Common Questions and Concerns
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“What makes rats good pets?”
Their naturally social nature and pack instinct make them very similar to dogs in many ways. Their small size makes them easier to keep in an apartment or small house where dogs may not be ideal. They are just as smart as a dog, so they are constantly learning from you and you can also teach them tricks. They are less likely to bite than other small pets and generally are easier to tame. Rats seem to automatically want to like humans, much like dogs, even if they have been mistreated, whereas other small pets take more work to get them to trust you. Overall, they just have many traits that make them amazing pets for certain people. They are not the perfect pet for everyone, however.
“My rat has red coming out of its eyes/nose. Is it blood?”
Unless it is a dark crimson, it is likely not blood. Chances are, it is porphyrin. Basically porphyrin is in a rat’s saliva and other secretions. Generally, it is more noticeable when the rat is under great stress. If you see porphyrin, you should appraise your rat and identify what is stressing it. It could be environmental or health related.
"What bedding should I use?"
Paper based beddings are usually a good choice, such as Kaytee Clean and Cozy or Carefresh. These, however, can be a bit pricier than some people can afford. The only appropriate wood based bedding is Aspen as Pine and Ceder cause respiratory issues in rats. Some people and some rats are allergic to Aspen, though. Some versions of CareFresh also cause allergies in humans and rats. It varies from person to person. Some are allergic to the brown version of CareFresh, because they say it is dustier, and some are allergic to the Ultra White, because they say it is dustier. It may take some trial and error to find the perfect bedding for you and your rats.
Some people use fleece instead of bedding, to line the bottom of the cage. They put something absorbent beneath the fleece and the fleece wicks it down from the surface, making the top of the fleece a clean place for rats to walk. Generally, litter boxes are given in conjunction with this bedding. Various things can b put in litter boxes to manage smell such as typical bedding (like those listed above) or cat litter.
I personally use Kaytee Clean and Cozy (unscented, uncolored) in the bottom unit of my Double Critter Nation and fleece in the second unit and on all the shelves. I also put litter boxes on each level there is fleece, with Kaytee Clean and Cozy as the litter. The litter boxes I use are grated because I feel my rats prefer to poop and urinate on that floor type. This may not work for all rats, but mine only poop in their litter box or in the bottom unit in the bedding.
"What toys can I give my rats?"
Rats like the simple things in life. Some of the best toys are boxes and toilet or paper towel rolls. You can also make your own toys out of these things.
A must for most rats' happiness is a hammock. Rats enjoy lounging high up and hammocks are perfect for them. You can make your own hammock or buy them from a store. I always recommend washing them before giving them to your rats. Ferret Cubes or homemade cubes are also a big hit, especially during colder weather because they hold in more warmth. Plus, I had several rats that did not feel secure in hammocks and would only use cubes.
More toy ideas coming soon!
"What food should I feed my rats?"
The best option is to make your own mix, but not everyone can do that. Oxbow Adult Rat Food is the ONLY commercial food I recommend. Others may use other commercial foods, but they are extremely high in protein and have lots of filler. Some may also say you should feed your rats Oxbow Young Rat and Mouse food. I do not recommend this. Young rats need more protein than adults, but that is better given with eggs or meat than with this food. Plus, the adult food is already very high in protein. If you feed your rats a commercial mix, they still need supplements of fruit and veggies.
I strongly recommend looking into making your own mix. You can check out my gluten free recipe and adjust it to your needs. I order all of the ingredients from Nuts.com, but most can be gotten at local grocery stores instead. Commercial foods, even Oxbow, are filled with things your rat doesn't need.
"Should I get males or females?"
Well... Stereotypically, females are more active and all over the place. The prefer to explore rather than spend time with you. Males tend to be lazier and cuddlier, preferring to stay with you rather than explore. However, each rat is different. I personally have never had a cuddly female, but I've had both super active and super lazy males. I do know of several females that are cuddly, though, so I know they exist.
