PET RATS

Rats are the complete opposite to what most people think. One of the AusRFS display signs, reads 

“Prejudices Dispelled Here”!

Pet rats are sweet natured, gentle, affectionate, clean, social, curious, playful, happy and smart.
They have a great sense of fun, and love to play (check out “rats laughing” or rats playing on YouTube).
Rats make exceptional little pets, providing a similar level of companionship as a dog.
In fact they are often referred to as ‘Pocket Dogs’.

 Rats bond very closely to each other and their human families. They can be trained to do simple “tricks’
like come when called and beg, and most will easily learn to use a litter tray. A rat’s favourite place is on the
shoulder of its owner, joining in whatever they are doing. They are also very good travellers but for their safety
they should be transported in a suitable travel cage.

Although rats are semi-nocturnal, pet rats adjust to the schedules of their owners. Commonly they will snooze on
and off during the day, waking up around the time their owners get home from work or school. Then they are all set to
play through the evening !

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE PURCHASING PET RATS

Although rats are relatively inexpensive to purchase, they are not low maintenance pets.

So there are a few things that you should give serious thought to:

A Note to Parents

Rats can be fantastic pets for kids. However the AusRFS does not recommend rats for children under about
6-8 years. Young children tend to grab and hold rats too tightly, which can seriously injure a rat. Small children can
easily kneel or sit on, drop or throw a rat, and these things can happen in the blink of an eye.

 You need to consider the maturity of your child and what level of supervision will be needed before agreeing to let
your child have rats as pets.

 Keeping rats can teach children about friendship, empathy, responsibility, commitment and gentleness. But ultimately
the responsibility for the care of the rats will be yours. So, if your child loses interest in the rats, are YOU willing
to continue to provide the rats’ physical and emotional needs?  

Remember all animals are for life not just for Christmas.

Please don’t chose rats because you think they are a cheap pet or in order to teach your
children about the circle of life.

 
Are you willing to keep more than one rat?
 

Rats require the company of at least one other rat (of the same sex or desexed). Keeping a pet rat in a cage on their
own is equivalent to solitary confinement. Rats are social animals, and spend a lot of time grooming and interacting
with each other. A pair of rats (of the same sex or desexed) kept together, will not be any more work or any less bonded
to you, and will keep each other company when you can’t be with them. Watching rats groom, eat, sleep and play together
is one of the great joys of rat ownership

Do you have enough money to provide for your rats?
 

Rats need a good sized cage and accessories such as toys, hammocks etc. Initial set up cost is approximately $200.
Cages (new and second hand) can be purchased from the AusRFS subject to availability. The also need good quality food.

If they get sick or injured are you willing to take them to a vet who is experienced in rat care and if necessary,  purchase
the medications needed?

Do you have time to spend with your rats?
 

Rats are not a pet that can be left in a cage all day. They need at least one hour a day of “quality time” out of their cage,
interacting with their human family. Playing games, exploring around a room, or just cuddling up on your lap while you
read or watch TV.

Can you keep your rats safe from other pets?
 

The way rats can be kept with other pets differs enormously between households, so there are no hard and fast rules.
Sometimes the resident pets react to rats in a completely different way to how their owners expect.

Some people’s cats and dogs are friends with their rats, while others can’t even be trusted in the same room as the
rats’ cage.

If a cat is a keen hunter it will probably always see all rats as prey, the same for dogs. Though dogs are more likely to
accept your rats as part of the household than a cat would. But remember even a friendly dog can easily kill a rattie
accidentally while playing or even by stepping or sitting on it. Introduce your pets to the rats in their cage, and continue
to supervise them closely and err on the side of caution. You can easily keep your dog or cat out of the room when your
rats are free ranging.

Are you willing to commit to 2 - 3 years of rat ownership?
 

Rats are extremely aware, social, loving animals, that bond very quickly with their new families. They are pack animals
and once adopted they become part of your pack and you become their pack leader. They will look to you for all their
needs - physical and emotional. RATS HAVE FEELINGS you can see the love, trust and even the hurt or grief in their
eyes!  It isn't fair to lose interest after a while and abandon them.  
They still love you!  Can you promise not to let them down?

"To the world you are one person, to a rat you are the world"

Can you handle the fact that rats have such a short lifespan ?
 

Although rats only live for 2-3 years, they pack those years with so much enthusiasm and love that it can be devastating
to lose your beloved friend after such a short time. As your first rats get older its a good idea to introduce a couple of
young ones, so you are not left with a lonely single rat, when their partner dies. 

The AusRFS can help with support and understanding for your loss.

Can you handle some negative comments about your pets?
 

The word is slowly spreading and people are becoming more accepting of our unusual pets. But there will always be
those who are negative, even rude and insulting when you tell them that you have pet rats. Some people are just plain
scared of them and no matter how you try to tell them about your darling ratties, nothing will change their minds.

