Visit an animal shelter or a friend who has a pet rat and handle it for a little while. See if you have any allergic reactions within an hour after spending time with a rat, such as rashes or difficulty breathing, to determine if you have an allergy. Make sure you have 1 hour each day to dedicate to your rat. Rat cages need to be spot cleaned multiple times a week and have a deep clean once a week. Rats also need to be handled and have time outside of their cage to play, explore, and bond with you.
Ask yourself if your schedule allows you to spend time focusing on your rat. Check your schedule to make sure you have this time free to spend with your rat. Take your health into consideration. Rats can transmit an intestinal bacterium called salmonella that causes intense sickness in adults and children. Take any small children in your household into consideration.
Think about the other pets in your household. If you have a dog or a cat, consider where they will be when you have your rats out of their cage. Make a plan for backup care. If you need to go out of town, you will need to be able to find someone who can care for your rat. This might mean recruiting a friend to rat-sit or boarding your rat with your local exotic pet vet. Do you know someone who can take it in? Is there a rescue organization or shelter in your area that can help you rehome it?
Prepare to care for your rat for 2 to 3 years. Rats have a relatively short lifespan compared to other common household pets. Where will you be in a year or 2? Will it still be possible for you to keep a rat then? Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Rats do not need to be bathed since this would remove the natural oils from their fur. Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0. Rats actually DO need to get bathed every times a year. To bathe them just drop water in small portions and gently rub with clean washcloth. Male rats will mark their territory with a few drops of urine if they are left out to explore and it could cause an odor. Helpful 6 Not Helpful 0. Be careful about leaving clothes or possessions around them or their cage.
Fancy rats were even featured in shows — something that still happens today! Have you ever seen a rat rollover on command? How about a rat that plays fetch?
Rats can do both those things and more! Rats are very smart, so training them is a piece a cake. In fact, the reason why rats are used in scientific studies think mazes is to study behaviour since they have such high levels of emotional intelligence. You know how cats are always grooming themselves? Rats actually groom more often and even better than those felines!
They also show empathy and compassion for their fellow rats when they are in distress or ill - qualities that are not often attributed to animals other than humans. Rats have excellent memories. Rats make lifelong bonds with their owners Ask any rat owner, and he or she will tell you: Rats recognize their owners and respond to their sight and voice.
Also, keep in mind many rats start to develop common medical problems after even just one year of life. You can make the best of it, though, by making sure your pet rodent gets optimal care, including regular veterinary attention.
Good everyday care for your pet rat would include things like having its bedding preferably paper based spot-cleaned daily and completely changed weekly. Rats should be fed a base diet of pellets specifically formulated for rats, plus clean water and a small amount of table food fresh produce, bits of cooked egg or pasta or meat, and occasional nuts or seeds. They also need exercise - running in smooth-sided toy wheels that can be placed in their cages and by having regular out-of-cage time as well.
Rats need preventive medical care Rats, like dogs, cats, and people, can often develop commonly encountered medical problems, such as breast tumors, respiratory tract disease and uterine infections. Some of these conditions can be avoided altogether such as uterine infections that may be prevented by surgically removing the uterus and ovaries before 6 months of age , while others can be treated if caught early such as breast tumors that may be removed with a mastectomy.
To prevent or treat disease, rats must have regular checkups with a rat-savvy veterinarian. They should be examined initially after purchase or adoption and then, ideally, given their limited life spans, checked every six months after that to try to increase the likelihood of diagnosing and treating disease early on. So if you want an intelligent, interactive, entertaining and easily trainable pet, consider a pet rat.
Rats may not live as long as dogs and cats, but the time you do have with them will be thoroughly rewarding. As was the case with Vivi, a homeless rat who became a loving and loyal companion, if only for a brief time. Dog bless. Resource: Dr. Contact her at judyendo outlook.
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