Since each rat is unique as far as personality goes, I will go into the more physical and biological differences. Females tend to have cleaner, softer fur while males tend to have wiry, slightly oily fur. This is because intact males have buck grease. Females are generally smaller than males. Intact males tend to have more of a smell to their urine, but both mark things (with urine). Some say males mark more than females, but my experience has been reversed. My males rarely marked things out of their cage whereas some of my females marked everything they walked over, including me. I imagine this varies from rat to rat. Intact males have large testicles which bother some people. Please see my "Should I neuter my male rat(s)?" guide for more information about the benefits of neutering.
Neither gender makes for a better pet over all. Both have pros and cons and fit different people. I personally love having both.
"Can I pick rats up by the tail?"
No. This can cause harm to the rat. It can damage their spine and deglove their tail. Degloving is when the skin of the tail comes off.
"Can male rats live together?"
Yes. The myth that males can't live together likely stems from the fact male mice cannot live together. They are different species, however, and while male mice are extremely territorial, male rats tend to be very laid back. The only issue I ever had with males living together was when they developed hormonal aggression. Males are very unhappy by themselves, just as females would be. Rats, no matter the gender, are extremely social animals and need their own kind.
"Can I have a single rat?"
It is not recommended. Rats are extremely social animals and need their own kind. Even if you spend every waking moment with your rat, it would not replace the companionship of their own kind. Many people use this sort of thing as an example: "If you were trapped in a place with only a dog as a companion, you would feel lonely because you need human contact, even if your dog loves you very much." While I personally would love to only have contact with animals, I have seen what loneliness will do to a rat. While they surely love you very much, they become sad and withdrawn.
Some rats, however, do better alone. These are few and far between, but it has happened. Some rat rescues may have some such individuals if you are searching for a lone rat.
"Should I get a Fancy rat or Dumbo rat?"
A common myth is that Fancies and Dumbos are different "breeds." This is not so. Unlike dog breeds, fancy and dumbo rats can be born in the same litter. "Fancy" is a term many pet stores use to describe standard eared rats, also called top eared. Dumbo describes rats whose ears are larger and lower set. Dumbo is a recessive gene (dudu), which means if two top eared rats carried dumbo (Dudu), they would have a few dumbo babies, as well as top eared. There is no "half dumbo" or "rat mix" because there are not distinct breeds of rats like there are dogs. This may eventually happen (theoretically), but not as of yet.
Ear type itself does not make for a better pet. All ear types, fur types, and colors can make wonderful pets. Each rat is unique and special in its own way.
"How many rats can I keep together?"
Well... lots. I've seen people with as many as twenty rats in a giant cage. For people new to owning rats, I say three is a good max until you get the hang of it. Three is good because then you can take a single rat out for playtime and no rat is left alone in a cage. There are many reasons three is a good number. I shall add them at a later date.
Always make sure your cage is the proper size for the number of rats you have. If in doubt, feel free to ask me or ask on RatForum.com.
"I got into an argument with my friend about which pets are better: rats or hamsters. Rats are the best, right?!"
Wrong. There is no "best" pet. Rats may be the best pet for you, but they are not for everyone. Hamsters may fit your friend's needs better than rats. Each person wants something different out of their pet and also has different things they are willing to put into their pet. Rats are great and social and wonderful, but they are a lot more work than some other pets and not everyone wants to put in that work. Not everyone wants a super social pet as well. If they did, snakes, fish, and other pets would not be so popular.
"What cage should I get?"
The only two types of cages I recommend in the US are Martin's Cages and the Midwest Critter Nation. However, I do NOT recommend Critter Nations to those new to rats. The doors are heavy and nervous hands could accidentally swing them closed on a rat's head. Rats have died due to these cages. Go with a Martin's cage until you are used to handling rats.
There are other types of cages, but there are too many to list. Here are cages/habitats you should avoid:
“What makes rats good pets?”
