Feeding and watering
Handling
Care
Housing
Small groups of rats are better kept indoors, in cages with good ventilation, but free from damp and draughts. The ideal room temperature should be between 150 to 270C and the cage should be kept out of direct sunlight to avoid heat stroke. This can happen if the ambient temperature exceeds 300C . Bright lights should also be avoided as they can damage a rat’s eyes, especially if it is an albino.
Make sure the cage is protected against predators, such as the household cat. If you keep your rats outside, the cage must be protected against wild rodents. Please remember not to keep your rats in a garage with the car, as exhaust fumes are poisonous.
Cages with a plastic bottom and secure wire lid have good ventilation,. If the wire is made from galvanised steel, the rat may develop zinc poisoning if it chews it. The wire should also be fine enough to prevent escapes by youngsters, but strong enough to resist chewing from adults.
Aquarium type cages have to be cleaned regularly, as they provide less ventilation and a build up of urine can trigger respiratory diseases. They can also become hot quite quickly.
Rat’s cages are often too small so make sure that you provide the largest you can. The cage should be made more interesting with ladders, platforms and tubing. Rats need plenty of space for exercising and enjoy climbing and chewing, so add some suitable twigs to the cage and provide plenty of hiding places.
The floor should be covered with absorbent floor covering. This could be good quality commercial rodent bedding or undyed shredded paper.. The shredded paper shouldn’t be newspaper as the inks may be toxic or stain a rat’s fur.
Both the floor litter and bedding should be absorbent, but should not reduce the humidity of the cage too much
The cage litter should be changed at least twice a week and the whole cage thoroughly cleaned at least once a month.
