Rat lovers Care guide
Suparatastic
Contents General introduction Housing Companionship Feeding Handling Grooming Exercise and play Health Common health problems F inal checklist
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You love rats We love rats Just because they’re small, don’t go thinking that you can give a rat any less care, commitment and love than you’d give to a bigger pet. In this guide, we show you by far the best way to give your pets the time of their little lives – which usually last around two years. The more you get to know your rats (Latin name – Rattus norvegicus), and get to know about them, the better. There’s more fun to be had, and more reward, every single day. Rats make excellent pets, especially for older children and adults. They’re clean, friendly, inquisitive and highly intelligent. They love a bit of problem-solving – and you can even teach them tricks and agility. They bond well with people and rarely bite. Although rats are sleepy-heads all day long, they’re usually up in the late afternoon and evening. Brighteyed, long-tailed and ready for action – absolutely ideal for when you get in.
Background Wild rats can be found all over Europe and the USA, although they originated in Asia. The population spread across the world when the rats were sneaky stowaways on merchant ships – or so it is widely believed. Domesticated rats are very clean, intelligent animals. Not like their wild cousins. There are many different colour variations among rats, and three types of coat – smooth-haired, rex and hairless.
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A cage with a view Don’t hem your rats into a hamster home. Don’t jam them into a gerbil cage. They need a very large home, specially designed with rats in mind. Their ideal cage is made of wire. You can keep a rat in a wooden cage. But not for long – they’ll gnaw through it in no time. And different levels connected by tunnels are a must. Indoors beats outdoors hands down: rats hate being cold. They hate being hot too, so keep the cage at a constant temperature, away from draughts and radiators. Other places to avoid: anywhere near anything noisy. Keep TV’s, loudspeakers and household appliances at a distance.
Bedding Line the cage floor with wood or paper-based litter and cover it with shredded paper for bedding. Never use wood shavings, sawdust or fine litter. The dust may irritate and cause an allergic reaction.
Sleeping There should be a separate sleeping area for your rats to nest in, filled with lovely soft bedding material. Shredded tissue paper is very comfy. Hammocks are also a hit. Steer clear of straw – it’s too sharp and may damage your pets’ mouths.
Cleaning Rats are very clean and good hygiene is vital to their good health. Clean the cage thoroughly once a week with pet safe disinfectant and replace all the lining and bedding. Have a quick check two or three times a week to remove droppings and dirt.
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Cosying up for company Rats don’t want to be alone. It can make them bored and unhappy. So get your singleton some company – another rat to make a pair or a more-the-merrier group. Same-sex, preferably. Males and females can live happily together, but always neuter those males. Otherwise you’ll end up with a lot more rats than you started with. Rats kept together should ideally all be acquired at the same time. But if you’re introducing new rats to an established group, gently does it. Let them get to know each other bit by bit on neutral ground. Then let the newcomers join the cage.
Wild and Wonderful Facts • In ancient Rome, rats were considered a good luck symbol. Egyptians even worshipped them. Many modern day owners feel the same. • Those magnificent tails aren’t just for show. They help with balance and maintaining body temperature. • Strange but true: baby rats are called kittens. But don’t expect them to meow. • The male is called a buck and the female is called a doe. Luckily, this never causes confusion at the pet shop.
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Twice-a-day deliciousness Rats are omnivores – which means they’ll eat almost anything. Not that you should let them. In the wild, they’re scavengers and get all the nutrients they need from a varied diet. But as pets, they can be selective feeders. If you offer a coarse mix of grains, nuts and fruit, they’ll just choose what they like, buffet-style. And since they hoard food, you’ll be none the wiser. To beat the problem, feed them an all-in-one food – Suparat is ideal. It has all the nutrients they need in every mouthful. And picky selective feeding is an impossibility. The feeding guide on the pack will tell you how much to give. Rats love variety though, so give them the occasional healthy treat – Excel Nature Snacks are perfect. You can make a game of it and hide them round the cage. It’s a great pro-exercise, anti-boredom technique. Fresh food should be given at the same time every day: once in the morning, once in the evening. Use a metal or ceramic bowl – they’re easier to clean, difficult to gnaw and harder to knock over. In the morning, take away any food left over from the day before. Your rat should always have plenty of fresh, clean water. But from a water bottle, not a bowl.
