Rat care... emergency need help?!?!?!?

Question

I went to McDonalds today and sitting in the drive threw with my car I saw a rex rat sitting in the middle of the drive threw. I opened my car door and called her over and she came to investigate me.

That being said it didn't take long to know this was not a wild rat and I took off my sweat shirt and wrapped her up and took her home. I have a spare cage and I put her in there. It only took a couple min to see she was pregnant. =-\ I think this is why she was abandoned.

Well just a few hours later she gave birth to 11 babies and I now have a nervous wreck of a rat-mum that does not know or trust me. I know in about 2 days from birth I should be handling the babies so they become used to human contact and I want to do right by them.

I also own 3 rats and I know I can't keep another 12 rats and I really don't want to give them up as food. Does any one have any suggestions on how to deal with the mother and what I can do with 12 more rats? =-\

Answer 1

The easiest thing for you to do, to ensure that the babies and mother will be safe. Is to find a local rat sanctuary or shelter that will be willing to find loving homes for all of them.

Answer 2

Awww!!  First off, I just want to hug you for saving a mother like that..  We found a cat (big difference there, but same story) at a restaurant that had kittens a month after we took her home or so.

Now for the hard part.  I know it's hard, but you CAN find homes for them.  All of them.  Just make sure that you separate the boys from the mother and sisters after they're weaned because not much later than that and they'll try to mate with them.  You definitely do NOT want more!! Haha.

Now, http://www.craigslist.org is a good place to make a post about your new ratties.  Maybe not now, but I would make an account (it's free) and learn your way around the website a bit.  Look at some ads and see what people are informing other people about their pets.

Craigslist.org is basically a site where you can post ads for something you're either looking for or something you're trying to re-home.  They don't like selling, but you can re-home with an adoption fee.  I'd recommend you make a post after their weaned and say "rats: free to a good home" in your post and in the title.  People will more than likely flock to your post then if they think they can get something free.  You'll have to inform them that they'll be intact and won't come with a cage though.  That could be a big downer..

I'm using Craigslist right now, looking for a chinchilla.  I found one, but the re-homing fee was a little bit more than I cared for, so I walked away from it.  It may take awhile to get emails, so also contact other people who have posted that they are looking for a rat!  (:  

If you email me, at any point, I will pass your email address along to a few people on craigslist in your area (provided you give me your state and city) and you could possibly set up homes for them in the future!! (:

Anyways, since you already have rats, I'm sure you don't need anyone telling you how to care for them.  I'm pretty sure if you just look up a few websites, you'll find out all you need to know and more.  ^^  I think you'll do just fine caring for them in the meantime.  

Please email me, I am curious to help you and see how things progress.  I'm sending prayers your way! =D

email me at:  [e-mail]

Answer 3

eventually the mother will warm up to you, but for now make sure she is comfortable/well fed and well taken care of, when it gets time to handle the babies try to lure her to another cage or area of your home where she is away from the babies, and then you can handle them....thats the best i can come up with

Answer 4

Its ok, this isn't a huge problem. Rats will generally help their young until they're big enough to stand on their own. You should keep the mother healthy and provide her with food, also the babies. Do not touch or handle the babies because your scent will make the mother angry, this might cause the mother to attack or eat the baby. It depends on the mothers attitude. You should lure her with treats to build trust or like how you did with your other 3 rats. If you can afford a 5 storey or large enough cage for 11 babies you can keep them. The cages usually cost over $100. Or if you can't handle all of them you can give them to your humane society or local SPCA. Good Luck! I also own one, its a dumbo rat. : )

Answer 5

Oh my goodness you are a saint! Thank you for saving the life of this poor ratty and her babies. Yes, start handling the babies early on to get them used to you. Eventually the mommy will trust you, but take it slow. She will be especially cautious around humans now that she has her pups to take care of. Of course you can't keep the baby ratties... there are several options that would work out. You could take them to an Animal Shelter, but make sure the staff knows how to care for them and will not let them be given as feeders. The Animal Shelter in my area has rats, so I know that it is probable you can find one in your area that does, too. If there is a hobby breeder in your area that will accept ratties and sell them to decent buyers, look into that. You might end up making a new rat-crazy friend. Also maybe try asking around your friends and family or putting an ad in the paper. Dropping them off at a pet shop is probably not a good idea if you care about the ratties future, though. Good luck, thanks again for saving the rat.