Rats 101: Essential Tips for New Rat Owners
Header photo by A Tale Of Tails Rodentry.
Rats are under rated. The plague rats of the 1300s, the sewer rats of NYC, and all the mean, disgusting rats of kid’s cartoons cast a terrible light. Domestic rats, or fancy rats, are a different breed. They’re like puppies who never grow up. They clean themselves multiple times a day. And they love your company. Rats are intelligent and can learn dozens of tricks, from skateboarding on a mini board to bowling with rat-size pins and bowling balls! Now I’ve got your interest. Let’s learn a bit more about them.
Rat Varieties
Breeds
Many people ask, what rat breeds can I get? Rat ‘breeds’ don’t exist. Rats were domesticated 200 years ago. In comparison, rabbits were domesticated 1,500 years ago, cats almost 12,000 years ago, and dogs around 30,000 years ago. Rat varieties need more time to develop breeds. While the article Breeds, Varieties, and Strains is about chickens, it explains the difference.
Varieties
The AFRMA website recognizes 7 varieties. Rex, hairless, tailless, satin, dumbo, standard, and bristle coat. Rex has curly fur and whiskers, Dumbo ears sit lower on the sides of the head. Standard ear rats are on top, like wild rats. The standard variety has short, shiny, smooth hair.
Unrecognized Variations
AFRMA acknowledges 40 colors, and many types. Some are not recognized yet. Examples are velveteen and Harley coat types. Velveteen is a rexoid, or rex variant, with curly whiskers and a velvety coat. Some unstandardized colors are Aussie/Australian mink, coffee, sable, and spotted tabby.
Diet
In the wild, rats are opportunistic omnivores, eating mice, bugs, fruits, nuts, seeds, and greens. Domestic rats need 4% fat, 14% protein, and 5% fiber. Most diet options are inadequate. They may be too high or low in nutrients, contain harmful ingredients, or have cheap fillers instead of nutrient dense ingredients. Diets labeled for mice and rats, which have slightly different nutritional needs, are good for only one of them. The best diet for all rat ages in the US is Science Selective Rat Food or Oxbow Adult rat. Avoid Oxbow Mouse and Young Rat, containing low nutrient, indigestible hay.
Mixes vs blocks
In the EU, mixes have the highest recommendation. The US likes lab blocks, which prevent picky eating and nutrition imbalances despite feeding a balanced food. Some worry lab blocks do not offer enough variety, but rats love lab blocks. You can make them more interesting with foraging toys. For mixes or blocks, rats need fresh foods like fruits, veggies, and protein about 3 times a week, as less than 15% of their diet for enrichment.
Mixes on a schedule instead of free feeding can also be suitable. Give what a rat needs once or twice a day to prevent picky eating. One rat eats 15 to 25 grams (0.53-0.88oz) per day depending on size. Switch to a lab block if picky eating persists. Another option is to feed lab blocks and give food mix as treats. Lab blocks are a must if you don’t like schedules.
Fasting
Research shows male rats can have a 20% and females a 15% increase in lifespan by fasting once every 3 days. 15% of one year is 54.8 days, and 15% of 2 years is 109.6 days, or 3.6 months. For scheduled feeding, do not feed on fasting days. For free feeding, remove all the food from the cage the night before fasting day and replace it 24 hours later.
Corn
EU processing removes harmful contaminants in corn. Pet grade US corn may contain bad bacteria and should be avoided. Avoid diets with corn as the top ingredient. It can be a filler. Food colorings are unnecessary and may be toxic or carcinogenic.
Example calendar
I made a sample rat feeding calendar which has:
- Average recommended block portions
- fresh fruit, veggie, and protein schedule
- 24 hour fast every 3 days for an average 15% increase in lifespan
It does not include treats, but treats should not be given on fasting days.
Cage
Suitable cages
To calculate how many cubic feet are in a cage, multiply LxWxH (length times width times height). For example, ((24in/12) x (36in/12) x (36in/12)) = 18 cubic feet. 18/2 = number of rats you can put in that cage, or 9.
Norway rats, the same species as the domestic fancy rat, are terrestrial. Wild rats spend most of their time on the ground and digging burrows. Tall cages are unnecessary, fancy rats will be happy in a short one. However, they will climb if height is available. Height and climbing items are an enrichment option, not a requirement. If given deep enough bedding, rats will burrow, but dig boxes are also sufficient.
