Basic Rat Care Leaflet



The main content of the leaflet is as follows:



Housing
As rats grow to between 500g and 1kg, whichever cage you choose must be a suitable size. The ideal cage for a pair of rats will be quite large. The cage should be large enough for four rats to live in, even if less are living in it. You can check that the cage you have in mind is suitable, using the “Rat Cage Calculator” online:
http://www.fancyratsforum.co.uk/calculator/cagecalc.html

Bedding
Rats must never be exposed to wood shavings (pine). Pine contains oils called phenols, which are corrosive to the rats respiratory tissue. The scars caused stretch as the rats grow, causing severe pain and difficulty breathing as the rat gets older. Wood shavings and some substrates also contain dust and small splinters, which will also cause problems.

Alternative substrates that are suitable for rats include Megazorb, Aubiose, Bio Catolet, or simply lining cages with fleece.

Exercise
Rats need toys, and things to explore in the cage, to keep them exercised and stimulated. Young rats, and some femles, will use a wheel, but it needs to be at least 30cm in diameter. 

Handling
Never pick a rat up by the tail. Different rats prefer different methods of approach. Remember they are prey animals, so approaching from above can scare them. 

Three methods you can use:
· Cup hands either side of the rat.
· Scoop a hand underneath the rat, use the other hand to steady it.
· Hold body and shoulders with one hand, using the other hand to support the hind legs.

Diet
As with all animals, a sudden change in diet is likely to cause digestive discomfort, so maintaining a consistent diet is important. Other foods that you can add in moderation, include:- meat, egg, bread, cereals, bones, small amounts of fruit and vegetables.
Adding a lot of protein should be avoided, as it can cause medical problems that will need veterinary treatment.

Compatibility
Rats are social animals and must be housed in a pair or group. It is usually very easy to introduce rats to each other successfully, provided it is done correctly. If you need guidance on introductions, download the McCoan Stud leaflet on Introduction Techniques. 

Rat Facts
Average Life Span: 2 years
Rats will usually sneeze for a few days when moving to a new home.
Rats gnaw, rather than crunch, so bones that are unsafe for cats and dogs are safe for rats.
Rats teeth are constantly growing, so they need to wear them down throughout their whole life.
It is an offense to release rats in to the wild.

Ailments
When considering any pet, one should consider the possibility of requiring veterinary treatment during the animal’s life time. There are a number of ailments that rats commonly require treatment for:

Mycoplasma
Most rats are born carrying the Mycoplasma bacterium. They usually live with it without any problem, but when under stress, or fighting other infection the Mycoplasma may “flare”. Symptoms include sneezing, followed by ’rattily breathing’.  

Tumours
Rats suffer from a variety of ‘lumps’. If your rat develops a lump, it is best to see a vet to determine what it is. Rat tumours are usually non cancerous, but because they are small animals, and the tumours can grow fast and to a large size, they may need to be surgically removed. Female rats are more prone to tumours than males.

Scabbing
Sometimes you will find a lot of little scabs on your rats. First, eliminate the possibility that another rat is biting the rat. Then there are two other likely causes:
· Too high a protein content in the diet. This will present with scabs all over the animal.
· Lice / Mites. This will usually present with little scabs around the neck and shoulders. You may be able to see lice, but will not be able to see mites. Failure to treat a rat that has lice or mites, will lead to anaemia, which will then lead to pneumonia, and death.