Choosing a Rat as A Pet

At first thought, a pet rat may not sound like a good idea; however rats do make very nice pets to the right owner. Rats do have their own special needs, so you will need to know properly how to care of them. The more information you possess, the better your chances of being happy as a pet rat owner. Pet rats surely aren’t for everyone, but if intend to try having a rat as a pet there are things to keep in mind so that you will have a healthy and happy pet rat.

Rats get fairly big as far as rodents are concerned, and some are over twelve inches in length. They’re certainly not for those who are used to pets the size of gerbils. Rats actually are playful creatures, and like to socialize with their own kind. So if you intend to have a pet rat, you may as well as intend on having two pet rats instead. Rats tend to do their sleeping mostly at night, but you may be surprised that they will try to adjust to your schedule. This will make training your pet rat much easier.

To keep your pet rat a happy and healthy rodent, you’ll need to accommodate their housing needs. Since you will need a friend for your pet rat, the size of the cage should be around twenty four square feet with a solid floor made of either heavy plastic or wood. You can use a tough wire mesh for the sides and top of the enclosure, but make sure the wire you use is thick enough to dissuade your rats from chewing through and getting loose.

Your pet rat will need a loose moisture absorbent bedding made of pellets covered with a layer of wood shavings. Rats urinate frequently, so you’ll need those pellets to absorb the extra moisture. To keep your rodent buddies healthy you’ll need a water bottle from the pet store, and a heavy bowl to place their food. The rats will climb in the bowl, so you don’t want it tipping over every time on of them eats.

Rats nest by instinct, so you’ll need to fix a place for them to create a nice cozy nesting place. If possible, a nice strong box made of wood placed within the cage would work nicely. To keep them happy in their quest to quench their desire to gnaw, you’ll need to put in some materials that the rats can chew up and create their nest lining. Paper towel rolls and bathroom tissue rolls make excellent fair for your rats to shred. Pick out some paper as well, preferably paper with no ink so as not to poison your rats.

Since rats are playful by nature, you’ll need to purchase some toys from the pet store for your rodent friends. Toys which are meant for ferrets seem to work well. Tunnels and ropes make excellent rat toys. Rats also like to chew on wood, so place a few wooden blocks in the cage so they can gnaw till their heart’s content.

As with other types of pets, they will need regularly scheduled trips to the vet. Sometimes it may be necessary to have their nails cut and teeth filed. Keeping a rat is certainly off the beaten path, but if you do decide to have one, make sure you care for it as you would any other pet.