Well, here it is!
I love these guys, and while I am not necessarily a great source for info on their breeding (since I don't actually breed--that's where Michelle with CMMR comes in), I am absolutely fascinated by their behavior. I will never claim to have all of the answers, but I will tell you who does if I don't!
If any of the information here seems too general, or is riddled with itty bitty words, it is likely because I have been doing "rat ed classes" through the humane society that cater to young children. That, and the fact that I have trouble shifting out of "mommy mode" from time to time. Sometimes it's good to just smile and nod... :D
Housing: Rats like to have a larger habitat, and wire cages work better since they like to climb and wrestle. You can put many rats together in a colony and they will live together happily. Females will even care for each other’s young! They can easily be litter box trained, but make sure you use a natural litter, so they don't get sick if the litter is ingested. Bedding such as Care-fresh or Soft-sorb are the best for them.
Do not use pine or cedar bedding, since the oils in it are toxic to rats.
Handling: Rats are very social, and crave human interaction on a daily basis. They also typically do better with at least one cage mate. They are nocturnal, but will wake easily and are ready to play at any time. If you are unable to play with your rat on a daily basis, then you will want to have a cage-mate for sure! Regular play time outside of the cage is also recommended. Make sure that you are closely supervising this playtime if you have other pets though - rats don't like to be eaten by other animals!!
Feeding: Start with lab blocks, and any other grain/nut based diet. They can also eat pretty much anything that humans can eat. Fresh fruits and veggies on a daily basis are a great idea. Avoid too much sugar or large quantities of food or your rat will become obese! My rats are particularly fond of raw pasta noodles (not too many!), since they can also help them file their teeth down. Additionally, adding a few pieces of dog kibble to their food will add protein to the mix. Don't go overboard with this though. They are not actually dogs!
Exercise: Rats love to climb and explore! They are not as likely to use a wheel (my rat stared at me like I was nuts when I placed him in a hamster ball), but enjoy ladders, swings, and small toys. Of course, they would prefer to be outside of the cage exploring, but be careful of other pets and electrical cords. I use a lot of bird toys with my ratties, as they tend to cater to climbing and chewing. There are a lot of cool wooden ladders that you can hang in the cage. Be creative! Even though rats are color blind, they get bored with the same toys! Keep several toys around and alternate to keep them interested. I like to use cat toys that have hard plastics that are difficult to chew on as well. Wooden toys are always a good call, and bells and rattles are fun too. Make sure that you keep their nails trimmed, or put some porus surfaces in their cage for them to play on that will assist in this.
Health: Rats will usually live to be between 3-5 years, but are prone to tumors which could affect that. Be sure to keep the cage clean so that they don't get urine burns from walking on saturated surfaces, and be aware of any scabs caused by scratching- it is possible for them to get mites or lice if they aren't kept in a clean environment. Rats are sensitive to drafts and cold, and prefer to have moisture in the air. I usually just try to keep their cage away from doors and open windows, and I keep the humidifier going - especially in the winter!
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Random Rat Facts!
* Rats have amazed scientists with their high intelligence, reasoning, and problem solving skills. This is why they are so often used in laboratory research.
*Rats’ teeth grow continuously (like finger nails) and need to be worn down by chewing
*It is believed that rats existed as early as the 4th century, although documentation only exists from about the 1200s.
* There are up to 570 different species of rats including kangaroo rats and wood rats
*Rats are omnivorous and have been known (in the wild) to hunt prey smaller than themselves. They prefer plants and vegetables, but will eat almost anything
*Black Rats were blamed for the bubonic plague, but they merely carried the fleas that carried the plague. These fleas were also carried by people!
*Rats are believed to have originated in southern asia and transported throughout the world by stowing away on supply ships.
* Rats have only four fingers on each hand, and 5 toes on each foot
*Rats can only sweat through special glands on the bottom of their feet.
*10 days of a rats life is equal to about 1 human year!
