Our cover boy, Scrappy!!  Proudly owned by Bree of Illinois

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Welcome to Critter city, an informative site with information on proper care of pet rats.

This site is meant to educate pet rat owners as much as possible on the proper care of pet rats. From common and not so common ailments to proper diet and husbandry, this site is meant to be the "meat and potatoes" of rat care and if need be, following through to the vets for the gravy.

Not long ago rats were living to be just around 2 years old, but we are seeing rats living much longer, sometimes well over 3 years old and some other reports of rats living to be 4years or close to it, with several of mine included in the "Over 3 club".  I believe this is due to rat owners being hungry for as much information as they can get in order to ensure the well being of their pet rats. As long as we are able to understand them even learning body language and change in behavior as a sign that something may be wrong, this will get our rats to the vet for proper medical sooner than before so treatment can be started right away. A sick rats health will decline very fast due to their fast metabolic rate which is why its imperative we recognize when they are not feeling well.  My site is here to teach you as much as possible without going into deep medical mumbo jumbo the ordinary person cannot understand or simply gets bored with while trying to pronounce certain words or phrases. I am not a Vet and am not trying to be a vet, but my goal is to educate rat owners so we can work with our vet and understand what our vet is talking about should the need arise for veterinary intervention, which I am pretty much able to promise that your rat will need to see a vet at least once in his or her lifetime, even if its just for a simple case of mites.  I have no miracle treatments or magic cures. No over the counter remedies can help cure most rat disease with the exception of perhaps antiseptics to clean wounds. Other than that, there are no over the counter miracles so save your pennies somewhere safe for the Vet sometime in the future.  Its not fair to own any pet and deny it medical care when needed. You would not want to go untreated if you were sick and you certainly would not allow that to happen with your own child, and pets deserve the same treatment.  

So that said, get ready to muddle through pages of information, both serious and also with a touch of a bit of my sarcastic humor mixed in for good measure, but I can assure you I provide accurate and current information on rat care and also have the back up of several Vets that have been a great help in teaching me about rat care and continue to do so when needed.  This site is for all rat lovers, both new and veteran rat owners too.  You can never learn too much as I believe we learn something new every day!

If you own rats, you can agree with me that these little animals quickly steal your heart when you least expect it. Rats are not only smart, they love attention and affection from people and love to interact with humans and other rats every chance they get. This is one reason why it is stressed that you always have more than one rat and also find the time to give your rats as much attention that you can possibly give them, even if its a "Hello" quickly before you go to work and a pat on the head or scratch behind their ears. Any acknowledgement from you is appreciated. Of course, they would like to come out to sit on your shoulder, climb all over  your clean shirt, power groom you, or just sit on your lap while you do the scratching too.

Stuart, owned by Paula has earned his wings and halo but continues to grace the pages of Critter city as our smiling rat!

Love and attention is critical of course, but another part of proper rat care is proper care in general, from correct housing to the safest litter. One of the most vital part of caring for your rats is veterinarian care. Rats are very prone to respiratory illnesses among other ailments and it is a good idea to have a vet that is educated in rat care all lined up by the time you acquire your first rats.  Starting with an exotics vet is your best bet, but many general vets are also educated and updated on care of pet rats. Be sure to ask questions first though.  We will cover all of this on the site.  I wish to welcome you to my world of rats. I know you will enjoy having rats as pets. Their love is unconditional.  Learning about their health and well being is the most important thing you can do for your rats so you can understand every aspect of their lives as they grow and change.

 

                                                                                                          

 

Mr. Scrappy!

 

Before you are ready to navigate this site, I want to make you aware that I am not done as of yet. In fact I may be updating this site for months to come. There are so many bases to cover when it comes to rat owning. 

A few tidbits for the new owner before you go on to the next pages:

SO YOU HAVE A RAT?   WHAT NOW?!    

Here are a few things that I did not know when I first bought a rat for my son (who fast became mine!)

1. *Rats should be kept in same sex pairs. They are very social animals and prefer a cagemate. You can put males and females together only after one or both have been altered (spay or neutered)

2.  *Rats are sexually mature between 4 to 5 weeks. New litters should be seperated at this time to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

3.  *Pine and cedar bedding is very dangerous to your rats health and should never be used for bedding even in a pinch.

4. Rats hide their illness so its a good ida to read up on the various ailments that are commonly seen in the rat community. This way, being able to recognize the signs of a sick rat can possibly save his or her life.

