FAQ: Keeping Pet Rats Happy & Healthy

What should rats be fed?
Rats are omnivorous, meaning they can eat both meat and vegetables. It is a good idea to feed your rat with bowls that can be scalded in hot water after use to maintain cleanliness. The basis of your rat's diet should be whole or rolled oats or wholemeal bread and milk. Raw fruit and vegetables should be given daily. Favorites include carrot, celery and apple. Green food should be fed only in moderation - dandelion, watercress and raw spinach being considered particularly good. Citrus fruits should be avoided as the acetic acid content can cause bloating and stomach problems. Hay is also important to rats. A salt lick is not really required as rats get most of their required intake from their food.

How do I handle my rat?
Despite their obvious agility, rats are particularly docile and gentle being held. If handled frequently from when they emerge from the nest, rats will become incredibly tame and easy to handle. They are most easily tamed by feeding from the hand, a practice it is wise to continue throughout their life. Once your rat trusts you and is easily handled, it is accepted practice to scoop a rat up with one hand, supporting his belly in your hand.

What ailments are rats prone to?
Like most other small animals, rats do not have strong recuperative powers - the emphasis being on prevention through very high standards of care. Rats are prone to respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Avoid sudden changes in temperature, draughts and dampness which may lead to these conditions. Another common complaint is an allergic reaction to dusty hay or sawdust. Use only best quality hay and softwood shavings rather than sawdust as a floor litter, as sawdust aggravates chest problems. As rodents, rats' front teeth grow continuously - fruit tree branches, chicken bones and shelled nuts provide a good source of chewing material. Overgrown incisors must be avoided at all costs since, although still carried out, clipping of teeth fractures the teeth and can cause further complications. Female rats are 80% more likely to develop mammary tumors. Although these are mostly benign, it is something worth considering.

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