US Critter Nations or EU’s Savic Suite Royal and Little Zoo Venturer Cages are some of the best rat cages. The entire front is two large doors, allowing for easy cleaning and access. Half inch bar spacing keeps any rat inside while maximizing ventilation. Critter Nations are upgradable to allow for more rats. The only downside is a lack of bedding space. This is easily fixed in Critter Nations with a concrete mixing bin from Home Depot. Australia’s equivalent is the Tucker Rat Cage, which is good after the wire floor is covered up.
Other good cages are:
Prevue Rat and Chinchilla (up to 4* rats)
Prevue Hendryx Feisty Ferret (up to 6*)
Midwest Wabbitat (up to 4*)
*This is for females. For males, the max is 1 less because they are larger.
A cheaper option is a bin cage with a large mesh window in the lid and two large mesh windows on both long sides. Buy a large bin, then cut holes in the lid and two sides. Afterwards, cover the holes with hardware cloth from the inside to prevent exposed, chewable plastic edges.
Unsuitable cages
High ventilation is important for keeping down ammonia and maximizing your rat’s health and lifespan. Therefore, aquarium tanks and similar solid walled cages are unacceptable. Bin cages with drilled air holes are not well ventilated and an escape risk.
Wood cages are bad because rats can chew out and will saturate it with urine. Wood sealant prevents urine saturation, but is toxic. Urine and chewing will quickly ruin any wooden cage.
Wire flooring and wheels can cause bumblefoot, broken bones, open wounds, and more. Make sure the cage you choose has solid flooring. Cover wire flooring with a bedding pan. Remove or cover any wire ramps or platforms as well.
Bedding
Wood
Rats need wood bedding. Paper is dustier and does not neutralize ammonia like wood does. Safe wood options are birch, aspen, and pine bedding. During cage cleanings, leaving some old bedding in when adding new bedding helps prevent over marking.
Pine
All pine marketed for animals in the US and Europe legally must be kiln dried. This process lowers toxic phenols to a safe level. The study claiming otherwise was conducted on workers in a lumber mill processing both pine and cedar. Cedar is toxic regardless of kiln drying. So, the study could not prove pine toxicity. Despite being a bad study, the pet care community adopted and spread the belief like wildfire.
Fleece
Fleece is okay for ledges and platforms. However, it needs washed every other day, more if it soils fast. Fleece is bad as a main bedding because cleaning so often causes stress and over marking. Over marking is a rat(s) dribbling pee more often to make their cage smell like them, so it’s counterintuitive to clean more than once a week
Cohabitation
Rats With Rats
Rats are colony animals, thriving best in groups of 3 or more. A group of rats is called a mischief. They have a complex social system. They help each other, talk to each other, and even choose to save their fellow rat over a delicious piece of chocolate!
You can not replace a rat for your pet rat. You can not play like a rat, cuddle in their hammock, or spend all your time with your rat. Most of a rat’s vocalizations are not audible because of the high pitch. You can’t hear their laughs and most other sounds. You have work, school, friend hangouts, and shopping to do. During the time rats are most active, you are asleep. Rats need other rats. While two is acceptable, larger groups are better. So, when one dies, the remaining rat still has a friend. Rats only live 2-3 years on average, so this will happen.
Buy or adopt in pairs, so new rats are not alone during quarantine. Buying two rats from different locations will not work. Because they need to be quarantined separately. If buying multiple rats together is not an option, you can quarantine one alone. However, it is best to avoid this when possible.
Rats With Other Species
Interspecies cohabitation, keeping a rat with a mouse, for example, is dangerous. Given the opportunity, rats often eat mice. Keep them away from birds, hamsters, and other small animals for the same reason.
Despite cute videos of dogs and cats interacting with rats, these larger animals can and have seriously injured and killed pet rats. Even the scent of cats can stress them out. Always keep these animals in separate rooms from your rats. Rats are curious and often stick their snouts through the cage bars to sniff these new creatures. There are numerous occurrences of a dog or cat biting the snout off the rat. Regardless if you are observant, your dog or cat reacts faster than you can stop them. It only takes one second to kill your rat. The only exception to this rule is a highly trained service dog with their handler.
