Your first rats

I always wish there was a check list of things I needed to know right away before getting my first rats.

There is often misconceptions and many pet shops seem to make it their mission to give out bad, wrong & misleading info!

So here is my most useful simple info to consider when getting your first rats.

1. The bigger the cage the better!

You will find most rat owners make the mistake of getting a cage too small at first. We often end up upgrading soon after! But IMO it is much wiser to start off with the larger cage, both financially and for the care of the rats.

When you visit your local pet shop most if not all of the "rat" cages they have will actually NOT be well suited for rats at all. Sadly pet shops are there to make money, and your random Joe off the street will be more willing to purchase a new pet & a cage from them if it is smaller. So pet shops are going to push smaller cages. They may only actually stock smaller cages even!

☆ Some smaller cages are fine for 2 rats.
☆ Vertical (tall) cages are better.
☆ Ideal bar spacing is 1.5 inches, many cages are often 1 inch and younger, female rats can often easily slip right through the bars and escape.
☆ Plastic bottom cages are often a huge mistake. So many rats easily chew right through the cage and escape. Then you are out of the cost of the cage, need to buy a new cage, and now your rat is without a home!

No you should never ever keep your rat in an aquarium.

2. Most rat food sold in pet shops is terrible

Many experienced rat owners prefer to order their rats food online and have it shipped. It is way more cost effective to buy in bulk and it can be harder to find good quality pet food in stores. Some pet stores only carry certain brands and some do not carry the brands we want at all.

Seed mixes are absolute junk. Often made with chemicals and dyes that are not safe. Cheap ingredients. And are full of rat junk food- most seeds are very fatty and should not be a part of their daily diet but used as a treat. Rats will also just pick through & eat the stuff they like, meaning they will not get a balanced diet.

3. Pet shop rats may not have been handled often if at all.

Rats make amazing pets, they bond deeply and can be sweet cuddly love muffins. But (as with any animal) if they have never been loved, handled, or had to deal with people then they will likely be very timid or shy.

All rats are different and some will easily open up while others may take alot of time, effort and patience to build trust.

*Another reason I highly suggest buying from a breeder who has handled their rats

4. Rats are not sit & watch pets

Rats are very hands on pets. They need alot of attention, play and love. They are much more like a cat or dog in this manner. Yes they live in a cage, but IMO view the cage like your dogs crate/bed/run. They shouldn't be locked up 24/7 or anywhere close to that. They need quite a bit of time outside of their cage.

5. Yes rats can be destructive.

All rats are unique but most rats are little destructive brats. If they can chew it, they likely will. See above ^ cages made out of plastic often end up with a hole chewed right through. Hammocks and beds and toys will often also be thoroughly chewed up.

Rat proofing your room? HA! Goodluck with that, like children they will show you every mistake you made with that. Leave something down? It is filled with holes now. Cords, remotes, clothing and perhaps even well loved items can easily be ruined if left where rats can get to it.

Also rats are highly intelligent, and born to get into cracks & climb every which way. I have personally seen rats climb up a standing lamp, between a wall and shelf, and jump quite high!

6. All pets bring with them some odor.

Some people enjoy or do not mind the natural odor of animals, some can not stand it. But no matter what urine and feces are never going to smell lovely. I don't care what type of pet you have it doesn't smell like roses. My cat's litter box doesn't smell nice.

Is it bad? It shouldn't be. If properly kept under control and cleaned it should never get a chance to have a strong smell. If your rat cage smells bad it is because you are not properly handling it. *That being said some are more sensitive than others to the smell

Most rats can have some level of litter box training. Which will help with the smell alot.

If you are having odor issues:
☆ How often are you cleaning the cage? 1-2 times a week is probably ideal for most.
☆ Do not do more than spot clean daily. Their cage is their home and should smell like them. If it is too clean it will make matters worse because they will mark it alot more.
☆ How large is your cage and how many rats do you have? If your rats cage is too small and/or over crowded it is going to make the smell alot worse.
☆ Are you using a litter box? It helps.
☆ What type of bedding are you using? Some are much better than others and you may need to change it up.

7. Health, vet care & short lifespans

Rats have very short lifespans, 2-3 years is most common. Even knowing this it can still feel far too soon when it eventually happens and you lose your little love.

On top of short lifes, many rats end up with health issues. Females often have mammary tumors. And many rats develop URIs.

The most surprising thing though for new rat owners is vet costs. Vet costs can be very high for rats. You will often pay more for rats than you will for dogs or cats. It is hard to give examples as every part of the country will have different price quotes. But in Texas I was looking at paying $85 just for them to see the rat, tumor removal or neutering can cost several hundred to thousands.

Then we also have to deal with finding a good qualified vet that will even seen rats. It was a pain in the butt finding a really good vet to see my cats, and far less vets will even accept rats and even less have alot of experience working with them!!


Read my links above for more detailed info on keeping pet rats!