Rats have been called "easy-care dogs" because of their combination of intelligence and loyalty. Rats that are often sociable and happy can make friendly, sweet, curious, intelligent and interactive pets. These entertaining animals make excellent pets, but if you're considering getting a pet rat, seek more information first. Caring for pets properly, no matter what size, is important.
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Part 1 of 4: Deciding to Raise a Rat
Step 1. Think about the commitment required
Rats live for about 2-3 years, so think ahead and make sure you can care for your pet during this time.
- Think about the time and commitment it takes to look after a pet. This means keeping the cage clean, regular feeding and proper handling, and if the animal is sick, taking it to the vet.
- Keep in mind that you should also ask someone to take care of your pet mouse while you are on vacation or out of town. Many people who keep rats have a hard time finding someone who will take care of rats (many people are actually disgusted by rats). So, try to find 3-4 people who are potential and willing to help you take care of the rats when you have to go out of town. Pet stores sometimes also provide pet care services.
Step 2. Think about other animals
If you already have other pets, especially cats, think about whether your current pet can live harmoniously with mice.
Cats may be a particular problem. They prey on mice, so you could end up accidentally teasing your cat and frightening or harming your mice
Step 3. Spend some time with the mice
Before deciding to buy a mouse, visit someone who already owns one. There are some characteristics of this animal that some people don't like, so it's best if you find out if you'd like to take care of a mouse before you own one.
- Rats kept in a clean environment do not have a strong smell. However, rats still have a slight smell that not everyone likes. Before buying a pet rat, make sure you are comfortable with the smell, or look for pet bedding that can absorb the odor. Keep in mind, harmful chemicals and pine grater are not good for rats because the resin content can irritate the rat's lungs.
- Similarly, some people find rat behavior quite disturbing. Her little nails can tickle! Also, a rat's tail can feel weird at first. Try holding the mouse to make sure you are comfortable with the animal's behavior and anatomy.
- Be sure to provide a cage that is large enough, roomy, and secure. Wire cages are more suitable than aquariums because they allow air to flow smoothly. Do not use the aquarium as a rat cage or your pet rat will develop a respiratory infection and most likely die. Make sure the floor of the cage is not wire or mice can get bubul disease. If you choose to use a wire cage for mice, choose one that is about 1-2 cm apart.
Step 4. Consider cancer risk
Unfortunately, cancer is a common problem in pet mice, and can unfortunately shorten their lives. While not all mice have tumors, it is something to be aware of as a potential mouse owner.
Ask yourself if you can afford the surgery if your rat has a lump that needs to be removed. If the answer is no, then are you ready to kill your beloved pet at a young age so that the animal does not suffer? If this isn't something you can handle, mice may not be the right pet for you
Step 5. Choose the right number of mice
Rats are social creatures who enjoy socializing with one another. You may want to buy more than one mouse.
- You can make a mouse happy if you are careful when you take care of it regularly. A rat almost always needs interaction in order not to get bored, so if you only have one, you become the rat's primary social stimulant.
- Another alternative is to buy more than one rat, so they can socialize with each other. If you decide to have more than one rat, it is advisable to get your rats from the same place at the same time, so you don't have to introduce them again. Rat introduction can be difficult, especially with territorial male rats. A great place for first introductions is a large box or bathtub.
- Keep in mind that keeping 2 rats is not much more troublesome than caring for just 1 rat. In fact, it will be easier for you to take care of 2 or 3 mice because they will enjoy playing with each other. The difference in the amount of pet food and bedding you need is slight and insignificant. The only challenge here is carrying them all on the shoulder when taking them for a walk.
- Likewise, if you choose to have multiple mice, get mice of the same sex, or you will create a mouse breeding colony. It is not recommended that you breed mice unless you are a breeder and know exactly what you are doing. There are so many mice that have no home. So, it is much better if mice are not bred. Adoption is the better option.
- Some vets will castrate mice, so if you suddenly discover that you have both a male and female rat, it's best to have a male rat.
Step 6. Find a mouse for you to keep
If possible, choose to adopt a mouse because there are so many mice that need a home. The best rats are obtained from breeders or animal rescues. They have a more in-depth knowledge of mice in their care and can help you find the right animal for you.
- Always research every animal helper/breeder before selecting your pet, to ensure that they keep their animals in humane and healthy conditions.
- Rats from pet stores are usually from the "factory" and don't think about the health of their mice. If you decide to buy from a pet store, avoid mice with the following problems: red discharge around the eyes and nose, noisy breathing, open sores, lethargy, cloudy eyes, or watery discharge.
- Male and female rats can be mixed at a rat cage pet store. Even if you only buy a rat or two at first, a few weeks down the road you may find you have more rats than you bargained for if one of them is a girl.
Part 2 of 4: Making a Good Home for Rats
Step 1. Buy the right cage
Purchase a large cage with a hard surface, multiple levels of elevation, and slopes. Wire floors can hurt your mice.
- For each rat, there should be at least 2 square feet, but 2 and a half square feet or larger is better.
