Information on pet rats?

Question

i have a dog and a cat, so obviously getting a pet rat will be a challenge. but my dog only comes into my room to sleep and my cat avoids it unless my window is open.

so could you give me some information on pet rats?

roughly how much are vet bills each year?

do i really need to get two?

how much does the cage, toys, bowls, ect cost?

aside from the regular rat food what kinds of veggies and fruits could i feed them?

also any websites would be great.

thanks

Answer 1

Years ago about 8yrs. my son and I had a pet rat, she was are only pet at that time. We really enjoyed her. I had bought a metal cage for her at Petsmart, it was about 15 - 30 dollars at that time but well worth it. Our rats name was Reba and she loved her cage, she also enjoyed roaming around our living room, my son would lay on the floor with her and she never strayed very far away from him. like the others who answered your question I recommend you try different websites go to a petsmart thats where I had picked up a book about rats. Good luck and enjoy your rat or rats as much as we did!

Answer 2

Hey, check out my site http://guineapigsfriends.blogspot.com/ to learn all you need to know about rats, and please click an ad on the site.

Answer 3

I'm sorry this may be long!

1. You should get a baby gate for the room the rats will be staying in, just to make sure the dog or cat will not frighten the rats. I would strongly recommend that!

2. Info:

Rats do not require much from their owners. A big, clean cage, fresh food and water and an hour of playtime out of the cage every day meet their needs well. They are sociable animals and should be kept in pairs or groups of the same s*x - a mixed-s*x group would produce a great number of offspring in a very short time. Males are bigger and more laid-back than females who tend to stay active and playful throughout their lives.

Rats love to play with people and are smart enough to play interactive games, such as hand-wrestling, peekaboo, tug-of-war and hide-and-seek. They can even learn to do tricks. They also enjoy being petted and may show their affection by l*****g their owners. Rats are naturally nocturnal animals but can easily adjust their schedule to match those of their human companions.

One of the few drawbacks of rats as pets is their tendency to chew on things; the room where they spend their playtime should therefore be "rat-proofed". Health problems, especially respiratory infections, are unfortunately common in rats, and their average life span is only two to three years. The short life span can also be an advantage: you don't have to make a commitment of ten to twenty years to a rat like you do to a dog or cat.

3. Depending on what you take your pets in for, a yearly checkup will cost you around 30- 50 dollars. If you go in for an emergency, it may cost 100 dollars and up.

4. Rats do much better in pairs, but if you have a lot of free time to play with them, then you don't need two. It's just because they are social animals.

5. Cage: Around 40- 100 dollars.

    Toys: About 30- 40 dollars.

    Bowls: 5 dollars or less.

    

Your monthy pet store "bills" will probably come out to about 30 dollars depending on if you even buy anything.

6. Foods to beware of or NOT to feed your rats:

Licorice, raw sweet potato's, Bleu cheese, raw red cabbage, raw Brussle sprouts, raw artichokes, green bananas, green potato skins & Rhubarb should not be fed to rats.

Peanut butter straight from the jar can be dangerous, your rats mouth and throat can get all sticky and closed up and cause difficulty in breathing.

Orange juice in large amounts can cause health problems. (Specifically kidney failure in Males only.)

Males would have to be given over a glass of orange juice everyday of their lives to be effected. However, it is still a good idea to avoid giving it to your rats frequently.

Carbonated drinks can cause problems, as rats can not burp or pass gas. A little drink every now and then is alright but do not let them drink a lot, as it could cause an upset stomach and/or bloating.

Try not to feed your rats treats with a lot of sugar to frequently as it can cause diabetes or other health problems.

Foods that are OK:

One warning that especially goes for veggies, but to some extent with any sudden change in diet -- it can upset your little rat's digestive system. Lots of vegetables all the sudden (especially leafy vegetables) can cause diarrhea, which in turn can cause dehydration. So if you change your rats diet, take it easy. My rats get lots of fruits and vegetables, but they get them every day, and if for some reason I have to stop (like if I'm gone for a few days) I ease them off of veggies and (especially) ease them back onto them over a few days.

Broccoli, peas, green beans, carrots, tomatoes, bananas, cherries, are good foods.

WEBSITES:

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pag...

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bclee/rat...

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/careofrat...

http://home.att.net/~toyletbowlbbs/aspet...

Answer 4

There is a lot to know. I recommend you find some good books or sites, and read through them well. Here are a couple good sites:

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

http://www.ratfanclub.org/books.html

http://www.ratsrule.com/ratcare.html

http://www.goosemoose.com/index.php?opti...

