Rat Care Guide
This Rat Care Guide has been written to help you understand the needs and requirements of rats kept as pets.Lifespan:
2 - 5 years
Reproductive age:
4 - 5 weeks
Gestation Period:
21 - 23 days
Litter size:
6 - 12
General:
Rats need attention every day to become confident and easy to handle. Offer food from your hand, avoid loud noises and sudden movements. This will help to build confidence and soon your rats will enjoy being held.
At least one hour per day of exercise outside the cage is essential for optimal health. It is important that your rat has a lot of snacks such as hay, wood blocks to chew, chew rawhide sticks and dog biscuits, even dry.
Housing:
Choose as large a cage as possible. Ideally 18" (45 cm) x 36" (90 cm) with several levels and room for toys, such as a wheel made of durable materials, ladders, tubes and a hammock. The floor must be strong and smooth because grids can injure the feet of the rats.
Place the cage out of direct sunlight and droughts. Cover the floor with a safe bedding such as cardboard or a towel. For your rat's comfort, yu can also give him some paper towel or scented toilet paper which they will readily use as bedding.
Diet:
A healthy diet is composed of 80% dry food and the other 20% from a variety of fruits and vegetables. Dry food should always be available to your rat with fresh water every day. Safe fruits and vegetable for your rat would be:
- Apples
- Bananas
- Broccoli
- Raisins
- Sunflower Seeds
- etc.
Cleaning:
Scoop soiled areas as needed. Remove all bedding and wash the entire cage, food and water bowls weekly. Always rinse and dry the cage thoroughly before placing the supplies back into the cage.
If there are any parts of this Rat Care Guide that you need further information about, please visit one of our six Centre d'Animaux NATURE Pet stores conveniently located in the greater Montreal area.
Our small animal experts are well qualified to help you understand the needs of your pets and provide the products that are required.
