Rats communicate in many different ways and one is with their teeth. Our skin is very sensitive and not protected by fur like a rats, and it is easy to misunderstand what our rats mean when they use their teeth on us.
So what is your rat trying to tell you with its teeth?
Choosing rat cage accessories can be as important as picking the right rat cage. Rats are complex little creatures and they need a living space that can meet their varied needs. Offer them a choice of surroundings and give them somewhere to be alone if that is they want. Think of your rats cage as a house, it will help you create different rooms for your rat to live in.
Ferret
Food and water are the most important things you will need to provide for your rats. Water bottles designed for small animals are readily available in all sizes. If you have 3 or more rats it is worth getting two smaller water bottles rather than one large one. This will stop your rats squabbling if they want a drink at the same time, which does happen a lot.
Although there are lots of different food bowls available, always choose one that is either attached to the side of the cage or a heavy ceramic one. Rats will stand on their food bowls and if they are not sturdy or secured in some way they will tip them up.
Following on from How to Care for Young Rats, here is a guide to caring for your rats as they mature.
As your pet rats grow they will begin to change, in both shape and temperament. Here are some simple things to be aware of as your rats’ age:
Badger & Willow
As your rats grow older they will start to slow down. There is no definite age for this, but you will probably realise one day that they are not climbing the curtains like they used to, no longer getting into as much trouble and have started disappearing for a nap in a quiet corner, or if your lucky popping home to bed. This is perfectly normal and it doesn’t mean your rats aren’t going to be any fun, just a little less chaotic. This is the time when the bond you have formed with your rats really starts to pay off. They will begin to sit still more and rather than trampling all over you they will be happier to sit and have a cuddle or some fuss.
Caring for a sick pet rat can be a big responsibility and sometimes it is made harder by your rat not cooperating in taking its medicine. Here in the UK Baytril is one of the first and most effective antibiotic medicines that vets will give your rats. Baytril comes in liquid form and is often administered orally. Unfortunately you cannot tell your rat to eat up its medicine to make it all better and they will often turn their noses up at it if offered it to lick up. You can try syringing it straight into their mouths, but if your rat is particularly wriggly, or just too poorly to be manhandled then this is not going to work.
Rats are intelligent, loyal, inquisitive and fun loving little animals. Once a few basic needs are met they do not take much looking after. The more time and attention you give your rats the more confident and rewarding they will be.
So, here are some simple tips to set you on your way to having a rewarding relationship with your rats.
Willow
When getting pet rats, ask yourself if you have the time to properly care for some rats. Rats need more than just a big cage and some toys if you want your rats to be as happy and healthy as they can be it will take time and commitment from you. If you work, or go to school; will you make time to say hello to your rats? Will you get them out of their home for a cuddle? Will you check they have food, water and their beds are clean and just tell them that you love them before you head out for the day?
Clover & Bourbon - A female and a male rat
With rat care the question often arises as to whether it is better to get boy or girl rats and what are the differences between them.
In the world of rats it is generally the case that males are larger and become more cuddly as they mature, than females who tend to remain more active throughout their lives. Though there are always exceptions to every rule and while I have never had a particularly large female rat, I have had some small and active male rats.
Even with the general differences between the two sexes there is no change in the amount of affection they will show you.
Imac 'Play Time' rat cage
There is an increasingly wide range of cages in all shapes and sizes available in pet shops and on line, but only a few of them are suitable for rats. The cage you choose is going to be your rats home for the next 2 - 3 years and it is important that they are safe in it and that they feel comfortable. In our own homes we have several rooms; somewhere to eat, our bedroom, the lounge and it is important to consider how and if you’ll be able to create separate environments for your rats in one cage.
Rats are by nature social animals, living in colonies in the wild. Though it is a common mistake, particularly of first time rat owners, myself included, getting a solitary rat isn’t a good thing to do if you want a happy, healthy and well adjusted animal.
Willow & Badger
Things have changed so much over the years that most reputable pet shops will not sell lone rats. There are some people who still say that lone rats are more affectionate and bond with humans better, and while it may seem like this in some cases its not the full story. Anyone who has seen two or more rats interacting, grooming, or tussling with each other will see behavior that no amount of human interaction can replicate. On top of that there are those long lonely hours when the rat is left alone; school, work, social activities and of course every human needs to sleep.
Biscuit & Badger
Rats are wonderful and intelligent creatures and sharing your home with them can be an amazing experience, but as a new rat owner it may be a daunting one. When my first rat joined my family 15 years ago I was ill prepared for the responsibility and I made mistakes in his care including keeping him as a lone rat. There was little advice available for a first time rat parent and the rat books I managed to find back then were hard to relate to as a new rat owner. They were addressed in a factual manner and didn’t explain or encourage me to think about my rats needs and behavior.
Things have changed over the years and more books and even free advice on the Internet are now widely available, but it still can be very confusing to someone just starting out on an adventure with their first rats. A lot of experienced rat owners forget what it was like to want nothing more than the best for a new pet and can provide an overwhelming amount of information.
