Introduction
In my time owning rats I have gradually gained knowledge about the care of my rats both from other rat owners as well as experience. In this section I will try to show you all of the knowledge I have gained so that it can help other rat owners. Please feel free to email me about any of the content on this page, I am always happy to answer any questions you might have.
Getting a rat
Rats make very rewarding and loving pets but there is quite a bit of planning required before you go out and buy one on impulse. Remember that rats need lots of time to run around and need to come out of their cage each day for cuddles with you. The more time you give them, the more attached to you they will become. You will also need to regularly clean their cage. How much you clean their cage out depends on how many rats you have but should be done about once a week. I would highly recommend getting more than one rat as that way they can have companions to play and sleep with while you are out during the day. You can also introduce new rats to rats of different ages or different litters. There is a few things you need to consider when introducing new rats to each other. Check here for information on this - Introductions
Choosing your rat
First you need to decide whether you want male or female rats. Females are smaller (weighing 300 g on average) and softer than males. They are less cuddly and more active - wanting to run and explore rather than sit on your shoulder. Males are larger (500 g on average) and more laid back - if you want a lap rat then definitely consider boys. They do however have a distinctive smell to their fur which I personally don't mind at all but some people find offensive. If you are not sure, the best way to choose is to visit someone with adult rats and handle them. These are stereotypes however, each rat has its own personality and the nature of your rat will depend on this as well as gender.
Where to get your rat
When you are looking for a place to adopt your rat from you have a few different options. A lot of people prefer to adopt straight from a breeder as it is guaranteed that the rat you adopt will be healthy and friendly. You also get the chance to go and meet your rat before committing to adopting them which allows you to get an idea of their personality. Another option is to adopt your new furry friend from a pet shop. Occasionally you will find a perfect rat that happened to end up in a pet shop but more often than not pet shop rats are from irresponsible breeders who have hardly any handling and are nervy and skittish. These rats will sometimes have bad health or temperament problems due to their breeding and lack of handling. Another warning - Never adopt a rat from a pet shop that houses males and females together. Females can and will get pregnant from five weeks old and the chances of you accidentally adopting a pregnant rat is very high from a pet shop. Pet shops will also often mistake the gender of the rat. Always check what sex your rat is before putting them in with any rats you already have as I would not trust the judgement of the employees. Good breeders will separate male and female babies at four and a half weeks old.
Other factors
Most importantly you should look at the health of the rat you are wanting. They should have no unusual lumps on their body and they should have smooth coats with clear eyes (Note- Older males often get less smooth coats as they age). When they breathe you should not be able to hear any wheezing sounds. Make sure your rat is friendly. New rats, babies especially, will often give you a small nibble to start with as you smell unfamiliar to them (particularly if you smell like food!). They can also give you small nibbles as a sign of affection however any bite or nibble from a rat should never draw blood. Most importantly it all depends on what you are looking for in your rat. Have a cuddle and play with them to see what they are like. Keep in mind what you are looking for in the personality of your rat while you are meeting them - Do you want a cuddly quiet rat or an active playful one?