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Lovely cuddles When your rats arrive home with you, leave them alone for a few hours. They need to get used to the cage and the new surroundings. Before you try to pick up your pets, use some getting-to-know-you techniques to minimise stress. Let your hand be sniffed. Speak softly. Try some gentle stroking. When you feel ready, and you feel they feel ready, scoop them up in your cupped hands. Rats are very happy to sit in your lap or on your shoulder. They can’t have a quiet word in your ear, but you’ll be able to tell when they’re content. Just listen to them grinding their teeth. It’s called bruxing. NEVER lift a rat by the tail – it can cause them discomfort.
The well-groomed rat Rats are hygiene-happy and will generally groom themselves. And any other rats in grooming distance too. But there may be times – if one of your rats is old or unwell, for example – when you need to give them a bath. Use warm water and a mild soap such as baby shampoo but be careful not to get either in the ears or eyes. Rubber ducks are optional.
Any time is playtime One of the great joys of keeping rats is that they love to play. It’s great to watch, and great to join in. They don’t know it, but plenty of fun and exercise keeps them in good physical condition. It’s important for mental stimulation too. So make sure their cage is filled with plenty of toys, tunnels and ropes. Do you have something that looks like a cross between a crèche and an army assault course? Perfect. Your rats will enjoy running on a large wheel, but it must be solid – otherwise their tails might get caught. Rat balls are an excellent accessory to allow your pets to run safely around the room. And in pursuit of exercise, mental stimulation and emotional well-being, hide snacks around the cage for them to find.
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Looking after your rats’ health As with all animals, there are some common health problems that rats may suffer from. If you have any concerns, always go direct to your vet.
The weekly health check Get into the habit of examining your rats carefully every week. It’s a good idea to weigh them too. Make this a regular thing and you’ll bond better with your pets. And you’ll catch any problems early.
General Check that your rats’ behaviour is normal – inquisitive, active and playful. Loss of weight and loss of appetite are both signs that something is wrong. Gauge how they walk, looking for limping, trembling or signs of weakness. Obvious injuries and wounds should be treated immediately by your vet.
Mouth and nose The nose should be clean and free from mucus. Check to ensure that your rats’ teeth haven’t grown too long. See whether they’re misaligned or chipped. Also look out for redness and swelling of the gums. Losing weight and loss of appetite is a sign that all is not well.
Eyes They should be bright, clear and free of discharge. A bulging eye could indicate a tumour or abscess. If there is a bloody discharge from the eyes, this is called Porphyria – not good.
Fur and skin The coat should be full and shiny. Excessive scratching and bald patches could be a sign of parasites, so check the fur carefully. Fleas and lice are visible to the naked eye but mites may be harder to spot.
Breathing Wheezing, congestion, rattling, laboured breathing and gasping are all signs of respiratory problems or more serious matters, such as heart issues.
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Common health problems Respiratory ailments Diseases of the respiratory tract are common in rats. Symptoms include snuffling, sneezing, nasal discharge and runny eyes. There are a number of possible causes, so always see your vet.
Dental problems Rats’ teeth grow continuously through their lives, so they need to gnaw to keep them in shape. If they are misaligned or chipped, gnawing won’t be effective and the teeth will become overgrown. This can lead to severe pain and prevent eating.
Parasites (mites, fleas, lice) You can usually tell when parasites are present when there is itching, hair loss and small bumps on the skin. Flea treatments are widely available, but it’s best to get a vet’s diagnosis first when these symptoms show.
F inal check list To take the best care of your rats, you’ll need all these things: Large multi-level cage Wood shavings Soft bedding Tubes and other toys Suparat Rat Royale Ceramic food bowl Water bottle Gnaw blocks Pet safe disinfectant
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Suparat Rat Royale is a suparatastic all-in-one meal created especially for your pet rats’ needs as omnivores. Each delicious nugget contains the perfect combination of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. And the nuggets prevent selective feeding – unlike a muesli-style food where rats often pick out some bits and leave the rest, leading to an imbalanced diet. Suparat Rat Royale provides a tasty, balanced, healthy diet with added minerals to help maintain beautiful coat colour, and prebiotics to encourage friendly bacteria for a healthy digestion. For further information contact us free on 0800 413969 or visit online at www.burgesspetcare.co.uk