Care for your rats

Rats are affectionate and interactive and make great pets. They are highly intelligent and can learn tricks, like fetch and turning in circles.

They are social animals and should be kept in at least pairs. If you decide to keep boys and girls together, get them desexed to avoid an overpopulated household.

A large cage allows plenty of space for your rats to run around. Choose a solid floor as walking on a wire bottom can lead to feet problems.

Place the cage in an area with good ventilation, but away from draughts. Avoid noisy areas, such as next to a TV.

Give your rats lots of toys to play with. Environmental enrichment prevents them from becoming bored. Rats usually enjoy running on a wheel and running through tunnels. Cardboard boxes and egg cartons make great toys. Rats also enjoy napping in hammocks and burying themselves in blankets. Having different levels in your cage and ladders allows your rats to climb and explore.

Sawdust is not a good choice for bedding as it is very dusty and can irritate a rat’s respiratory system. Recycled paper pellets work well as they are absorbent and have minimal dust. Rats can be toilet trained, so provide a litter tray.

Keep your rats’ home as clean as possible. Clean the cage and its contents at least once a week. 

Remove all uneaten food at the end of every day and replace it with fresh food.

Feed your rats vegetables such as chopped carrots, which are also good for teeth. Give them a small amount of vegetable-based baby food as an occasional treat. 

Vetafarm Rodent Origins provides a complete diet for rats. Pet-shop muesli mixes don’t provide balanced nutrition.

Always provide your rats with access to fresh water. A hanging drip bottle works well and helps keep the water clean.

If one of your rats appears sick, take it to a vet immediately. Signs of illness include lethargy, spending more time sleeping or hiding, eating and drinking less, weight loss and other abnormal behaviours. Sneezing or red discharge around the eyes and nose are possible indicators of respiratory disease.

We recommend an annual health check. Your vet can teach you about disease prevention and parasite control, and how to keep your rats happy and healthy.