Rats

Rats need to be housed in a large cage filled with suitable enrichment to keep them interested and active. They need lots of space to be able to perform their natural behaviours such as climbing, exploring, digging and playing. They will also enjoy exploring outside of their cage - once you have become used to your rats and built up a bond, they can be given supervised ‘free range’ time outside of their cage.

Avoid using sawdust or aspen-based wood shavings to cover the base of the cage as these can cause breathing problems. There are many safe alternatives including cross shredded paper or card cubes, as well as non-aspen wood chips, cellulose-based chips or shredded filter paper. Enrichment such as hammocks, rope ladders, tunnels and hides are perfect - change it up regularly to keep the rats interested and active. Provide each of your rats with their own hiding place, ideally with some extra ones in the cage so they can choose which ones they use. Shelters should have two entrance/exit points and be large enough for all your rats to curl up in together if they want to.

Rats should be kept in a quiet area away from direct sunlight, radiators and other sources of heat. They are nocturnal meaning they are active at night and sleep during the day. They should not be housed somewhere which is too bright during the day. You should also keep them away high-pitched sounds or ultrasound. Exposure to sudden noise, loud noises or high-pitched noise can be stressful for rats and can make them ill.

Rats are omnivores and should be fed a quality well-balanced diet. If you are unsure about what to feed your rats speak with your vet or click on the charity links at the bottom of this page for more advice about providing them with a healthy diet.

Rats tend to mix up their day and night with bursts of energy and foraging to several hours of sleeping. In most cases they are very affectionate, grooming themselves and their companions as part of a daily social interaction. 

As rats are nocturnal, sleeping during the day and being active in the evenings and overnight. It is best to interact with them during times when they are naturally awake. This could include socialising with them and playing or allowing them to come out of their cage for some supervised free-range time.

Rats are very intelligent and curious animals. They need mental stimulation and can be trained to learn new things. Training your rats using positive rewards-based methods can help improve your bond with your rats and help keep them mentally and physically active.

Rats are very social animals, naturally they will live and socialise in large groups. A lone rat is likely to be less happy than one living with a well-matched companion rat. They should be housed in minimum of a pair but are often more content in small groups. They can be housed in same sex pairs or males can be castrated and paired with one or more females. Many rescue centres offer a mixing service for single rats looking for a new companion. The following PAAG members often rescue and rehome rats: Wood Green the animal's charity, Scottish SPCA, Raystede, RSPCA and the Blue Cross.

Rats sadly have a relatively short life expectancy and can be prone to several common illnesses which can reduce life expectancy. When choosing pet rats, it is wise to purchase rats from either a reputable rescue or breeder who can either offer full vet history or the reassurance of being bred with great care towards health. Always take the time to handle them first; lookout for signs of laboured breathing or a thin body appearance that may indicate poor health. The most common illnesses rats suffer from are tumours - always have lumps assessed by your vet. Breathing problems can be very common, especially if the rats environment is not kept clean or they have come from a poor breeding back ground. Signs include red staining around the nose and front legs from sneezing, laboured heavy breathing with concaved chest appearance, poor body condition. Hind leg weakness is also common, with elderly males being more prone.

You should register your rats with a vet who will be able to provide you with more advice on things like neutering and general health care. Some vets have more experience with rats than.