristle Coat – Stiff and coarse hair
Here's how to make a cage a home for your rat.
Rats love climbing. A vertical cage offering multiple platforms or floors is mandatory.
Never use an aquarium to house a rat. It is mentally and physically unhealthy for them.
Furnish for fun! Hammocks, hides, tunnels, bridges, boxes, tubes, wash clothes, small towels and bedding.
Rats love to collect and store things. Foraging toys and shiny objects are a passion.
Rats are persnickety about a clean cage. They will use a litter box.
Rats are happier with friends. Same sex couples are the best option. Neuter males to keep the territorial testosterone limited.
Any bedding works. Recycled paper, paper and pine mix, pellet bedding. Add fleece hides, towels, and socks for comfort and snuggle fun.
Food bowls(s) One for pellets, one for treats, one for fresh foods.
Feed rat food pellets and experiment with fresh foods. Rats love fresh.
Obesity is a problem for rats. Stay away from seeds, nuts and cheese.
Health and Wellness
Two common health challenges for rats are respiratory disease and mammary tumors.
Respiratory disease is caused by a bacteria called mycoplasma. Treated with antibiotics, respiratory disease is challenging to treat, particularly if your rat is older or has other health challenges.
Female rats can develop hormone-dependent mammary tumors if not spayed. Spaying eliminates the threat.
A rat's lifespan is less than four years. Feeder rats purchased at a pet store have a two-year lifespan, while breeder rats for companionship tend toward three to four. Rats bring humor, games, friendship, companionship and love to a human. Short years filled to the brim with smiles and sighs.
Kathy LaFollett is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.