Rats

Rats are extremely clever and can make a lovely addition to most families. As with any pet there is lots to consider before committing to taking on some pet rats.

Environment

A suitable living environment

Diet

A suitable diet

Behaviour

To be able to behave normally

Companionship

To have appropriate companionship

Health

To be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease

1

Environment

A suitable living environment

2

Diet

A suitable diet

3

Behaviour

To be able to behave normally

4

Companionship

To have appropriate companionship

5

Health

To be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease

Did you know?

The likely lifetime cost of owning a pair of rats could be up to £3,000. This includes bedding & enrichment, appropriately sized accommodation and a healthy diet. However, this does not include veterinary fees for illness or injury. When choosing to take on a pet, it is important to remember that under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and similar legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland, a child under the age of 16 cannot have legal responsibility for an animal’s welfare – it is the responsibility of the child’s parents or carers to ensure that the animals’ needs are met.

2-3 years life expectancy (some may live for longer)

Requires the companionship of at least one other well matched rat, can be housed in same sex pairs or groups

Omnivores: should be fed a quality well-balanced diet & fresh clean drinking water

Housing: spacious indoor enclosure to enable behaviours including exploring, running, climbing and foraging

Are Rats right for me?

Rats can make great first-time pets for families; they are adaptable and can get used to your daily activity routine. It is also important that they spend time with you outside of their cage. If rats have been carefully handled from an early age, many will enjoy coming out for a cuddle and most will love exploring further with some supervised free-range time. Rats can be easily trained using positive rewards-based methods and love learning all the time. With correct handling, they can become very affectionate and enjoy cuddling up on your shoulder or lap. They benefit from owners who can commit time to being creative with enrichment helping them to feel active and interested. With any new pet, it is very important to take the time to learn as much as possible about the modern way of caring for your chosen pet.

Not sure where to start? Click on any of the charity links at the bottom of this page for lots of up to date advice and support

Rats need to be housed in a large cage filled with suitable enrichment to keep them interested and active. They need lots of space to be able to perform their natural behaviours such as climbing, exploring, digging and playing. They will also enjoy exploring outside of their cage - once you have become used to your rats and built up a bond, they can be given supervised ‘free range’ time outside of their cage.

Avoid using sawdust or aspen-based wood shavings to cover the base of the cage as these can cause breathing problems. There are many safe alternatives including cross shredded paper or card cubes, as well as non-aspen wood chips, cellulose-based chips or shredded filter paper. Enrichment such as hammocks, rope ladders, tunnels and hides are perfect - change it up regularly to keep the rats interested and active. Provide each of your rats with their own hiding place, ideally with some extra ones in the cage so they can choose which ones they use. Shelters should have two entrance/exit points and be large enough for all your rats to curl up in together if they want to.

Rats should be kept in a quiet area away from direct sunlight, radiators and other sources of heat. They are nocturnal meaning they are active at night and sleep during the day. They should not be housed somewhere which is too bright during the day. You should also keep them away high-pitched sounds or ultrasound. Exposure to sudden noise, loud noises or high-pitched noise can be stressful for rats and can make them ill.

Rats are omnivores and should be fed a quality well-balanced diet. If you are unsure about what to feed your rats speak with your vet or click on the charity links at the bottom of this page for more advice about providing them with a healthy diet.

Rats tend to mix up their day and night with bursts of energy and foraging to several hours of sleeping. In most cases they are very affectionate, grooming themselves and their companions as part of a daily social interaction. 

As rats are nocturnal, sleeping during the day and being active in the evenings and overnight. It is best to interact with them during times when they are naturally awake. This could include socialising with them and playing or allowing them to come out of their cage for some supervised free-range time.

Rats are very intelligent and curious animals. They need mental stimulation and can be trained to learn new things. Training your rats using positive rewards-based methods can help improve your bond with your rats and help keep them mentally and physically active.

Rats are very social animals, naturally they will live and socialise in large groups. A lone rat is likely to be less happy than one living with a well-matched companion rat. They should be housed in minimum of a pair but are often more content in small groups. They can be housed in same sex pairs or males can be castrated and paired with one or more females. Many rescue centres offer a mixing service for single rats looking for a new companion. The following PAAG members often rescue and rehome rats: Wood Green the animal's charity, Scottish SPCA, Raystede, RSPCA and the Blue Cross.

Rats sadly have a relatively short life expectancy and can be prone to several common illnesses which can reduce life expectancy. When choosing pet rats, it is wise to purchase rats from either a reputable rescue or breeder who can either offer full vet history or the reassurance of being bred with great care towards health. Always take the time to handle them first; lookout for signs of laboured breathing or a thin body appearance that may indicate poor health. The most common illnesses rats suffer from are tumours - always have lumps assessed by your vet. Breathing problems can be very common, especially if the rats environment is not kept clean or they have come from a poor breeding back ground. Signs include red staining around the nose and front legs from sneezing, laboured heavy breathing with concaved chest appearance, poor body condition. Hind leg weakness is also common, with elderly males being more prone.

You should register your rats with a vet who will be able to provide you with more advice on things like neutering and general health care. Some vets have more experience with rats than.

Check before you buy

Please consider contacting your local animal rescue/rehoming centre

Many rescue centres who take in multi species rescue and rehome rats. All reputable rescue centres will have health checked, neutered where required and socialised each rat prior to rehoming. The average fee is often the same as purchasing a rat from another source, except rats from elsewhere will often not have had the above done and may come with considerable financial and emotional implications. Check out the charity links below for your nearest rescue centre with rats available for rehoming.

Ensure you are 100% confident that the rat(s) is the correct gender that you have been advised it to be

If you are unsure, speak to your vet for further advice. Unexpected litters & accidental pregnancies are common with small pets as people don’t always ensure the sex of their new pets.

Spend plenty of time with the rats to ensure their character will suit your family

Ask lots of questions – reputable establishments will be happy to answer these for you.

Always health check any rats you intend to purchase prior to taking them home

Healthy rats should be:

  • Alert & inquisitive
  • Moving about without signs of discomfort
  • Healthy looking coat with no hair loss
  • Eyes bright with no sign of weeping
  • Clean nose
  • No injuries to any part of the body
  • Eating well without signs of discomfort
  • Healthy body shape with a normal breathing appearance

Common Scams

Always be certain that the rats you have chosen to purchase are the gender you have been advised they are as unplanned litters can be common

So you think you are ready to become a rat owner? Visit any of the charity links for the latest advice and support in finding your new pets