5. Rats need and want plenty of attention from humans. They will reward you back by licking you and to them, they are grooming you which is a sign of true love from his rat owner. They also brux when they are happy and content (rubbing their teeth together to make a funny grinding noise) This is in comparison to a cats purring. Happy bruxing is also accompanied with eye boggles which is when the rats eyes vibrate real fast during the bruxing. This truly indicates your rat is happy and content when you get the double whammy of bruxing and boggle.

6.  *Contrary to popular belief, there are some rats that turn up their nose at cheese, and in fact, some (not all) rats are lactose intolerant and/or allergic to cheese!

          

    

 

Rats are curious by nature and very busy when they are out during playtime. Anything and everything is fun to a young rat. They love to explore everything and they will find a challenge very rewarding.  When letting your rats out to roam around, you must use caution and literally "rat proof" the area they will be free roaming in.  There are many dangers that we dont think of that can harm our nosey friends from holes that lead to nowhere to poisons, even from eating wallpaper paste from the wallpaper. Wall sizing is a serious threat to a rats health. Of course, using common sense is a must with any pet.  Electrical wires are a serious danger as well so you must make sure your rats will not come in contact with them at all times.  I have heard of fatal accidents also where someone had either closed a door or opened a door on their pet rat, crushing it to death.  Accidentally sitting or stepping on your little friend is also a threat so always do a head count before plunking down on a chair or taking another step in a room where rats have been loose free roaming.

                                                            

 

Curious young rats discover "fun" in a waste basket!                                                                      

 

Our fuzzy little friends also enjoy not only playing with other rats, but they enjoy playing with their owners too.  I have found that two of my young bucks LOVE for me to tickle their tummies and also hand wrestle with them. My little wild rat, Holly loves for me to play hand wrestle games with her and she will run away and come back for more. She loves to have me hold her down while she kicks and wrestles and will actually get up on her feet and jump on my hand, ears back, very serious with her intent to get my hand down while she is the one to "conquer" me!  Its pretty amazing to watch her play.   Like many rats, my rats also love to hide in things. Giving them a box full of rats and socks is like a dream for them. They can dig through the pile of socks, hide in them, toss them all around...this is something to do to get them nice and tired before bedtime, perhaps so they sleep better at night instead of playing and making noise all night since they are nocturnal by nature.   The older the rat, the more they sleep just like elderly humans, but while they are young, having fun and playing is critical for a happy rat!

        

 Perfect spot to play a fast game of "hide and seek"!                            

            

This little girl is trying to get her owner to play with her by giving her a little love nip! 

 

                       

     

These two young females are play wrestling, which is a big hit with most all rats! 

 

***All photos in this segment are printed with permission by their owner, fellow rat lover Shawna of Texas. Reproduction of these photos without permission is prohibited. ***                                                           

What Is World Rat Day?

For more information please refer to the link below!

World rat day

 

A Rat Owner's Creed  

By Pam Harris

 

I, the owner, promise to take care of my rats to the best of my ability. I will be sure they have a clean place to live and have plenty of food and water. I will ensure that they are kept in a cage that is large enough for their size and number. I will strive to give them "free range" or "run around" time, wherein they are enclosed in a room and allowed to explore. If this is not possible, I will take them out to hold, cuddle, and tickle and give them toys to keep them busy in their cage. I will provide a hidey-place for them where they can hide if they feel threatened and I will endeavor to give them as few reasons to use it as I can. I will be sure to give them a healthy diet and possibly a few healthy treats once in a while.

I will not allow disease to ravage them, thinking of them as "disposable pets". I understand that there is no such thing as a life that is disposable. If I am adopting rats for a child, I understand that if said child should become bored with their new pet, the responsibility of caring for them invariably falls on my shoulders. I also understand that rats can be hard to find a new home for and I must think of this before getting them. I will try to at least learn the warning signs of when my rats are sick if I don't know them already. I will also have a vet who knows rats or is at least willing to learn and listen to new ideas. I will be ready to spend money on my rats as they are not "just rats" but are in fact "family members."

When they do something that angers me, I will remind myself that they are just rats before I do something that may hurt them to "teach" them. I know they are destructive and so I will try to keep things that I don't want damaged out of their reach. I will try to keep anything they can hurt themselves.

When a friend, family member, or complete stranger responds in disgust at the thought of rats as pets, I will try to win them over. When a friend, family member, or complete stranger remarks that my rats are cute, I will love them for life.

