I'm considering getting a pet rat. What cage/bedding/food should i get it?

Question

please post either petco or petsmart links...:)

Answer 1

I ahve had 7 rats and so know everything about them. I suggest terenziani cages- they are clean and easy to clean and handle. I also suggest getting cardboard bedding chips- DO NOT GET SAWDUST COS IT CAN KILL THEM!!!! my friend had 3 rats with sawdust and all got wheezy and died from the dust. Have a shoebox in there, a waterbottle, give them treats twice a day 9 fruit, cereal, a little treat...a littler tray- potty train them- and for the other floors, use paper so they dont make a mess......please take this advice and fell free to contact me and I can show you pictures of my rat cage and my rats.....lorna -x-

Answer 2

Well, I am assuming that you have researched and found that a rat would suit your pet needs.

There are some things to consider, including survival supplies. I have rats and I LOVE them. They are easy to tame, friendly, social, and easy to care for :) But they DO need care and attention!! They LOVE to be loved. You CAN have one rat- as long as you provide it with enough care, love, and attention.

1.Cage- a wire cage with a solid bottom, wires less than inch apart. The cages you might see at Petsmart for around $35-40 should be good and big enough for up to two rats.

2. Bedding- I have had rats and none of them got into the "bedding" fluff stuff. Instead they LOVE their "igloos"-also sold at Petsmart.

3.Litter- I have used "carefree",  which is good since you don't want anything with aromatic oils which can disturb their sensitive respiratory system. However, I now use "yesterday's news" and like it better- it is also easier for cleanup, and the rats don't seem to care :)

4.Toys- Rats are VERY curious, and like to be intellectually stimulated. A silent spinner wheel (they are NOCTURNAL), something to hide in, and definitely something to chew are the very basics.

4. Random advice:

-ASK the store which rats are the tamest, they will let you know the ones that have been handled the most.

-SHOP around for supplies. Petsmart is good for random toys and cages(online)- you can get free shipping and sometimes a $ off discount when you sign up for emails. They may have specialty/novelty products that below retailer does not carry.

-SHOP Petsolutions.com for bulk items like food, treats, and basics that you will need. They have $11, when I ordered several treats, "chubes"(chew toy), silent spinner, and a HUGE cage. I saved over $65 by doing this.

There is an annual magazine that is called "rats", it goes over all the responsibilities for rats including temperament and games to play. They have a lifespan of 2-3 yrs :( Not good for small children....

I LOVE my rats, and my first rat was a lone rat- she slept in bed with me, had the run of my room(post rat-proofing), and went with me EVERYWHERE. She was the best ever...and FAR from depressed. But if you can't devote the utmost time and attention then, yes, two rats are just as easy as one!

Answer 3

First of all, there is a LOT more to owning healthy, happy rats than just cage, bedding and food. If you would simply google something like "rat care" all of that information can be found on a site, plus all the other needed info for you to know.

Like for example that you CANNOT have a single rat, but at least two.

Please read these sites before you think any more about getting rats, you wouldn't want to be an unprepared, negligent owner afterall.

http://www.ratz.co.uk/

http://www.petinfopackets.com/rats/ratin...

http://www.petratscanada.com/ratcare.htm

Those sites will give you specific brands and types for which to hunt in the stores yourself.

Answer 4

I don't know the links. but I can tell you you need a hugge cage for rat. and if you get a rat, please make it two. rats NEED to live in packs, ateast 2. if it's y its slf, even if your around it and playing with it 24/7 it wll be depressed. and depression will actually shorten it's life spand. so please, get TWO rats. it's really no harder, or any more money then one rat. but get it a big, big cage. atleast 4 feet long. and 2 feet high. a biggg rat, chinchilla or bird cage would work. I know it's alot of money, but it pays off. rats can nottt be kept in 2 feet long cages. they grow as big as a baby kitten, they'd have no room, and you'd have to end up buying a bigger one anyways. and with the food, you wan RAT food, no other ind of food. no gerbil, hamster, big, guinea pig food. it's rat food for a reason. other food can make the rat sick. normal rat food, non diet, with alot of verity of thingd in it, low on sunflower seeds [sunflower seeds give rats tumors.] is the best food.

if you can't get 2 rats, and can't spend aot of money on a big cage. please consider getting another, mayb smaller animal.

Answer 5

i have done a ton of research for my 2 ratties i'll get soon,

-for a cage, dont use aquariums for your rat wont live as long, they need the ventilation.

-dont use cedar chips for bedding, use yesterday's news.

-dotn feed your rat sticky things, dont feed it to much human food cause it can get used to it and not want it's normal food and dont feed it a mix of nuts because it will only pick out it's favorites and leave the rest.

gd luck