The Small and the Furry

Last week, Furry People got to pet-sit some rats for a client who fosters for Wee Companions small animal rescue. It was a lot of fun! We learned some new things and had some nostalgic moments playing with baby rats, which are cute as buttons and full of energy.

My brother and I had rats as pets when we were children.  We used to teach them tricks, carry them around in the hoods of our jackets, and let them run around the house for exercise. A relic from my childhood is a pink scrapbook with pictures of our rats George, Chuck, Chuck II, Rosemary, and Jennifer. On the first page I had written in my child-like script, "No rats were ever loved as much as they were." However, it has been many years since we have had rats as pets. 

There are some interesting facts about rats which you may not know.  First, they are omnivores like us. This may lead some people to feed them table scraps; however, rats have very specific nutritional needs.  The Rat and Mouse Club of America lists laboratory blocks as the dietary staple, with a small amount of mixed grains, fruits and vegetables per day.  Many experienced rat owners make their own grain mix. A popular recipe is Suebee's Rat Diet, promoted by online resources such as ratsrule.com and the specialized rat forums on the Goosemoose Pet Portal. Commercial grains are not recommended as they are low quality, packed with preservatives, and contain filler ingredients that rats will not eat.

Secondly, most commercial rat cages are not large enough for them to exercise properly.  The recommended size is 2 cubic feet per rat, and since rats like to climb, the typical one-level pet store cage is not the best choice to keep rats happy. However, there are many retailers of premium rat cages that can be purchased online and even custom made. One of the most frequently used brands is the Martin cage. A popular model is the Rat High-Rise, pictured below:

Rats also have tender, hairless feet, so many owners cover the wire floors and ramps with cloth such as fleece and small towels.  There are other popular models of large rat cages, some of them discussed here: http://www.petinfopackets.com/rats/ratcages.html

There are also many kinds of rats. Colors range from chocolate to champagne; there are even hairless rats, "Dumbo" rats with big ears, and Rex rats with curly hair. The most common breed and color is the standard hooded rat.

Hairless rat from Wee Companions

Because rat breeds and colors are proliferating, some of the "fancy" rats fall prey to impulse purchases and wind up in shelters and rescues. So please think carefully about whether or not you can furnish a rat with the proper diet, cage and care that it requires in order to thrive. You also need to be willing to provide veterinary care should your rat become ill. Rats are prone to upper respiratory infections and tumors, among other illnesses. An exotics vet should be used so that the rat receives excellent medical care.

Rats are social animals, and should be paired with a same sex companion or neutered.  They are extremely intelligent, clean, and make great family pets. 

To read more about rat care, check the rat guide: http://ratguide.com.

 

Search for adoptable rats on Petfinder.