Enrichment
Rats need a lot of enrichment to stay happy. But, there are hundreds of options. Rats can use toys marketed for birds, guinea pigs, and even chinchillas! Enrichment includes foraging toys, dig boxes, climbing ropes and nets, ramps, ladders, chews, hidden treats, and trick training. Once you know what is safe, needs supervision, or is dangerous, choosing is easier. Must-Have Rat Toys for a Happy and Enriched Life gives you detail on ideas and what to watch out for.
Behavior
Rats will steal from other rats. This is normal. One may steal food and run, only for it to be taken by yet another rat. If that rat has it, this rat wants it. These shenanigans make two rats drinking from the same bottle simultaneously despite having other available bottles a common occurrence. If one rat is getting your attention, the others will want it too. Rats get jealous!
Rats are like eternal puppies and love being with you. Many rats adjust their sleep schedule to your most common waking/home hours, so they get more of your attention. Some will chill on your shoulder while you watch TV or do other daily activities. Other rats will not sit still.
Another common behavior for rats is scent marking. Scent marking is leaving a trail of pee dribbles wherever they go. Males do this more often. This communicates location, diet, gender, and other information. But all we see is dribble marks on our smart phone. Leave some dirty bedding during cleanings to prevent over marking from stress on fresh bedding.
Ratty Quirks
Porphyrin
Sometimes you may notice a blood-colored substance around your rat’s eyes and nose. Porphyrin is a red secretion produced by the Harderian gland in a rat’s eyes. Like many mammals, their tear ducts connect to their nose. Porphyrin in small amounts is normal. However, excessive amounts may have negative causes like disease and excessive stress. Mycoplasma flare-ups are one cause of excessive production, often requiring antibiotics to treat.
Mycoplasma
Ways to ease symptoms before or during treatment with antibiotics include steam therapy and feeding Peruvian dark chocolate to help open airways. Neither chocolate nor steam therapy can replace antibiotics during a mycoplasma flare. You can get an antibiotic prescription from your exotic vet
Vet Fund
Vet funds are necessary for dealing with mycoplasma flare-ups, neuters, tumors, and other health issues. I recommend starting at $500 and adding to it monthly. A tumor removal surgery can cost from $300 to $500 or more, depending on its size and location. If you are buying from a pet store or rescuing, vet costs can be even higher. This is because poor genetics causes poor health and temperament.
Source
There are 4 places you can get rats from: pet stores, personal rescue, rescues, and breeders.
There are two kinds of breeders. Ethical breeders, and backyard breeders, also known as BYBs. BYB, or unethical breeders do not adhere to proper keeping and breeding practices. Some things they may do are neglect their rats, not breed for temperament or health, cull rats using poor practice, not screen buyers, and many others. In every one of these situations, the rat suffers. Almost every BYB will tell you they are ethical. It is your responsibility to ask questions and decide for yourself. If they do not answer or avoid questions, or become rude when you attempt to ask, they are likely hiding something. An ethical breeder has nothing to hide in their breeding practice. The biggest mistake you can make is getting too eager and ignoring red flags. Take your time, think about their answers. Ask any follow-up questions you may have.
Ethical rat breeders have standards, keeping practices, and breeding rules they keep to for the best of the rats and the species. Ethical breeders keep their rats in roomy cages with proper husbandry practices. They breed for health and temperament over anything else.
Rats from an ethical breeder should never bite you or other rats because rat aggression is genetic. If an ethical breeder’s rat bites, tell them. The breeder should reevaluate and stop breeding the aggressive line. They may even offer to take the aggressive rat back and offer you a different one. If they say it’s normal, your fault, or the rat isn’t tame, don’t buy from the breeder again.
Conclusion
A rat’s secret is how adorable and smart they are despite the stigma. They are social animals, with groups of 3 or more being the best. Rats love people, but should not cohabitate with other pet species. Rats need a lot of enrichment to stay happy. Getting them from a breeder is the best source. Like other pets, you need a vet fund for if something goes wrong. Once you understand their care requirements, rats make awesome pets!
References
Rats being social
Teamwork to success: How rats work together – Techzle
Rats forsake chocolate to save a drowning companion | Science | AAAS
Sounds of rats – rats conversing and talking | Dr. Blake Porter
Rats as Predators
Mouse Killing Behavior (by rats)
Rat Attacked Our Birds | Killed All Finches Birds Youtube video (WARNING: Graphic, shows uncensored wounded/dead rats and mangled bird parts.)
