More rat questions!

[darastar]

nm

[~Owl~]

Well, shoot, forgot to quote you.

Let's see if I can remember the details.

I had a pet rat some years back. She was my baby...They are actually quite playful, and loads of fun...

They are VERY clean, and spend most of their time cleaning themselves, so no, they don't need to be bathed.

Yes, you should get them as young as possible. Unfortuanatly, rats and mice, only live an average of about 3 years. Sad, huh?

Mice only live a couple of years or so.

My rat lived to 4. The vet was astonsished. I had no idea at the time.

I personally just don't recommend them as a companion, for they DO only live a few years, and 90% of the time, develop tumors in their abdomen, from being genetically tested in labs for so many years, that it's now in their genes. Mankind has really helped on that one.

they DO need to be taken to a vet who specializes in rodents, and small animals: rabbits, mice, rats, ferrets, cats, etc.

They MUST have their teeth filed down periodically, (preferrably by a vet), or the two incisors at the bottom will continue to grow, and eventually injure the roofs of their mouths. So it's a good idea to keep an eye on them. Normally, they will chew up EVERYTHING in sight, so keep them in a large cage, with cedarwood shavings on the bottom, and clean it out daily. A bowl of water, sturdy enough, that it won't tip over, as they crawl over everything.

Mine LOVED to have empty tissue boxes to hide in and eventually shred to pieces. They do like to have a hiding place, so at a pet store, find a resin made small hollow half log, or box for them to crawl into and hide/sleep in. They like their privacy. As well as nesting material. cardboard, keenex boxes, (empty of course, and make sure the plastic linings are cut out. They will chew up EVERYTHING they get thir claws on, so make sure they have enough! Get a large enough cage to put differnet things for them to crawl under, on top of, through, etc., to keep them entertained. aLet them out in the open oncein a while, but make sure it's a room with no furniture they can crawl under, or you'll NEVER find them. An empty room, or place where they have enough room to run around is fine.

Generally, they don't get along together. It's best to keep them apart, unless they've been raised together. They are VERY territorial, and will not fight, but often try to dominate, and pester the weaker of the other. I thought a companion would be nice for Morgana, but she didn't want anything to do with her new young roomate. She would constantly kick, bite, and try to bury her with cedar shavings...LOL...

Finally, I separated them.

If you don't mind the little pellets now and then, and they do wee wee, whereever they go, you can let them run around in a room filled with things to climb on, in, around, etc.

They also are natural predators of crickets, and other insects. She LOVED crickets. When I would hear one in the house, I would let Morgana out, and in no time flat, she had it, and in her tummy in seconds.

Granted, there are those that say crickets are good luck...well, you've never been up all night, listening to one in the corner, chirping away like a dripping faucet all night.

Each one is individual. And get a female. Males can be a bit of a problem. Very territoriail, and often harrass the females alot. Plus they get to be about twice the size of a female.

They come in all sorts of colors. Mine was an actual "siamese" rat. Same siamease markings, beige, soft fur, and deep burgandy eyes. Everyone was amazed at how beautifual and exotic she was. They all wanted to hold her, even the neighbors who 'swore' they would never TOUCH a thing like that.

But, they do make wonderful pets. Until they die. Then you pull your hair out in hysterics, and cry for a week, all overa stupid rodent. You think, "Oh, it's just a rat. I'll never get attached to this thing."

WRONG.

Mine would chase a ball of yarn down the hall way, like a cat, but once she stopped it from rolling, she would get up on her hind legs and look at me, like "well, NOW what do I do?"

As long as your prepared for a short lived companion, then it's a perfect, low maintnance pet. Be sure to get the right type of food for it, often corn, rabbit pellets, gerbil food, etc. Some things are toxic to them, so read up.

Guess that's it. Good luck!

[~Owl~]

OK, quick quotes: I goofed, so I'll edit this with MY words in bold:



I posted an earlier thread asking about the pros and cons of rats or mice as pets. Well, we have now decided we will get two female rats, but first I have some more questions.

1. What is the ideal age of rat to get? I know of someone who is selling two females who are 12 weeks old, is it better to get a younger rat, or older?

Younger the better- they live only 3 yrs. average.

2. Should I even *try* and get my rats to mix with my other pets? We have four cats (aged between 1 and 6 years) plus we have a nine-month old Kelpie/Blue Heeler cross. I've read many account of rats that do get on well with other pets, but I'd hate to take the risk of something going wrong. Should I make the attempt or just keep them separate?

Rats are usually best as lone pets by themselves. They are like cats. They're not colonys, or herds, they like their own private space.

3. I've read about people taking their rats out with them - do I need a special carrier or something? Would it be okay just to put them in a pocket? I'm worried about suffocating them.

Nah, as long as you can keepa handle on 'em, just toss her up on your shoulder, and off you go!
yah, don't smother them. They prefer to be out in the open but protected. usually on your shoulder, once they get used to it, AND you, they may sometimes crawl under your collar, and just peek their head out, and stay that way, as your walking around! This is usually after they've bonded with you.

