Responsibilities of Keeping Pet Rats;

Rats are one of the most intelligent rodents. They need lots of brain stimulation, and therefor require tons of time, patience, attention, work, and money. Although a single rat is relatively cheap, it's the supplies and necessary veterinary visits that can really add up.

Socialization: Rats are extremely social animals. Because of this, they need to be kept in pairs or groups. Just like humans, rats kept singly may develop several physical and mental problems. When kept alone, rats can develop neurotic or aggressive behavior. They may also become lonely, depressed, ill, or may even self-mutilate. Rats separated from a social group too early in life have been found to exhibit symptoms similar to that of schizophrenia. Rats need each other for grooming, playing, sleeping, sharing, and even sometimes fighting. It would be extremely cruel to keep one of these amazing animals on their own. Of course a rat will survive by itself, but it will not have an ideal life. Keeping pets is not just about keeping them alive, but about giving them the best life possible. If for whatever reason you are not able to keep 2 or more rats, you should not get any. Keeping a rat by itself would be both selfish and cruel. Please take a look at this short video to see why rats need each other.

Cage and Bedding: Since rats should never be kept singly, a suitable cage for two rats can easily cost $100.  2 cubic feet per rat is the suggested minimum. Check this link to see if your cage is appropriate: http://www.rattycorner.com/odds/calc.shtml. Aquariums should never be used as they provide very little ventilation which can lead to health issues.  Large wire cages are best since they provide climbing opportunities for the rats and multiple shelves can be added to the inside. When choosing a cage, pay attention to bar spacing. 1/2 inch or smaller is recommended. Rats are great escape artists and can fit through any opening that their heads fit through. Another thing that can become costly is proper bedding. Most people know that cedar is harmful to small rodents, but what they don't know is that pine isn't much better. The scent-producing chemicals in soft woods, phenols, are a major irritant to a rat's delicate respiratory system. In the long run, rats can develop devastating respiratory infections that lead to costly vet visits and, in many cases,  death. Please take a few minutes and read this article on pine and cedar bedding. Some very good beddings are Carefresh Ultra and Aspen. I have used both, and prefer the Carefresh Ultra. It's expensive, but it goes a long way and it's comfortable for the rats.

Feeding: Food is another concern of many rat owners. Healthy, balanced, and affordable rat food is hard to come by in many places. A lot of people resort to feeding their rats rabbit, hamster, or parrot food since it is so readily available. Although the rats will have no problem stuffing their faces with whatever you give them, these foods are not healthy and will inevitably cause problems in the future. Most hamster mixes contain alfalfa pellets that the rats have problems digesting. They also contain lots of seeds that are high in fat. Rabbit food also contains lots of alfalfa pellets. Then there's parrot food mixes; rats love it, but the seeds, peanuts, and other contents of the mix are very high in fat. Rats require a well-balance, specially formulated lab block feed. Sometimes these can be found in pet stores, but even then the brand is also something that needs to be considered. Although it is labeled rat food, many feeds are still not healthy. Some good brands of feed are Harlan Teklad, Oxbow Regal Rat, and Mazuri. Before purchasing a rat, you should know what kind of food is good for them and where to get it. When commercial rat feed is not available, a healthy alternative is to make your own homemade rat feed. A good recipe is provided here. Along with this recipe, you will also need to provide a low-protein (18% or less) dog food. I've found that Field Trial Dog Food works great, and you can only get it from the dollar store! Rats love a variety of fruits veggies, and some other human foods.

Chewing: Chew toys are a necessity when caring for rats. Their teeth grow constantly throughout their life, so they need things such as wood blocks and dog bones to chew on to keep their teeth at an appropriate length. Many rats result to chewing on cage bars when they have nothing else, and the resulting sound is very obnoxious and loud. Without things to wear their teeth down, a rat's teeth can grow up into their head causing extreme discomfort and eventually death. My rats absolutely love to chew on leftover chicken bones after dinner.

Cage Furnishings: Inside a rat's cage you will need several things. A water bottle is preffered more than a dish because it keeps the water clean and prevents bedding/feces from contaminating it. However, a small dish may be provided underneath the water bottle to keep it from soaking the bedding. Water should be changed every day to keep it fresh. Food dishes are often used, but not needed. Almost all rats will immediately take food out of the dish to store in a corner of their cage. A hide-away hut or an igloo is ideal for a sleeping area. Rats like to sleep in dark, comfy, enclosed spaces where they feel safe. A simple tissue box would work. Many pet stores sell things such as Edible Huts which serve as a sleep area and a tasty chew toy. Young rats may enjoy running on wheels and through paper towel rolls. In my experience though, they grow out of the wheels rather quickly and are bored by them. PVC pipes are also a favorite of many rats. It's fun to watch them crawl through. An old shirt or a sock can be added to a cage for a sleep area. Rats will tear it up and make a nest out of the material. Hammocks and tunnels are also great to hang inside the cage for the rats to relax on.

Hygiene: Rats are generally very clean animals. They will groom themselves, as a cat does, from an early age. I've had babies that will start to clean their face before their eyes are even open. During the summer months, some rats will injoy wading through a pan of water to cool off. When necessary, you can bathe your rat with kitten or baby shampoo. Rat's skin is very sensitive, so the water should be lukewarm. Never wash their head, and be careful not to get water on their face or in their ears. I find that filling the bathtub up with a couple inches of water works better than a sink because the rats can't climb out of the tub. After the bath, dry them off immediately and thoroughly with a towel. Keep them in  a warm room until they are completely dry. Baths should not be given more than once a month because they wash away natural oils in the fur.

Medical: Despite rats' rising popularity in the US, a knowledgable exotics or small animal doctor is still hard to come by. Before purchasing rats, you should always locate a reliable veterinarian who can treat your rats if need be. Vet bills can be rather high, but many vets are willing to work with you on payment. If you have many rats, some vets will give you a discount or only charge for some of them. An initial visit for a rat is about $30-$40. Most common medications are relatively cheap as well. However, when a rat develops problems such as tumors, surgery is needed and it is quite costly. Female rats are prone to tumors, but males can also get them. Feeding a proper, well-balanced diet can greatly reduce these risks.