Are table scraps okay to feed my rat?
Rats adore human foodstuffs. But stay away from things that are too greasy or saltish, and junk food is more menacing for rats than it is for you. Table scraps should only be given to your rat as a delicacy, not a standard diet.
Can and should we add a wheel in the rat’s cage?
Yes, You can add one, but make sure not to use a hamster wheel because they’re too undersized for rats. Also, it’s noteworthy that it’s not made out of mesh because the paws and tail can get caught. The best wheel for a rat is Wodent Wheel and similar ones.
What causes my rats to sneeze?
Sneezing is generally a sign of a respiratory infection, like Mycoplasma. For more information, see the “Problems” section of Fat Rat Central.
Which is the best rat book?
As many can tell from this site, I don’t trust anyone’s advice if it conflicts with Debbie Ducommun, creator of the Rat Fan Club. She’s written two books which I think are essential for anyone who cares about rats.
They’re called “the Rat Health Care Booklet.” “Rats! A fun and care book”.
The “Rats! a Fun and Care Book” can be ordered from Powells.com or the Rat Fan Club.
What do I do if a mom dies before weaning her litter?
There are several options. First, you can sell babies for snake food if you are not willing to stay up long hours and hand-feed babies or if no foster mother is available.
Or, if you have the time and tolerance, you can try to feed them by hand.
Your best bet is to foster the babies into another mother rat. Mother rats are pretty well about accepting unorthodox babies.
If integrated well with their own, they can’t tell them apart if they all scent the same. So if you have no foster mother available, call around to ratteries and see if they do.
Why do rats pee on owners all the time?
Your rats are sketching you as their territory! Male rats tend to do this more than females, and if it bothers you, you can have them neutered.
My rat bites me! How do I get her to stop this behavior?
Rats sometimes show their affection by licking like dogs and cats. However, This appreciable gesture can be annoying. To stop your rat from nipping, imitate and squeak like them to show your disapproval.
My rat has or appears to have hiccups.
Hiccuping in rats is quite normal, just like we humans do. It’s a natural process, nothing to worry about it.
My rat is skittish and doesn’t want to play. How do I get him to be a good friend?
Rats that are not familiar with their surroundings often feel afraid. The best way to soothe them is to gain their trust in you.
How do I tell the difference between a male and a female?
As a 7-year-old, I remember my father and his associate, both gynecologists, sitting at our kitchen table trying to figure out whether my first rat was a male or a female. Finally, after quite a bit of discussion, they decided it was a male.
A week later, SHE gave birth to a litter of six. I find this incredibly amusing because adult rats are VERY easy to tell apart. For example, males have very prominent testicles, whereas females (obviously, Dad) do not.
Younger rats, however, are a bit more complicated. The best way to understand is to take a look at some pictures. The photo to the right, from the University of Iowa, provides a great photo. More good ones at Rat Palace or Baby Rat Growth.
There is a lump on my rat!! What is it?
Most likely, it’s a tumor or an abscess, both of which are common. In addition, mammary tumors are prevalent in females.
I recommend seeing a vet to figure out what is what. They’re straightforward to remove and relatively cheap as well. I have had them removed for $25.
Can I spay/neuter my rat? Should I? How much does it cost?
Sure! There are plenty of benefits to spaying a female and neutering a male. First, it renders one of them sterile, which allows them to live together peacefully without producing offspring.
Also, spaying drastically reduces the incidence of mammary and pituitary tumors in females and eliminates the chance of cancer or infection of the ovaries, uterus, and cervix.
Neutering a male can decrease urine-marking behavior, reduce the amount of oil and scent produced by the skin, and decreases the chance of kidney degeneration and prostate disease.
It also eliminates the likelihood of cancer or other ailments of the testes.
Neutering is also extremely helpful if you’re trying to get two aggressive males to live together, as it makes them less territorial. But, again, prices range depending on your area, so contact your local vet.
My rat stinks. I even attempted a bath, and nothing helped. So how do I stop his awful odor?
Neutering males will help with this, as it decreases the oils and scent released by the skin, generally the cause of a foul odor. Clean the cage!
Can rats swim?
Yes, rats can swim, although most don’t like it.
My rat’s nails are sharp and hurt. How do I clip them or file them?
I’ve never heard of someone attempting to file a rat’s nails (it sounds tough–rats tend to squirm).
The best thing to do is to clip the nails. Sometimes it’s easier to have two people (one to hold the rat and one to use the clippers), but you can do it yourself, too.
Wrap the mat in a towel, leaving their head out and the foot that you are trying to trim. All other limbs should be wrapped carefully in the towel.
On each nail, clip the end off carefully, ensuring not to clip the pink part, where the nail is connected to the skin.
If you cut this part, your rat will bleed–so be careful!
How long do rats live?
Unfortunately, it usually takes only 2-3 years. But I’ve heard of rats living up to 7 years!
Is there any way to make my rat live any longer?
Neutering and spaying have recently been proven to help rats live longer. In one study, spaying females made them live up to a year longer! Neutering a male eliminates or decreases many incidences of cancer and infection that otherwise might end life early.
Also, chromium picolinate is a somewhat new compound of chromium that is easily absorbed by the body. It has been shown to extend the lives of rats by up to one year.
It can be found at your local health food store, mixed in a particular recipe, and given to your rats.
It is best to get it in capsules, but the tablets work fine, although you have to crush them before making the balls, which is obnoxious and takes a lot of time. To dose your rat, multiply his weight in pounds by 189.
For example, the dosage for a rat that weighs .75 pounds is 142 mcg.
Now that you have found the rat’s dosage per day multiply that by 40 to find his dosage for 40 days. Here’s the recipe:
- Nonfat Cream Cheese Balls
- One tablespoon Philly FREE cream cheese
- chromium picolinate for 40 days
- One teaspoon of peanut butter
- Mix all these. If too stiff, add more cheese. If too soft, add some flour. Form a rectangle on wax paper and cut it into 40 small squares. Roll each into a ball and coat with flour.
- Freeze half and keep the remaining balls in the fridge. Then, give the rat a ball each evening. (This is okay if the balls are pink because chromium picolinate is often pink.)
How can I train my rat to use a litter box?
Unfortunately, rats are a BIT more challenging to potty train than cats. Furthermore, I would venture to say that not all rats CAN be potty trained. So, the first thing to do is introduce them to a litter pan in their cage.
Clean out your cage of all existing litter. You can leave the bottom of their cage bare or lay down some towels.
Then place a litter pan in the corner of their cage-there are special litter pans sold specifically for corners, which are advertised for ferrets. Rats tend to use the restroom in a corner to go back in.
Then fill the pan with litter, some fresh and some filthy, so they get the idea. If they have accidents in the cage, clean it up and move the feces to the pan.
Rats are pretty intelligent and eventually should catch on. If you’ve got a multi-level cage, it’s best to have a tray on each level because you don’t want to make it too hard!
Where can I find a rat breeder in my area?
Click here for a list of rat breeders by continent, state, province, and area.
