HEALTH / LIFESPAN

RATS ARE QUITE SHORT-LIVED COMPARED TO OTHER SMALL ANIMALS.

ON AVERAGE, RATS LIVE FOR 2-4 YEARS DEPENDING ON A VARIETY OF FACTORS SUCH AS DIET, GENETICS, COMMUNAL CULTURE, AND MORE.

QUALITY OF LIFE CAN BE GREATLY IMPROVED BY NEUTERING TO REDUCE AGGRESSIVENESS BETWEEN MALES.

NEUTERING MALES CAN ALSO ALLOW FOR THE COHABITATION OF MALES AND FEMALES!

HOUSING

RATS ARE VERY SOCIAL ANIMALS AND NEED TO BE KEPT IN PAIRS OR SMALL GROUPS OF THE SAME SEX TO AVOID DEPRESSION.

THE MINIMUM CAGE REQUIREMENT FOR A PAIR OF RATS IS 36"X18". FOR EACH ADDITIONAL RAT, ANOTHER SQUARE FOOT WILL BE NEEDED. HEIGHT WILL ALWAYS BE UTILIZED. IN FACT, WE RECOMMEND MULTILEVEL VERTICAL CAGES FOR YOUR RATS BECAUSE YOU CAN NEVER PROVIDE TOO MUCH ROOM.

FEEDING

ALTHOUGH RATS CAN BE OBSERVED RUMMAGING THROUGH TRASH CANS AND SUCH, THEY NEED TO BE PLACED ON A SEMI-STRICT DIET IN ORDER TO STAY HEALTHY.

FOR EACH RAT THAT YOU OWN,

20 GRAMS OF FOOD SHOULD BE OFFERED.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF FOODS AVAILABLE TO FEED YOUR RATS, BUT WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND A STRICT PELLETED FOOD TO AVOID SELECTIVE FEEDING.

IN ADDITION TO THE PELLETED FOOD, OFFER FRESH FRUITS AND VEGGIES. RATS ARE OMNIVORES, SO THERE ARE ALSO PLENTY OF GREAT MEAT TREATS TO OFFER YOUR RATS SUCH AS CHICKEN FEET, DUCK HEADS, COD STRIPS, AND MORE!

ENRICHMENT

RATS ARE RODENTS AND HAVE FOREVER GROWING TEETH. BECAUSE OF THIS, THEY NEED A SELECTION OF RODENT-SAFE TOYS TO HELP TRIM THEIR TEETH. WE HAVE A VARIETY OF TOYS AND SUCH THAT WILL HELP WITH THIS.

RATS CAN BE TRAINED TO DO A VARIETY OF TRICKS WHICH IS A GREAT SOURCE OF EXERCISE AS WELL AS ENRICHMENT.

FUN FACTS

HAIRLESS RATS CAN ALWAYS BE KEPT WITH THEIR FURRY COUNTER PARTS. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT HAIRLESS RATS NEED THE OCCASIONAL MOISTURIZING TO KEEP THEIR SKIN FOR DRYING OUT.

RATS ARE VERY ATHLETIC AND ARE GREAT AT CLIMBING, JUMPING, AND EVEN SWIMMING! NOW THEY JUST NEED TO LEARN HOW TO FLY!

(DO NOT PUT YOUR RAT IN A SCENARIO WHERE THEY NEED TO SWIM)