- The distance between the bars should be no more than 1 cm, and the bars should be powder coated to prevent rat urine from damaging the bars.
- Another alternative is Perspex or plastic housing, such as a Rotastak cage. These usually have a base color (which helps mice feel more secure) and clear walls so you can see your pet. They are designed to interact with other units so that you can build a complex and interesting mouse city for your pet. These rats can also be confined to one area while you are cleaning another. Cleaning Perspex or plastic is easy because of its flat surface (not a metal wire or bar).
Step 2. Add the food bowl and water
Set up a feeding and drinking area for mice, provide separate bowls for food and drink or use a sipper bottle.
Bottle sippers are a good choice because the water stays clean in the bottle and the sipper is attached to the cage, so it can't be dropped by playful mice
Step 3. Add the right bedding
The bottom of the cage should be lined with a soft, absorbent material.
- Use pet bedding made from grated wood and available at pet stores. Be sure not to use a pine or spruce grater because the fumes from these wood graters can be fatal to mice if they mix with their urine. In addition, grated pine and spruce wood is also dusty and contains oils that can irritate the respiratory tract and make it difficult for mice to breathe. Towels and cloths may be used, especially for covering wire floors in cages. However, you should wash these towels twice a week or more, depending on the number of rats you keep. You can also buy paper graters, but they are expensive and smelly. Old newspapers are a great and eco-friendly option. However, ink on newsprint can leave stains on bright furry mice. Meanwhile, the straw is also dusty and very smelly when mixed with rat urine.
- Another good option is Carefresh, a recycled cellulose bedding available at many pet stores, or recycled bedding from old newspapers. However, don't use a paper shredder and use it straight away, as some newspaper ink can cause disease in mice.
Step 4. Prepare the nest
It is common for rats to want to hide when they are feeling vulnerable, such as when sleeping. Therefore, provide a nest or sleeping area for your pet.
You can also buy the typical plastic housings usually found in pet stores, or you can get a wicker ball that has an entrance hole. It will be like the house that mice used to choose in the wild
Step 5. Consider a rat toilet
Just like dogs, rats don't like to soil their bedding and eating, so you can provide them with a rat toilet.
- The mouse toilet is a small plastic box with an entry hole. You can buy something that looks like a cat litter box for your mouse and place it about an inch under the mouse toilet.
- Place the toilet in opposite corners of the rat's nest and the food bowl. Most mice will quickly understand what the box is for and will be happy to have a bathroom so the rest of the area will be kept clean.
- Rat toilets can also make cleaning the mouse cage easier, as every few days you just need to empty the toilet, disinfect it with a non-toxic spray disinfectant for small pets, and refill the mouse waste bin.
Step 6. Prepare toys for mice
Equip the mouse cage with toys, hammocks and places to hide.
- Mice like to be constantly active and will play with toys while you are away.
- Toilet paper rolls, small stuffed animals, ping pong balls, hammocks, etc. Rats love to play and anything can entertain them. Look for small objects that are not too small or hard to avoid being swallowed by mice around the house to decorate the cage like a house.
- Do not insert objects such as string or string to play with the mouse, as they can entangle their necks. Choose toys for mice wisely for safety.
Part 3 of 4: Keeping Rats Healthy
Step 1. Always feed and drink to your rat
Check their food and water at least twice a day. The bowl can be easily dropped or the bed can also be kicked into the water bowl, so you need to be careful.
- If using a sipper bottle, you will still need to refill the water daily, and remember to sterilize the mouthpiece of the sipper at least twice a week.
- Offer your rat about 12 milliliters (about two teaspoons) of special rat food per day such as the Oxbow Regal Rat, Mazuri, or Harlan Teklad blocks which can be purchased in bulk online. This is superior to the muesli diet in that the ingredients are all mixed together and the rats are not picky eaters and only eat the good (and usually less healthful) parts and leave the bad parts in the bowl.
- Supplement their mixed diet with fresh foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables.
- Be aware that rats love sweet foods and are also very fond of cheese. However, sugary foods can cause tooth decay and fatty foods will cause mice to gain weight and become obese, so they are best avoided.
Step 2. Always clean the cage
Check the cage daily to keep it clean, and weekly clean it thoroughly to make sure your rat stays healthy.
- To clean bedding, buy small plastic or metal spoons, similar to those sold for cleaning cat litter trays. Use this to scoop up dirty bedding, and throw it in a sealed plastic bag. Discard bedding that is wet, stained, or smelly.
- At least clean the cage thoroughly once a week. Put mice in separate boxes to keep them away from cleaning products. Make sure the cage is empty and throw away the old bedding. Wash the rest in soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and pat dry. It's better if you have a sponge, bowl and special towel used only for cleaning mouse objects.
- With a disposable cloth, wipe the entire surface of the cage. Wash with water and dry. Now you are ready to put in the clean bedding and replace the existing fixtures.
- Chemicals such as bleach can harm the rat's sensitive respiratory system if inhaled, so avoid using such cleaners in your rat cage. Pet-friendly disinfectant products such as Nil-Odor work well, or you can purchase a pet-safe disinfectant from a pet store or vet clinic.