Vet visits are not mandatory. However, if they do become ill, they can be expensive, like a couple hundred dollars for a surgery, or maybe $50 for medicine, etc. All vets are different. Before oyu get your rats, find a vet clinic that will see rats, and just ask them about their rates. You need to familiarize yourself on rat health so you know when they aren't feeling well.

It is absolutely mandatory you get two. They are social animals, so having a companion is a basic requirement.

Again, all pet stores will charge differently. A cage have to be somethign oyu can use for ferrets or chinchillas, as long as it has solid floors (not mesh kind). Then you need a couple hiding places and a couple hammocks (like those for ferrets). YOu also need bedding, which can be anythign other than pine or cedar as they are toxic. Just go into a pet store, or in a store's site and look at the prices yourself.

Rats are omnivorous, so most kinds of veggies and fruits are fine. Dark green and high fibre ones are good. You can also give them cooked unsalded pasta or meat, like the bones left over from dinner. There are food you can never feed them, so check those sites I listed for those.

As for your dog and cat, just try to keep them away. Or have someone help you introduce them to the rats. You will need two people, and at first just let the cat and dog sniff something that smells like the rats. Reward them when htey are calm, but discourage "hunting" behaviour. A dog can be taught to stay calm around prey, but cats are harder.

Answer 5

Ok sure, if it`s anything to do with rats, I am the right person to ask!

1. For more information take a look at my rat care writeup.

2. Depends, if your rat is not sick, then you will not need to take her to the vet, unless you decide to go to the vet for a yearly checkup to make sure she is healthy. It also depends which vet you go to and where you live. My rat got sick (the vet actually was not sure what she had and we never found out) and altogether the bills added up to around $200. The vet that we went to cost around $60-$80! Just let me tell you now, vets` are not cheap! That's how they make so much money.

3. Yes you most definitely should get two rats. They are social animals and need a little friend to play with them and snuggle up next to them.

4. For a good cage it would probably cost around $100-200, maybe even less. Again it all depends where you live. I live in Australia so the cage I got cost me $200.

5. Listed in my writeup on rat care.

6. Basically all the rats that I have got have been litter trained. They normally find a spot in their cage and that`s where they will do their business.

7. Female or male?? It really depends. I own two females and they are just wonderful! But the problem is, is that one of them likes to pee a lot mostly on my pillows, peoples hand or on some random toys. It can be really annoying and you have to clean up after her. I think the reason why she does it is to mark her territory. Ok, lets move on.

Updating.............

Below I have included my writeup on rat care. It will answer all your unanswered questions or anything you may have not known or have liked to have known.

A rats Life

Rats are cute, affectionate, loving, cuddly little creatures and are much easier to take care of than dogs. You may want to buy another rat (which I recommend you should) because they are very social and like a little friend to cuddle up to and groom them. But just remember to be a loving and caring owner by:

1. Giving them lots of cuddles and kisses.

2. Make sure they get their exercise (my little girls run around the house). Exercise should be about 30-60 mins a day!

3. Make sure they have a nice healthy diet and clean water.

4. Take them to the vet when they get sick and make sure you do everything you can to help them.

5. They don’t live long so make sure you give them a happy life.

Basic Care

A cage: A decent sized cage (with NO wire floor, or if it does have one, take it out if you can) for the rat so she has enough space because remember rats get bigger!! Make sure you clean the cage once a week to stop it from smelling.

Food: Buy some food and bowl especially for rats at your nearest pet store and a couple of little treats so they will feel happy. Fresh vegetables and fruit are also very healthy treats for your rats. Make sure you clean out the rat’s food bowl every week!

There are a few types of foods you can feed your rat. The most popular type is lab blocks. Many people like to feed these as the rat’s staple diet as they will not pick out what they like unlike rat mixes. There are many different brands of blocks. A good quality one would have to be Harlan Tekland and is used by many people and contains high quality ingredients. Rat blocks are not a very easy thing to find if you live somewhere other than America so rat mixes should be given. A lot of people think rat mixes are not nutritionally complete and balanced and that rats have a hard time digesting what’s in it as some mixes contain corn or alfalfa. Some people agree that rat mixes are good and that rats will get bored of having rat blocks and that you will have a hard time trying to get you rats to eat it. Some people also think that it is not a good idea to give rats rat blocks as they are tested on lab rats. Either one is good, I recommend rat blocks but if they are not available where you live there are other options like rat mixes or even make your own homemade rat diet. I recommend Sue bee’s ray diet or Debbie Ducommun rat diet.

Make sure that you supply fresh vegetables and fruit daily or every 2-3 days. This should make up 20% of their diet. Some fruits/vegetables you can feed your rat are: Blue berries, apple, carrot, tomato, broccoli, Bok choy, lettuce (not ice burg as it has not nutritional value), strawberries, melon (honeydew, watermelon), cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cucumber, zucchini, banana, sweet potato (must be cooked), potato.