4. Seeing as we're getting two, is it better to handle them together to start with, or one at a time?

If they grew up together, maybe, otherwise, best to have them have their own spaces. Like sisters, they'll get along...to a point. As long as each has their own space.

5. Do rats need to be bathed? If so, how often? Also, what about clipping their claws, should I take them to the vet for this?

No. Claws are fine. But they need to have their teeth filed down occaisonally. Don't let the bottom insicors grow more then halfway up to the roof of their mouth. Not even that! About half of THAT is ideal.

Okay, I think that's all for now! Thanks in advance, I really appreciate all advice!

Read above for the rest. Good luck!

[~Owl~]

Well, I just read your other thread below, and I definitely agree with most of it.

Except the social part.

My particular rat HATED having sisters/brothers around.

So, if you get 2, then yes, I would get them at the same time, so they DO socialize, otherwise, they will get territorial.

And yeah, males are just ....well...gross.

You ever see a male rat. Not exactly very pretty.

The females are MUCH more affectionate, and yes, they can be trained, like I wrote above, before I even read down below. This is the first time I've been in Critter Chat, but I saw Rat questions, and I thought, "Oh! Another Rat lover!"

Imagine, me, an Owl, liking rats for pets. Go figure.

And mice....nah....they aren't playful, affectionate, or anything. They ARE boring. Plus, I'm rather anti'mouse myself. Must be the Owl in me.

We have field mice here, and they get inside, and all hell breaks loose. Hear them gnawing away in the middle of the night ALL night....uhhhh.

I HATE mice.

[Pinion]

I think just like some cats/dogs don't like other animals, some rats want to be only children. Each one is different.

My friend's young male rat was very attached to an older female. When the female got sick, he would put her on his back and carry her to water...he would bring her food. My friend was going to have the female put to sleep--poor thing had visible tumors and she wanted to stop her suffering, but the male wouldn't let her take the female rat. When the female died, he groomed the body and REFUSED to let her take it from the cage. He was always very loving, but he attacked her for trying to remove the body. It was heartbreaking! He tried to bury his friend in the cage stuffing...

[Shanti]

1. What is the ideal age of rat to get? I know of someone who is selling two females who are 12 weeks old, is it better to get a younger rat, or older? The younger the better. 12 weeks is the youngest I would get.

2. Should I even *try* and get my rats to mix with my other pets? We have four cats (aged between 1 and 6 years) plus we have a nine-month old Kelpie/Blue Heeler cross. I've read many account of rats that do get on well with other pets, but I'd hate to take the risk of something going wrong. Should I make the attempt or just keep them separate? Well, our rat was out yesterday. My son played with him for awhile, got distracted and our Red Healer herded her (the rat) back to my sons room. :)
Dogs, cats and rats can get along but never leave them alone and keep a close eye on them even if the rat is in your lap. My dog knows animals are to be herded and not eaten as she is a working farm dog in training. :) My other dogs, a pitt bull and JR ignor the rats. They have grown up with so many critters that neither of them cares about them.
Except my JR...when I was breeding blue hairless rats years ago, my one cage had bars just a hair to big in only one spot. My baby rats whose eyes were just opening fell through that spot while I was gone. When I came home, I found the baby rats with my JR under my bed. My dog had gathered them up and was taking care of them. He kept them safe and warm. All were fine. :)

3. I've read about people taking their rats out with them - do I need a special carrier or something? Would it be okay just to put them in a pocket? I'm worried about suffocating them. We never leave the house with them. I would worry about loosing them.

4. Seeing as we're getting two, is it better to handle them together to start with, or one at a time? We handled our together. Handling them together and in turns gets them both used to you at the same time. We housed ours together with no probs. The only thing you cant do is house males together unless raised together and there are no females around.

5. Do rats need to be bathed? If so, how often? Also, what about clipping their claws, should I take them to the vet for this?No!!! They clean themselves. You could chill them and that would be risky for illness.

They don't need claws clipped or anything clipped. As for teeth, they are rodents and have to chew to wear their teeth down. I give ours sticks from deciduous trees. Don't give them sticks from fruit trees, or pines some are poisonous to rats. Maples, elms, box elders, willows, aspen, popular, the trees that seed are ok. They love chewing small fresh sticks.
Another thing for chewing, toilet paper and paper towel rolls...cardboard! Lots of cardboard. Our rats chew cardboard on a daily bases. A toilet paper roll last a day or 2. A small cardboard like a mac and cheese box last up to a week. They don't chew it entirely, only till its to small to be fun. When they get board with their chewing item, time to give them a new item to chew.
If they always have something to chew, they never need teeth trimmed.

Its rare if ever they need a vet. Once they have a cancer or other malady due to the fact they have such short lifespans, nothing can be done. But untill old age, if well cared for, they are very hardy critters.

[~Owl~]

I think just like some cats/dogs don't like other animals, some rats want to be only children. Each one is different.

My friend's young male rat was very attached to an older female. When the female got sick, he would put her on his back and carry her to water...he would bring her food. My friend was going to have the female put to sleep--poor thing had visible tumors and she wanted to stop her suffering, but the male wouldn't let her take the female rat. When the female died, he groomed the body and REFUSED to let her take it from the cage. He was always very loving, but he attacked her for trying to remove the body. It was heartbreaking! He tried to bury his friend in the cage stuffing...