Rat Diet
Nutrient Requirements of the Laboratory Rat
Animals Respond for Food in the Presence of Free Food
Breeds, varieties, and strains: the difference
Breeds, Varieties, and Strains
APA References
Rats Being Social
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Ben-Ami Bartal, I., Decety, J., Mason, P. (2011). Helping a cagemate in need: Empathy and pro-social behavior in rats. Science, 334(6061), 1427–1430. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1210789 Free PDF: https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC3760221&blobtype=pdf
Filipović, D., Todorović, N., Bernardi, R. E., et al. (2017). Oxidative and nitrosative stress pathways in the brain of socially isolated adult male rats demonstrating depressive- and anxiety-like symptoms. Brain Structure and Function, 222(1–20). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-016-1218-9
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Rat Emotions
Douglas, H.M. (2012). Inequity Aversion: Do Rats Get Jealous? Free PDF: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1064&context=honorsprojects
Morris, P. H., Doe, C., & Godsell, E. (2008). Secondary emotions in non-primate species? Behavioral reports and subjective claims by animal owners. Cognition and Emotion, 22(1), 3-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699930701273716
Rat Responses To Predatory Scents
Kliuchnikova, M.A., Struchkov, P.V., & Kvasha, I.G. (2020). The effects of predator odors on stress response and reproduction in Norway rats: A review. Ukrainian Journal of Ecology, 10, 48-55. https://doi.org/10.15421/2020_166
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Zhang, S., Mesalam, A., Lee, K. L., Song, S. H., Khan, I., Yuan, Y., Wenfa, L. V., & Kong, I. K. (2019). Effect of Predator Stress on the Reproductive Performance of Female Mice After Nonsurgical Embryo Transfer. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS, 58(3), 304–310. https://doi.org/10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-18-000085 Free PDF: https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC6526485&blobtype=pdf
Rats As Predators
Bridgman, L., Innes, J., Gillies, C., Fitzgerald, N., Rohan, M., & King, C. (2018). Interactions between ship rats and house mice at Pureora Forest Park. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 45(3), 238-256. https://doi.org/10.1080/03014223.2018.1464477
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Rat Diet
Ahmet, I., Wan, R., Mattson, M. P., Lakatta, E. G., & Talan, M. (2005). Cardioprotection by intermittent fasting in rats. Circulation, 112, 3115–3121. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.563817
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Clarke, H. E., Coates, M. E., Eva, J. K., Ford, D. J., Milner, C. K., O’Donoghue, P. N., Scott, P. P., & Ward, R. J. (1977). Dietary standards for laboratory animals: report of the Laboratory Animals Centre Diets Advisory Committee. Laboratory animals, 11(1), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1258/002367777780959175 PDF: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1258/002367777780959175
Inglis, I. R., Forkman, B., & Lazarus, J. (1996). Free food or earned food? A review and fuzzy model of contrafreeloading. Animal Behaviour, 51(3), 509-519. https://doi.org/10.1006/anbe.1996.0320
Kobylewski, S., & Jacobson, M. F. (2012). Toxicology of food dyes. International journal of occupational and environmental health, 18(3), 220–246. https://doi.org/10.1179/1077352512Z.00000000034
National Research Council (US) Subcommittee on Laboratory Animal Nutrition. (1995). Nutrient Requirements of Laboratory Animals: Fourth Revised Edition. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. PDF: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK231927/pdf/Bookshelf_NBK231927.pdf
Shin, B. K., Kang, S., Kim, D. S., & Park, S. (2018). Intermittent fasting protects against the deterioration of cognitive function, energy metabolism, and dyslipidemia in Alzheimer’s disease-induced estrogen-deficient rats. Experimental Biology and Medicine, 243(4), 334-343. https://doi.org/10.1177/1535370217751610
Bedding Studies
Smith, E., Stockwell, J. D., Schweitzer, I., Langley, S. H., & Smith, A. L. (2004). Evaluation of cage micro-environment of mice housed on various types of bedding materials. Contemporary topics in laboratory animal science, 43(4), 12–17. PDF: https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/aalas/jaalas/2004/00000043/00000004/art00002?crawler=true
