Frequently Asked Questions: All About Rats
Here you can find answers to many of our most frequently asked questions about rats. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please reach out to us. We are happy to help!
Before You Purchase A Rat:
Q: How big does my rat’s enclosure need to be?
The basic recommendation for enclosure size is two cubic feet per rat. They may be small animals, but having enough space to move around is important for them to thrive. For more information see our page: Rat Enclosure Basics: Choosing An Enclosure
Q: What food can my rat eat?
We feed all of our rats Kalmbach rodent diet. It is a balanced rat block that ensures they all receive proper nutrition. We also love to supplement with fresh fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, and meats. For more information on what foods are safe and which ones are not, see our page: Safe Foods For Rats: The Ultimate List
Q: What types of bedding are safe for my rat?
Recycled paper bedding, hemp, aspen, shredded paper, fleece, and kiln-dried pine are all safe substrates. Any pine used must specifically state kiln-dried. Regular pine is very toxic to rats and can cause illness and decrease your rats’ lifespan.
Q: Why can’t I buy just one rat?
Rats are very social animals. In the wild, they live in large colonies with many other rats. When left alone they can become depressed and struggle with their mental health. Even when adding a rat to an existing colony, rats adjust better when they have a familiar rat with them. For that reason, we only sell in pairs or more. We hope you understand.
Q: Why can’t I pick up my new rat before they are 6 weeks old?
Early socialization is very important for young rats. We want to keep them with their littermates and their mom for a full 6 weeks before they go home. The extra time is spent learning social skills and learning to be confident and friendly. It really makes a big difference in their behavior as they grow up!
Q: How long do rats live?
The average lifespan of a pet rat is 2 to 3 years. It is an unfortunately short amount of time for such wonderful, loving pets.
Preparing For Your New Rat:
Q: How do I help my rat feel comfortable with me?
Patience is at the top of the list. Some rats will scurry right over to you, climb up your sleeve, and make themselves at home on your shoulders. They know a friend when they see one! Some others may need a bit more time to warm up to new faces. Taking things slow and giving lots of treats will help them learn to trust you. If you buy your rat from us, you can trust that they have been handled regularly. Being handled from a young age makes a big difference in building their comfort and confidence around people.
Q: How do I get my baby rat to stop pooping and peeing on me!?
Rats often poop if they are scared. If they are pooping as soon as you pick them up, they are likely scared and I would recommend smaller steps to earn their trust. If they just go occasionally, it may just be that they are young and need to go! This should improve with age as they learn where you want them to go!
Q: How do I litterbox train my rat?
Litter box training can be helpful to teach rats where you want them to do their business. Keep some dirty bedding in their “bathroom” area, and keep the rest of the space clean. Placing a flat rock in the “bathroom” area may also help as they naturally want to pee on rocks. It may take a bit of time and patience, but they will get the hang of it.
Q: Can I just put my new rat in with my older rats?
Proper introductions are very important! Older rats don’t always accept younger rats immediately, and male rats especially can be territorial and become aggressive towards newcomers.
When you bring home a new rat, always quarantine them for a minimum of two weeks to be sure all rats involved are healthy. Rats should be a minimum of 8 weeks old to be introduced to older rats.
To start introducing them, put them in nearby cages so they can smell each other, but not reach one another. Once they’ve had time to adjust, introduce them carefully in a neutral area. So not the older rat’s cage or a place they regularly play. You don’t want the area to have the odor of either rat.
Supervise and see how well they get along. This may need to be repeated several times depending on how well they get along. Once they are getting along well on neutral ground, clean the cage thoroughly and replace all substrate to eliminate odors, then and only then can you combine new rats with previously owned rats. I recommend supervising them for some time to be sure they continue to get along and that one isn’t picking on the other too much.
We love Isamu Rats’ article on introductions. We didn’t write it, but think it is thorough and informative. Click Here to view it.
Looking Longer Term:
Q: How do I know if my rat is happy?
A few key behaviors that indicate that your rats are happy while with you are chattering, bruxing, and boggling. Rats are super loud animals, but if you listen closely you can hear their litter chatters. Bruxing is when they rub their teeth together. Intense bruxing is what leads to boggling, which is when it looks like their eyes are bouncing up and down. It’s an interesting sight!
If your rat starts to groom themselves while sitting with you, you know they trust you. Grooming puts them in a vulnerable position, so they must trust you to be doing it! Rats that are comfortable with you may also enjoy cuddling up with you. It’s adorable to see them snuggle in.
Q: How do I know if my rat is sick?
For a great place to find information on rat health issues, check: https://ratguide.com/health-intro. They have articles on rat health issues, all sorted by category which makes it easy to find what you’re looking for. Having said that, we will go into just a few common issues:
Rats are prone to respiratory infections. If your rat is sick you will likely notice red porphyrin staining around its eyes and nose. They may become lethargic or lose their appetites. Take your rat to the vet as soon as possible if you notice these symptoms. If they have a respiratory infection, they can be given antibiotics to control the infection, but if the infection gets worse, you may begin to notice wheezing or labored breathing. If it gets this far, their health may rapidly decline.
Rats are also prone to tumors. If your rat develops a mammary tumor, you may notice a lump. These can be benign or malignant and may require surgical removal. If you notice a lump or tumor, see your vet. For more information on mammary tumors: https://ratguide.com/health/reproductive/mammary_tumor.php
Pituitary tumors are another common tumor in rats. You may notice your rat losing strength and coordination or experience changes in their behavior. Treatment is generally focused on keeping your rat comfortable and reducing symptoms, but as always, see your vet for individual recommendations. This is a great resource for learning more about pituitary tumors: https://ratguide.com/health/neoplasia/pituitary_tumor.php
Let’s hope all our rats live long healthy lives!
Have more questions? Please reach out to us. We are happy to assist you and may even add your question to the list!
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