Joining the AusRFS can help there, you will find support and friendship of people that understand and care about
rats as you do.

If you have answered NO to any of the above, then pet rats are probably not for you.

The AusRFS rescue service is constantly receiving surrendered or rescued rats from
homes where the owners have not thought through the above issues.

If however you have answered YES to all the questions above,  then perhaps you are one
of those people who will be lucky enough to know the love and joy that pet rats bring to our lives.

So read on….

PURCHASING YOUR NEW PET RATS

A new pet should never be a impulse decision. Please read through all the rat care information on the following pages,
its also a good idea to speak to some AusRFS members about what its like to live with pet rats. All members of the family
should also be consulted before making the final decision to bring rats into the household. It is also a good idea to make
sure that no one is allergic to rats. Then some preparation is required, such as purchasing a cage and other supplies.

The Australian Rat Fanciers Society Inc. strongly discourages purchasing rats from pet shops. Most pet shops give
incorrect advice about rat care and the animals they sell are can be inappropriately housed, indiscriminately bred and
inadequately socialized. We recommend purchasing from AusRFS Registered Breeders or through our Rescue Service,
where the rats have been socialized and assessed before being offered for adoption.
Details of Registered Breeders and Rescue Service are available on our website or by contacting the AusRFS.

What to look for

Make sure that the rats are no younger than 6 weeks of age, babies under this age may not have been properly weaned.

The choice of colour and/or pattern is entirely up to you, it doesn’t affect the rat’s suitability as a pet.

 A rats body should be firm and well rounded. Younger rats might be on the lean side but not skinny. Coat should be
clean and well groomed. Ears and tail should be clean, and skin should be free of sores and not red or flaky.

The nose, eyes, ears and rear end should be clean and free from discharge - check for red staining (porphyrin)
on nose and eyes. Any nicks or tiny lumps on ears could be caused by mites.

Watch the rat's breathing to make sure it is not laboured and check that the rat is not sneezing or wheezing.
A rat with its fur standing on end or sitting out of the way in a hunched position is most likely sick.

Healthy, well socialised rats will be alert and curious when you meet them. They should be active but not panicky
when handled. If the rat comes up to sniff your hand or climbs onto you, that’s a great start.

Male or Female?

All baby rats are active, inquisitive and busy. Of course all rats are individuals and they all have slightly different
personalities, but generally, females tend to stay active and busy and more inclined to chew things. Males slow down
as they mature and often become big squishy couch potatoes – so they are a little easier to handle and more inclined
to be cuddled.

 Males are bigger than females and undesexed boys will develop a coarser coat and will sometimes “scent mark” around
their territory. Fortunately this does not smell and having male rats neutered should eliminate this.

 Undesexed females will come on heat every 4-5 days (for about 12 hours) and may seem a little agitated or restless
during this time.

 To avoid unwanted babies, rats must always be kept in same sex groups. If the rats are desexed then its fine to
mix the sexes, boys and girls will get on just as well. But be aware that male rats can still father babies for up to
5 weeks after their desexing surgery, so don’t put them in with undesexed girls during that time !

 RAT CARE GUIDE

Cage

Rats are kept in cages, similar to a large bird cage. They need excellent air ventilation, so should not be kept in
enclosures with completely solid walls, and absolutely NEVER in a glass aquarium.

 There aren’t many good rat cages available, so its a really good idea to speak to some AusRFS members about what
cages they have and get some ideas on how to set the cage up before you purchase one. The AusRFS can advise
what cages are available, and what you can expect to pay. Cages are also available from the AusRFS.

 Bigger is definitely better. The absolute smallest cage for 2 rats would be 61cm high, 61cm wide and 36cm deep with
1 full level and a couple of ½ levels. Rats living in this size cage would need a LOT of out of cage time.

 Multiple levels and ramps to climb up on will add to the usable space of the cage.

 Small bar spacing is also very important. Rats can squeeze through very small spaces. You will need a cage with a bar
spacing of  1cm – 1.25cm.

Cages with large doors are best. Rat cages should not have wire flooring, these can cause ulcers and injuries to rat’s feet.
If your cage has wire levels they should either be replaced with solid levels or covered with some sort of a solid sheeting.
Thick plastic is best but something like vinyl flooring will also do. In addition to this some people also like to cover their
cage levels with fleece fabric, others like to lay down newspaper.

 Galvanized metal cages aren’t recommended but if you must use them, be sure wash the cage thoroughly with a vinegar
solution to avoid the risk of zinc poisoning.

 Positioning of the Cage

Rats must always be kept inside the house. The living rooms are best, somewhere they can see what’s going on and join
in the activities of the household. Position the cage away from direct sunlight and drafts, but in a place that gets plenty of
fresh air. Think twice about keeping your rats cage in your bedroom. Rats are night owls and make more noise at night,
playing, eating and scuttling about !