Spiehs, M. J., Brown-Brandl, T., Parker, D. B., & Miller, D. N. (2013). Effect of bedding materials on concentration of odorous compounds and Escherichia coli in beef cattle bedded manure packs. Journal of Environmental Quality, 42(1), 65-75. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2012.0251
Rat Aggression
Albert, F. W., Carlborg, O., Plyusnina, I., Besnier, F., Hedwig, D., Lautenschläger, S., Lorenz, D., McIntosh, J., Neumann, C., Richter, H., Zeising, C., Kozhemyakina, R., Shchepina, O., Kratzsch, J., Trut, L., Teupser, D., Thiery, J., Schöneberg, T., Andersson, L., & Pääbo, S. (2009). Genetic architecture of tameness in a rat model of animal domestication. Genetics, 182(2), 541–554. https://doi.org/10.1534/genetics.109.102186
Albert, F. W., Shchepina, O., Winter, C., Römpler, H., Teupser, D., Palme, R., Ceglarek, U., Kratzsch, J., Sohr, R., Trut, L. N., Thiery, J., Morgenstern, R., Plyusnina, I. Z., Schöneberg, T., & Pääbo, S. (2008). Phenotypic differences in behavior, physiology and neurochemistry between rats selected for tameness and for defensive aggression towards humans. Hormones and behavior, 53(3), 413–421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2007.11.010
Cologer-Clifford, A., Simon, N. G., Richter, M. L., Smoluk, S. A., & Lu, S. (1999). Androgens and estrogens modulate 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B agonist effects on aggression. Physiology & behavior, 65(4-5), 823–828. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0031-9384(98)00240-6
de Boer, S. F., van der Vegt, B. J., & Koolhaas, J. M. (2003). Individual variation in aggression of feral rodent strains: a standard for the genetics of aggression and violence?. Behavior genetics, 33(5), 485–501. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1025766415159
Halász, J., Liposits, Z., Kruk, M. R., & Haller, J. (2002). Neural background of glucocorticoid dysfunction-induced abnormal aggression in rats: Involvement of fear- and stress-related structures. European Journal of Neuroscience, 15(3), 561–569. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.0953-816x.2001.01883.x
Heyne, H. O., Lautenschläger, S., Nelson, R., Besnier, F., Rotival, M., Cagan, A., Kozhemyakina, R., Plyusnina, I. Z., Trut, L., Carlborg, Ö., Petretto, E., Kruglyak, L., Pääbo, S., Schöneberg, T., & Albert, F. W. (2014). Genetic influences on brain gene expression in rats selected for tameness and aggression. Genetics, 198(3), 1277–1290. https://doi.org/10.1534/genetics.114.168948
Malkesman, O., Maayan, R., Weizman, A., & Weller, A. (2006). Aggressive behavior and HPA axis hormones after social isolation in adult rats of two different genetic animal models for depression. Behavioural brain research, 175(2), 408–414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2006.09.017
Miczek, K. A., de Almeida, R. M., Kravitz, E. A., Rissman, E. F., de Boer, S. F., & Raine, A. (2007). Neurobiology of escalated aggression and violence. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 27(44), 11803–11806. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3500-07.2007 PDF: https://www.jneurosci.org/content/jneuro/27/44/11803.full.pdf
Popova N. K. (2006). From genes to aggressive behavior: the role of serotonergic system. BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology, 28(5), 495–503. https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.20412 Free Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7165323_From_genes_to_aggressive_behavior_The_role_of_serotonergic_system
Popova, N. K., Naumenko, V. S., Plyusnina, I. Z., & Kulikov, A. V. (2005). Reduction in 5-HT1A receptor density, 5-HT1A mRNA expression, and functional correlates for 5-HT1A receptors in genetically defined aggressive rats. Journal of neuroscience research, 80(2), 286–292. https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.20456
Popova, N. K., Nikulina, E. M., & Kulikov, A. V. (1993). Genetic analysis of different kinds of aggressive behavior. Behavior genetics, 23(5), 491–497. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01067985
Veiga, C. P., Miczek, K. A., Lucion, A. B., & Almeida, R. M. (2007). Effect of 5-HT1B receptor agonists injected into the prefrontal cortex on maternal aggression in rats. Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas, 40(6), 825–830. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0100-879×2006005000113 Free Link: https://www.scielo.br/j/bjmbr/a/VRb3tyCJ5CbS4546mxH7WBs/?lang=en
Treatments
Périz, M., Pérez-Cano, F. J., Cambras, T., Franch, À., Best, I., Pastor-Soplin, S., Castell, M., & Massot-Cladera, M. (2020). Attenuating effect of Peruvian cocoa populations on the acute asthmatic response in Brown Norway rats. Nutrients, 12(8), 2301. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12082301