*Gestation (or pregnancy) in rats lasts for 21-23 days, and they nurse for about 3 weeks
*Litters of rats can be between 6-12 pups (or “pinkies”), and they are born totally blind, deaf, and hairless!
*Rats are able to recognize people and will respond to the voices of those they love
*Female rats will often help raise the babies in their colony
Year Of The Rat 2008 Fun Facts
Many People think that rats are dumb, dirty and vicious animals and that they carry lots of diseases, but the facts tell a different story.
Rats are smart, clean, loving and are relatively disease free. In many countries Rats are revered.
The Rat is the first symbol of the Chinese Zodiac - A symbol of cunning and prosperity.
The ancient Mayan civilization used to worship the Rat, as did the ancient Egyptians, and Ancient Romans considered the rat good luck.
In India a Hindu temple was constructed as a tribute to the rat goddess Karni Mata and is home to 20,000 rats.
Rats are very clean. They spend hours every day carefully grooming themselves and each other.
Rats take care of the injured and sick in their groups.
Rat teeth are strong enough to nibble through wood, lead piping, brick, concrete, and metal.
Rats can swim and many enjoy it. Rats can swim for 3 days.
A rat could survive a fall off of a five story building.
Rats survived on Eniwetok Atoll where the US tested atomic weapons for years and were unaffected by the radiation.
A 2007 University of Georgia study is the first that shows Rats, a non-primate species has metacognition, meaning the rat knows when it doesn't know something, pretty smart.
A 2007 University of Berne study is the first evidence for general reciprocal cooperation in non-humans. The rats would help other rats they didn't know. Perhaps they could give us a lesson.
Gambian Rats have been trained to sniff out land mines.
Rats can taste poison in food as low as 1 part per million.
Rats will sample a new food and save the rest for later. If the rat gets sick it will avoid the food. That's why poisons don't work.
Rats, with their long tail, have a very acute sense of balance. Therefore, they are excellent climbers. Rat tails also are also used for temperature regulation and communication.
Rats have glands on the bottom of their feet, they leave a wet scent trail wherever they walk, and use it to get back home.
Rats have been sent into space aboard American, Chinese and Russian spacecraft.
Rats have starred or appeared in over 400 films and close to one hundred television series.
Rats can survive being flushed down a toilet (depending on the toilet...and the rat of course)!
Pet rats live an average of 2 to 3 years; wild rats about 1 year.
Male rats are known as bucks, females are does, and babies are pups or kittens. A group/pack/herd of rats is called a Mischief.
Though generally nocturnal, most rats are crepuscular, which means they are most active for a few hours around dusk and dawn, dividing the rest of the day between hours of lesser activity and sleeping.
Pet rats are typically disease and parasite free.
Wild rats DO NOT carry the plague. When rats catch the plague, they die from it. The plague is transmitted from animal to animal by fleas. Today, the plague is treatable with antibiotics.
Wild rats almost never carry rabies, and there has never been a case of human rabies caused by rat bite in the United States. In 2006 18,000 people were treated for rabies, none from rats.
Wild rats may carry a number of different diseases and parasites but transmission to humans is rare and most are easily treated.
According to the CDC Rat bites are estimated at 4000 per year in the US with dog bites reported at 4.6 million. Rat bites accounted for 200+ emergency room visits, most considered minor. Dog bites result in an average of 17 human deaths, 6,000 hospitalizations, and 330,000 emergency room visits each year.
In a three year study of animal attacks in Philadelphia a total of 6,293 animal bites were reported. Of these cases, 5,390 were dog related, 633 involved cats; 39 were rats; 35 were squirrels; 3 were raccoons; and a total of 193 involving ferrets, gerbils, groundhogs, guinea pigs, hamsters, horses, humans, mice, opossums, rabbits, skunks, snakes, and others.
Wild Rats are not Pet Rats. Don't touch wild rats!
Provided By Rat Chick Rat Rescue and Advocacy Group