Their naturally social nature and pack instinct make them very similar to dogs in many ways. Their small size makes them easier to keep in an apartment or small house where dogs may not be ideal. They are just as smart as a dog, so they are constantly learning from you and you can also teach them tricks. They are less likely to bite than other small pets and generally are easier to tame. Rats seem to automatically want to like humans, much like dogs, even if they have been mistreated, whereas other small pets take more work to get them to trust you. Overall, they just have many traits that make them amazing pets for certain people. They are not the perfect pet for everyone, however.
“My rat has red coming out of its eyes/nose. Is it blood?”
Unless it is a dark crimson, it is likely not blood. Chances are, it is porphyrin. Basically porphyrin is in a rat’s saliva and other secretions. Generally, it is more noticeable when the rat is under great stress. If you see porphyrin, you should appraise your rat and identify what is stressing it. It could be environmental or health related.
"What bedding should I use?"
Paper based beddings are usually a good choice, such as Kaytee Clean and Cozy or Carefresh. These, however, can be a bit pricier than some people can afford. The only appropriate wood based bedding is Aspen as Pine and Ceder cause respiratory issues in rats. Some people and some rats are allergic to Aspen, though. Some versions of CareFresh also cause allergies in humans and rats. It varies from person to person. Some are allergic to the brown version of CareFresh, because they say it is dustier, and some are allergic to the Ultra White, because they say it is dustier. It may take some trial and error to find the perfect bedding for you and your rats.
Some people use fleece instead of bedding, to line the bottom of the cage. They put something absorbent beneath the fleece and the fleece wicks it down from the surface, making the top of the fleece a clean place for rats to walk. Generally, litter boxes are given in conjunction with this bedding. Various things can b put in litter boxes to manage smell such as typical bedding (like those listed above) or cat litter.
I personally use Kaytee Clean and Cozy (unscented, uncolored) in the bottom unit of my Double Critter Nation and fleece in the second unit and on all the shelves. I also put litter boxes on each level there is fleece, with Kaytee Clean and Cozy as the litter. The litter boxes I use are grated because I feel my rats prefer to poop and urinate on that floor type. This may not work for all rats, but mine only poop in their litter box or in the bottom unit in the bedding.
"What toys can I give my rats?"
Rats like the simple things in life. Some of the best toys are boxes and toilet or paper towel rolls. You can also make your own toys out of these things.
A must for most rats' happiness is a hammock. Rats enjoy lounging high up and hammocks are perfect for them. You can make your own hammock or buy them from a store. I always recommend washing them before giving them to your rats. Ferret Cubes or homemade cubes are also a big hit, especially during colder weather because they hold in more warmth. Plus, I had several rats that did not feel secure in hammocks and would only use cubes.
More toy ideas coming soon!
"What food should I feed my rats?"
The best option is to make your own mix, but not everyone can do that. Oxbow Adult Rat Food is the ONLY commercial food I recommend. Others may use other commercial foods, but they are extremely high in protein and have lots of filler. Some may also say you should feed your rats Oxbow Young Rat and Mouse food. I do not recommend this. Young rats need more protein than adults, but that is better given with eggs or meat than with this food. Plus, the adult food is already very high in protein. If you feed your rats a commercial mix, they still need supplements of fruit and veggies.
I strongly recommend looking into making your own mix. You can check out my gluten free recipe and adjust it to your needs. I order all of the ingredients from Nuts.com, but most can be gotten at local grocery stores instead. Commercial foods, even Oxbow, are filled with things your rat doesn't need.
"Should I get males or females?"
Well... Stereotypically, females are more active and all over the place. The prefer to explore rather than spend time with you. Males tend to be lazier and cuddlier, preferring to stay with you rather than explore. However, each rat is different. I personally have never had a cuddly female, but I've had both super active and super lazy males. I do know of several females that are cuddly, though, so I know they exist.