Please do not feed your rat green bananas, carbonated drinks (rats can not burp!), raw bulk tofu, raw sweet potato, orange juice (forbidden for male rats only), raw beans, green potato skin and eyes, wild insects (contain diseases), onion, hot spices and citrus fruits.

You may also like to feed other snacks like tofu, unsalted cracker, milk, a small amount of cheese, table scraps, cooked lean meats, muesli, oats, dried fruit, whole grain bread, sunflower seeds, porridge, cooked beans, no added sugar cereals or baby food.

Water: All you need to do is buy a water bottle from your nearest pet shop and refill everyday with clean fresh water and wash with warm soapy water once a week. Rat bowls are not the best as rats will tend to tip it over, kick sawdust into and urinate in it. Also if you want to, in the summer time you can put a little bowl of water in the rat’s cage for them to cool down.

Bedding: You can buy sawdust/wood shavings as your bedding from a pet shop but just remember to see if it’s OK to use for rats. But I suggest that you use cat litter which is recommended by my vet as it absorbs the rats’ urine and helps chest problems. Some other beddings you may like to use are Carefresh, Aspen or Yesterday`s News. Just remember never use pine or cedar as bedding.

Toys: Toys for you rat are great for when you are not around to play with them and can amuse them in the meantime. You can either make your rats some toys or you can buy some from a pet shop. The toys I would recommend to keep your rat happy would be; A large rat house from a pet shop, a hammock, chew toys so they can gnaw there teeth to help the teeth not to grow too long, a wheel, tubes and a ladder but its up to you what you do!

Below I have included a list of toys you make like to buy or even make for your rat.

Toys (general):

Hammocks - hammocks are great and one of the best toys a rat could have! They love to snuggle up in it and keep warm. (How to make a hammock, thurther on)

Toilet rolls

Paper bags: Rats love to shred and tear these apart.

Nest box - Tissue boxes are good for the rat to sleep in. If you want, add some old clothes/socks and even some tissue or paper towel to make it more comfortable.

Ladders

Toilet rolls

Tubes

Rope

Cat toys

Here is a list of chew toys. Make sure you provide some sort of chew toy in your rat’s cage, so they can gnaw their teeth down, otherwise they may become overgrown.

Chew Toys:

Dog Biscuits - make sure they are low in protein and please try and get high quality brands.

Nuts In Shell (Pecans, macadamia, walnuts, hazelnuts)

Wood - make sure the wood is treated, not painted and non - toxic

Chew Blocks - you can buy these at a pet store. Some have many interesting colours or flavours!

Cooked Bones - Not only is it extra nutrition but it also exercises the rats teeth! Make sure you do not feed "splintery" bones such poultry or fish. Fish bones can be too small and very sharp and might get lodged down the rat’s throat and cause death. Beef and chicken are good.

Cardboard Boxes

Wine Corks

Pop Sticks

Baby Teething Rusks

Here is a few websites that will give you more information and ideas.

http://www.dapper.com.au/toys.htm#chewto...

http://exoticpets.about.com/od/careofrat...

http://hubpages.com/hub/Games_and_Toys_f...

http://www.rmca.org/Articles/toys.htm

http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/...

Home made hammock:

You will need:

A piece of soft cloth

Some thin rope or thick string

Scissors

Instructions:

1. Cut a hole with your scissors at each corner of the piece of cloth. You should have four holes.

2. Thread the string or rope through

3. Tie it the bars of the cage making sure it is in an open space.

Below is a list of games you may like to play with your rat.

Games To Play Games With Your Rats:

Tickling: Lay your rat on it’s back and give him a good old tickle.

Hide and Seek: Put your rat in a room. Go count to 10-50. Then go and find them.

Bundled Blanket: Bundle your rat in a blanket and let him explore and find his way out.

Rat Ride: Get into a position like a donkey (get on your hands and knees). Put your rats on your back and go around the house.

Tug Of War: Get a piece of rope or string. Put it near the rat and let him go to it and pull it. Grab the other end and pull it swell. Only let your rat win sometimes!

There is also many other games!!

This is just some basic information but I suggest that you buy a rat book or find information on the internet so you are prepared!!! Make sure you do this if you want a healthy rat.

I recommend these web sites which will give you a lot of information and stuff on rats.

http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/home/

http://www.dapper.com.au/

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

http://www.ratfanclub.org/

http://www.freewebs.com/ryansrodents/rat...

A book that I would also recommend is "The Proper Care Of Fancy Rats" by Nick Mays. It is an excellent book everything you need to know about rats, diet, cage, breeding, diseases/sickness and much more.

I hope this helps. Good luck with your new rat!