When the time comes for my rats to cross the rainbow bridge, I will cry and be upset, but I will also know when it is time to say goodbye. I will be glad for the time we had together and I will always remember them, but I will end their suffering if need be.

Signed,  your owner  

   

 

I found this on the PETA site and thought it was a great way to describe our rats, especially to people that are curious as to why we keep rats as pets.

Highly intelligent rodents, rats and mice are natural students who excel at learning and understanding concepts. Rats are considerably smaller than dogs but are at least as capable of thinking about things and figuring them out! And, while rats are much smaller than elephants, they have excellent memories. Although their eyesight is poor, once rats learn a navigation route, they never forget it. 

Both mice and rats are also highly sociable animals. They become attached to each other, love their own families, and easily bond with their human guardians, returning as much affection as is given to them. Many rats will even "groom" their human companion's hand and would appreciate a tickle, a massage, or a scratch behind the ears in return. Male rats will snuggle up for a cuddle and find contentment curled up in a person's lap. Although female rats are just as affectionate, they tend to be tremendously energetic and inquisitive! Rats love seeing kind people, and will often bounce around waiting to be noticed and picked up. Rats can bond with their human companions to the point that if they are suddenly given away to someone else or forgotten, they can pine to death.

Studies reveal that rats express empathy when another rat or a human they know is in pain. People who share their lives with rats report that they are altruistic beings who will try to help in times of distress.

 

Looking at the rat below, its hard to imagine that people have such a deep fear of them. Stories that are dated way back have given the general public such a misconception about rats its worse than fear of snakes, which by the way, not only do they eat our friends for dinner, but they account for many attacks and even deaths on people every year. Do a search on the internet and you will not find one single case of a rat bite that killed a human being anywhere in the United States. It just doesnt happen!  You would think though because of the reaction to many people (women especially!) that a rat is this mini killer walking around waiting to attack and maul them and suck their blood right out of their bodies!   Just look at these little animals...and if you dont agree that they represent nothing but sweetness and pure innocence, you are on the wrong website!

These beauties are proudly owned by fellow rat lover, Matt (AKA Cyberpawz of Massachusetts)

You can ask me rat related questions by going to allexperts.com
Keep in mind I am not a vet and my advice should not replace
seeking attention from a Veterinarian that is well versed in rat care. 

I feel that I must also stress once again that I am not a Vet and the information I provide to people is simply to help people become aware of and recognize certain illnesses and treatments of rats along with proper husbandry and diet. I strive to educate the rat owner in all areas by sharing my knowledge and experience with rat owners, but again, this is not a replacement for Veterinary treatment. If your rat is ill, please seek treatment from a qualified Vet ASAP and do not waste precious time asking questions here or on any other rat forum if the rat is critically ill.

 I have discussed signs and symptoms of a seriously ill rat on my "Rat healthcare" forum but any sick rat needs to see a vet in all cases in order to be properly treated so the rat has a chance for a complete recovery. Rats go downhill fast since they hide their illness till they are just simply to sick to hide it anymore and time is against them.

Thanks for dropping by Critter City. I hope this site is something that you can benefit from. Feel free to bookmark it and by all means, share the URL with all your rat loving friends. The more people that educate themselves about proper rat care, the better off our pet rats lives will be!

I found this on The rat guide and wanted to share it with you:

Take a moment to remember and mourn for the animals who have unnecessarily passed before their time resulting from unnecessary exposure to disease or neglect. It is important for each and every one of us to learn as much as we can to ensure long, safe, and rich lives for the rats in our care. And to realize each individual rat as a being worthy of such treatment

      

  You Are My World

My daily safety is in your hands.
It is you who provides my companions, controls my environment,
determines the quality of my care.
(You are the moon above me)

My entire destiny is in your hands.
I offer in return loyalty, love, companionship, and my complete trust.
It is all I have to give.
(You are the stars that shine down)

From the ratguide    

      

You can ask me rat related questions by going to allexperts.com
sometimes more. Keep in mind I am not a vet and my advice should not replace
seeking attention from a Veteranarian that is well versed in rat care.

Click here ---->

                                    

                                                                                                     

 Please check back often  as I continue to update site with new photos and information.                        

 

 DISCLAIMER:

The picture of Stuart, the smiling rat, was posted with permission by his owner, RNPaulie. 

 

 

Bella's Rat art