Since each rat is unique as far as personality goes, I will go into the more physical and biological differences. Females tend to have cleaner, softer fur while males tend to have wiry, slightly oily fur. This is because intact males have buck grease. Females are generally smaller than males. Intact males tend to have more of a smell to their urine, but both mark things (with urine). Some say males mark more than females, but my experience has been reversed. My males rarely marked things out of their cage whereas some of my females marked everything they walked over, including me. I imagine this varies from rat to rat. Intact males have large testicles which bother some people. Please see my "Should I neuter my male rat(s)?" guide for more information about the benefits of neutering.
Neither gender makes for a better pet over all. Both have pros and cons and fit different people. I personally love having both.
"Can I pick rats up by the tail?"
No. This can cause harm to the rat. It can damage their spine and deglove their tail. Degloving is when the skin of the tail comes off.
"Can male rats live together?"
Yes. The myth that males can't live together likely stems from the fact male mice cannot live together. They are different species, however, and while male mice are extremely territorial, male rats tend to be very laid back. The only issue I ever had with males living together was when they developed hormonal aggression. Males are very unhappy by themselves, just as females would be. Rats, no matter the gender, are extremely social animals and need their own kind.
"Can I have a single rat?"
It is not recommended. Rats are extremely social animals and need their own kind. Even if you spend every waking moment with your rat, it would not replace the companionship of their own kind. Many people use this sort of thing as an example: "If you were trapped in a place with only a dog as a companion, you would feel lonely because you need human contact, even if your dog loves you very much." While I personally would love to only have contact with animals, I have seen what loneliness will do to a rat. While they surely love you very much, they become sad and withdrawn.
Some rats, however, do better alone. These are few and far between, but it has happened. Some rat rescues may have some such individuals if you are searching for a lone rat.
"Should I get a Fancy rat or Dumbo rat?"
A common myth is that Fancies and Dumbos are different "breeds." This is not so. Unlike dog breeds, fancy and dumbo rats can be born in the same litter. "Fancy" is a term many pet stores use to describe standard eared rats, also called top eared. Dumbo describes rats whose ears are larger and lower set. Dumbo is a recessive gene (dudu), which means if two top eared rats carried dumbo (Dudu), they would have a few dumbo babies, as well as top eared. There is no "half dumbo" or "rat mix" because there are not distinct breeds of rats like there are dogs. This may eventually happen (theoretically), but not as of yet.
Ear type itself does not make for a better pet. All ear types, fur types, and colors can make wonderful pets. Each rat is unique and special in its own way.
"How many rats can I keep together?"
Well... lots. I've seen people with as many as twenty rats in a giant cage. For people new to owning rats, I say three is a good max until you get the hang of it. Three is good because then you can take a single rat out for playtime and no rat is left alone in a cage. There are many reasons three is a good number. I shall add them at a later date.
Always make sure your cage is the proper size for the number of rats you have. If in doubt, feel free to ask me or ask on RatForum.com.
"I got into an argument with my friend about which pets are better: rats or hamsters. Rats are the best, right?!"
Wrong. There is no "best" pet. Rats may be the best pet for you, but they are not for everyone. Hamsters may fit your friend's needs better than rats. Each person wants something different out of their pet and also has different things they are willing to put into their pet. Rats are great and social and wonderful, but they are a lot more work than some other pets and not everyone wants to put in that work. Not everyone wants a super social pet as well. If they did, snakes, fish, and other pets would not be so popular.
"What cage should I get?"
The only two types of cages I recommend in the US are Martin's Cages and the Midwest Critter Nation. However, I do NOT recommend Critter Nations to those new to rats. The doors are heavy and nervous hands could accidentally swing them closed on a rat's head. Rats have died due to these cages. Go with a Martin's cage until you are used to handling rats.
There are other types of cages, but there are too many to list. Here are cages/habitats you should avoid:
- Aquariums: Rats love to climb, so these aren't ideal, but they also do not allow ventilation which rats really need with their sensitive respiratory systems.
- Hamster cages: These are not even big enough for hamsters, much less rats.
- One or two level cages: These are rarely big enough for rats.