How to Care for Pet Rats

You just bought a cute pet rat(s), now what? This ehow will provide essential information about taking care of your pet rat(s). The information in the text below has been tested and succeeded with two healthy rats, and rat owners.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A cage
• Rat(s)

1. The first step is to have a cage. Aquariums are not ideal for rat(s) because they are small, and cannot be climbed. The glass can easily break and hurt your rat(s). I have two healthy fancy rats who live perfectly in a wire cage which has two levels. If you have one rat (GET ANOTHER ONE!) wire cage that has one level is ideal. Make sure you have sturdy travel cases that a rat cannot get out of. Clean out all of your materials each week, or when they get dirty.

2. The second step is to provide your rat(s) with healthy foods. I find that a system works best:
   Day 1: Vegetable & Fruit Mix- Broccoli, Peas, Beans, Bananas, Cucumber, Mint, Tomato, carrots, Apple, Watermelon, Raisins, Grapes, etc.
   Day 2: Grain Mix- Dried corn, oatmeal, total cereal, other cereals with no sugar, sodium, or too much fats, raw pasta, cheese (feed sparingly).
   Day 3- A rat chow or mix from your local pet store.

3. The third step is to have clean rat(s). Every week or so, you should bathe your rat(s). Get three containers: One large, small, and meduim sized. Fill up the containers with lukewarm water. Fill the little container with mild kitten shampoo diluted with water. Place two washcloths around to dry off your rat. Place your rat in the first container, soap him up, and then rinse him/her in the second container, then dry him off. Use a warm gauze pad to wipe of dirt, or eye gunk of the face.

4. The fourth step is to play with your rat. Each day let your rat run around a safe room for rats: No places to escape, electrical cords, dangerous pets, things that could harm them. Put tubes and tunnels, hideouts, pillows, towels, seashell, balls, ladders, etc and make a little gym for your rat. Afterword hand feed them and socialize.

5. The fifth step is to socialize with your rat. Each day, take them out, hold and brush them, and play with them.

6. The sixth step is to provide sleeping areas and hideaway. Use a shoe box to make a hideaway, fill it with toilet paper, cotton balls, or other stuffing. This will provide them with a cozy place to sleep, and go when scared or sick. Never bring objects from outside that are not sanitary.

Tips & Warnings

• Rats enjoy playing with other friendly rats. DO NOT let another rat climb into other rat's cage, this could start a fight.
• An old clean shoe would provide a cute hideaway.
• Old t-shirts work fine for sleeping material.
• Empty the water bottle each day and provide clean water. You can add small amounts of fruit juice to it to add flavor.
• Never leave your rats unattended if they are not in their cage, or in an environment they can escape from.
• Do not feed your rats too much cheese it will make them fat, which causes tumors.
• Do not use cedar bedding, they cause lung problems.
• Rats teeth do not fall out, they continue to grow so provide raw pasta or bread to keep teeth short.
• If your rat behaves unnaturally, talk to a vet.