Oh, that's is so heartwrenching...

I can actually see them doing that. Yes, it's true I suppose, it depends on the individual.

Mine would try to "bury" her younger "sister" ALIVE!!! LOL...~shrugs~
She HATED her...

[person of shadow]

When I used to breed rats, I kept my females in pairs. They'd even raise the young together.

I used wood to weear teeth, also used hard dog biscuts. Stuck with me I guess, Now I do that with my rabbits.

I would get mine out both together and seperate.

[~Owl~]

If they always have something to chew, they never need teeth trimmed.

Its rare if ever they need a vet. Once they have a cancer or other malady due to the fact they have such short lifespans, nothing can be done. But untill old age, if well cared for, they are very hardy critters.

I agree to a point. I would elaborate to have them have sticks, like Shanti mentioned, for I gave Morgan plenty of Klennex boxes, toilet paper rolls for her to squueze her fat butt into, (LOL, oh the memories!) and chew her way out, on purpose, just for kicks.

But when I took her to the vet, he told me about the teeth problem. It can be fatal, if they are not trimmed, or self filed, by chewing on hard things.

And like Shanti said, tumors are all too common, unfortuanatly. It's just a matter of chance, since it's now bred into their genes, from decades of lab testing.

[darastar]

nm

[Cindlady2]

We've raised hundreds of rats both as pets and feeders. (Mostly pets) And I had a pet store, so congrats on your new friends!
I did cover some of this in the other thread but I'll address it too.

I posted an earlier thread asking about the pros and cons of rats or mice as pets. Well, we have now decided we will get two female rats, but first I have some more questions.

1. What is the ideal age of rat to get? I know of someone who is selling two females who are 12 weeks old, is it better to get a younger rat, or older?
8 weeks is a great age. 12 would be OK but might not bond as well.


2. Should I even *try* and get my rats to mix with my other pets? We have four cats (aged between 1 and 6 years) plus we have a nine-month old Kelpie/Blue Heeler cross. I've read many account of rats that do get on well with other pets, but I'd hate to take the risk of something going wrong. Should I make the attempt or just keep them separate?
This depends allot on your other pets. If they are use to other small animals they should adapt. Some of my other cats were fine with rodents and knew what pets were and what they could hunt. One cat I have now I'm not sure I could trust with a rat, she hunts them. In any case I wouldn't leave them alone.


3. I've read about people taking their rats out with them - do I need a special carrier or something? Would it be okay just to put them in a pocket? I'm worried about suffocating them.
As I said in the other thread I would recommend a harness. When I had the pet store I often would have one of my pets with me on my shoulder. Most often they would stay just fine, but sometimes if they got spooked or I had to put them down the harness was a great back up. Also if some else wants to hold them everyone feels safer with a harness. We even took ours to schools when we did pet care talks.


4. Seeing as we're getting two, is it better to handle them together to start with, or one at a time?
Try to be fair with them, have them out together as much as you can but if you want to train them to do tricks and such do that one at a time so they don't get distracted. Just make sure they both get lots of attention.


5. Do rats need to be bathed? If so, how often? Also, what about clipping their claws, should I take them to the vet for this?
They don't need baths but on nice warm days I would let them go swimming in the bath tub or kiddie pool. Just make sure they have something they can rest on and that you dry them off. Yes, they can get a chill. Also if your place gets real hot in the summer you might want to freeze a jar of water for them to cool off with. They can get heat stroke.
Never had issues with nails. As far as teeth go, as long as you give them plenty to chew on they should be fine. (see Shanti's post) The only thing I can think not to give them that hasn't been covered for chewing is corrugated cardboard. Some of the glues are toxic.

Also I would stay away from ceder shavings. Some rats have allergy issues with it.

Good Luck!

[Cindlady2]

I think just like some cats/dogs don't like other animals, some rats want to be only children. Each one is different.

My friend's young male rat was very attached to an older female. When the female got sick, he would put her on his back and carry her to water...he would bring her food. My friend was going to have the female put to sleep--poor thing had visible tumors and she wanted to stop her suffering, but the male wouldn't let her take the female rat. When the female died, he groomed the body and REFUSED to let her take it from the cage. He was always very loving, but he attacked her for trying to remove the body. It was heartbreaking! He tried to bury his friend in the cage stuffing...

My Vanessa and Mocha wanted to be together all the time too but I had to just keep their cages close most of the time so we wouldn't have babies all the time. Rats can bond and it is sad to see when one out lives the other.

[person of shadow]

They don't need baths but on nice warm days I would let them go swimming in the bath tub or kiddie pool. Just make sure they have something they can rest on and that you dry them off. Yes, they can get a chill. Also if your place gets real hot in the summer you might want to freeze a jar of water for them to cool off with. They can get heat stroke.

I did have to give a rat a bath once but it was a male I rescued who had mites or flease(Can't remember which) And the poor things tail had been bitten half off, so the bath was to get rid of the fleas and clean the tail. He curled up in my lap after in a nice warm fluffy towel.

Congrats on the new babies! I hope they fit in great!