Step 3. Set the right temperature
Do not expose your rat to extreme temperature changes. Rats should be treated at 18 to 23 degrees Celsius.
If it's a very hot day, give your rat some cool shallow water (about 1 cm) to play with; on cold days, prepare an extra bed so your rat can stay warm
Step 4. Watch for signs of illness
Taking good care of your rat means that you need to see a vet when your rat is sick. Signs to watch for are lack of appetite, increased thirst, red urine, watery stools, weight loss, rapid or shrill breathing, and rust-colored discharge from the eyes or nose.
- Check your rat weekly for lumps on the skin.
- Whenever you treat a rat, pay close attention to its skin and make sure there are no red inflamed areas, and that your rat is not scratching all the time.
- Rats can get skin parasites from their bedding, so look for signs of skin irritation.
Step 5. Take your rat to the vet
If you think your rat is unwell, take him to the doctor as soon as possible.
- It's best to plan ahead and find a vet who was used to dealing with mice before you had mice, or at least while your new pet is healthy.
- Check with pet stores or other rat owners to find out which doctor's clinic they recommend. You can also search online forums related to your pet, and ask for recommendations. Most people will be happy to share good and bad experiences with rat health problems.
- Call the veterinary clinic of your choice. Ask the doctor which pet is most comfortable with seeing small pets and if they have an affinity for mice.
- Another good question is to ask if the doctor has mice too. There's nothing better than a pet owner helping other pet owners.
Part 4 of 4: Keeping the Rat Happy
Step 1. Make sure your mouse has good visibility
Place the mouse cage in an area where the mice can see what's going on around them. This will avoid feeling isolated.
Step 2. Spend some time with your rat
The more attention you give, the closer, active, healthier and friendlier your mice are. A rat is a lonely rat, and this can cause behavioral problems. Unless your rat is aggressive, they are better off not left alone.
- Treat your rat daily, preferably 2 to 3 times a day for 10 minutes or more.
- Rats love to understand and solve problems, so consider setting up obstacles that contain hidden food to stimulate your rat mentally.
Step 3. Teach them tricks
Teach tricks slowly, helpfully, and supplemented with treats and praise if done right.
- Rats are very intelligent, and can learn many tricks, such as jumping through a hoop, turning in a circle, standing up, and even giving a handshake, all with verbal commands.
- Don't punish the rat when it fails. This is a bad pet ownership practice, and will only confuse mice.
- Don't hit the mouse hard and say "no" when you're bitten. Instead, squeak like a mouse and then walk away. Eventually the mice will understand this.
- Don't forget that each rat has its own personality, which means that one rat can learn differently from another. A particular method might work on one mouse, but it won't work on another.
- The key to successful practice is patience and practice often even if only briefly
Step 4. Take them out
Rats enjoy a change of scenery, so if your rat is particularly tame, take them outside and put them on your shoulder.
- If you take your rat out, it's a good idea to put a harness on so you can control the rat if they get scared.
- There are plenty of rat-loving websites, forums, and online communities where you can share and talk to those who share your interests.
Tips
- Give the mouse something to chew on, such as toilet paper. They love to use chewed flakes in their nests
- Training mice to come when ordered is easy and useful. They can be trained with positive reinforcement in exchange for food. It can be used to search for lost mice and is something every owner needs to do
- A happy and satisfied mouse will "Brux" by biting their teeth together. Sometimes their eyes seem to stick out when they do, but don't worry! It's like a purring cat.
- A good way to keep the coop smelly is to use a spray bottle filled with white vinegar and a spray bottle filled with peroxide. First, spray vinegar on the cage, then spray with peroxide, and wipe it clean with a towel. This will remove odors and cheaply disinfect the cage.
- Female rats are usually more active. If you want your rat to sit on your lap during petting sessions, have a male
- Mice love to hide, so a small box will provide the mouse with bedding and hiding.
- The rat's teeth are constantly growing, so prepare a clean block of wood or other object for them to chew on. This will prevent their teeth from growing into the roof of their mouth
- If you want your mice to sleep at night and play in the morning, lay them out only at night before you go to bed. Make sure your rat doesn't feel uncomfortable and if they feel agitated, put the bed back on.
Attention
- Rats can be very shy or aggressive when you first bring them into your home (this is especially true for mice from the pet store). Be patient when taking care of him
- Rats chew anything! Keep cables, shoes, clothes and other things you don't want to chew away from them when they're outside the cage
- If you have an albino rat (white with red eyes) make sure you keep it out of the sun. Strong sunlight can harm albinos and damage their eyes
- Rats are very smart and can get into spaces you think they can't. Keep a close eye on them when they are out. Watch them closely when they are outside. They also like to jump.
- Do not feed mice through their cage bars. Feeding them through the cage can make them associate anything outside the cage as food. They may try to bite anything that comes into contact with the cage including people, clothes, or other pets
- If you don't want the female to get pregnant, don't have a male and female rat in the same place unless the male rat has been neutered.
- Make sure you don't pick up the rat by its tail. If so, you will make him feel very painful and uncomfortable.
