A Clean Cage Means A Happy Critter

There are many different types of bedding you can choose to use for your little ratties. Some are designed for maximum absorption, and others to cover and eliminate odors. According to the Rat Care Guide, Cedar and Pine shavings or chips are types of bedding that can be harmful to your rat’s respiratory system. You should avoid using cedar or pine beddings in order to keep your rat healthy. The dust in clay cat litter can have the same affect. Although there are many types to avoid, there are also many safe alternatives to these types of bedding. They also note that aspen is one type of wood that will not affect your rat’s respiratory system. The first type of bedding I used was pellet bedding made from recycled newspaper. It was safe for my rats, the environment, and it locked in moisture and odor all in one. I have since switched to CareFresh which is made of paper pulp, because we also have guinea pigs, and it tends to help absorption in their cages. If your rat is very sensitive to beddings, you can use old t-shirts or cloth instead.

A Rat History...

For centuries, the Black Rat was infamous for the spreading of the Bubonic Plague, even though it was actually the fleas that carried the disease. Although the rat itself did not carry the plague, they have carried the bad name. The fear of rats have passed on through the generations and even to this day, people still associate them with carrying diseases, and being dirty and grotesque rodents. Although many are afraid of rats, there are also those who feel very differently. According to an article called Rat History, found at ramshornstudio.com, in India, there is a temple dedicated to worshipping the sacred rat. In many pictures and statues, the God named Ganesh is seen with Vahana the Rat by his side. The rats in India are thought to be reincarnations of people hiding from the God of Death. In the Chinese Zodiac, the rat symbolizes wealth and good luck, and is also an omen in Roman culture.

Aaa-Chew!

Most animals have little things they do that are unique to that type of animal. Dogs will wag their tail, cats purr, well rats brux. When a rat is bruxing, they are grinding their top and bottom teeth together in order to file them down.They tend to do this more when they are happy. I often hear my rats bruxing while they sit on my shoulders. With this cute trait also comes a habit which can be very annoying. Rats love to chew things. In fact, they are quite infamous for their gnawing talents. This is a habit that can be maintained simply by giving them things that they are allowed to chew like newspaper. You can buy edible houses and huts, or like me, buy the large food pellets that are designed with your little critters chewing needs in mind. It is actually necessary for rats to brux and chew in order to keep their teeth from getting too long. The teeth of rats continue to grow throughout their entire lifetime and if they grow out of control, it can prevent the rat from eating properly. Charlie and Linus have never chewed anything that they weren't suppose to chew. Even the paper bags I give them to play in manage to last for months before I throw them away. Usually they only chew the corners out so they can freely come and go through both ends of the bag. From the very beginning I fed them the large pellets which helped to satisfy any urges they might have had to chew. Not all rats are as well-behaved as mine, but most can be influenced by the steps you take in preventing their bad behavior.

Tricks and Treats

As I discussed in an earlier post, Rats are very social and intelligent animals. They can be taught many things much like a dog can be taught to fetch or to roll over. Rats are auditory animals which means they associate with sounds more effectively than other things. Within weeks, they learn their own names and can recognize certain words or sounds that you use frequently when around them. In the beginning of your young roos life, you should call them by name as much as possible. It didn't take long for Charlie and Linus to come running down the back of the couch when I'd say their names. One of their favorite words is "treat." As soon as I utter the word, their heads pop up and their nose starts twitching. Another sound they have grown quite fond of is the rattling sound of a plastic bag, which they associate with either they're food or a cereal treat. Either way, they know they are getting something good. By using treats like this, you can teach your rat to do almost anything. Its a case of classical conditioning. Once you have showed your rat what it is you would like him to do, and he does it, you reward him with a treat. After enough practice, they will do it for nothing. The first thing we taught our rats to do was just to go through a cardboard tunnel we have for them to play in. When teaching rats, you always want to pick one word or phrase for the trick. Some other phrases Charlie recognizes are stand, jump, come here, and kisses. They are always learning and will do anything to satisfy that tummy.

Good and Evil

When I tell people I have pet rats, the response is typically negative. They cringe at the thought of holding such a disgusting creature. Often, they ask me, "how can you think THAT is cute?" Well I would have thought that before I had really interacted with one. I believe most people form their own judgements of things they haven't experienced based on what they hear in the media.

One common place to see rats are in the movies. In the movie Willard rats were portrayed as evil animals who eat human flesh. Despite what most of you would think, there are many more movies where rats are portrayed in a positive manner rather than negatively like in Willard. The first one that comes to mind is Ratatouille. In this movie the rat is actually a great chef that interacts with a boy and helps make him a famous chef. Stuart Little is another good example. In this, it is actually a little mouse that is adopted by a human family as their son.

As you can see, rats are becoming a more and more popular animal and pet to have around the house. Even the media is catching on to this and I'm glad they are beginning to portray rats in a different light. It is about time they stopped being blamed for the Bubonic Plague, and start being remembered for their intelligence and their social abilities.

Why a Rat?

Many of you have a dog, cat, or a bird at home, but what exactly makes that animal a good pet. The first answer is Love. When you have an animal that you feed and care for, more often than not, you develop a fondness for that animal due to their need for you. Some animals give affection back to you such as a dog, or cat. A cat will purr, or rub against your leg when they want attention from you. Dogs show excitement with a wag of the tail. Rats will grind their teeth together in a fast chattering motion when they are happy, this is called bruxing. Linus shows his affection by licking my hand continuously when he plays with me as well as bruxing while perched on my shoulder, nestled in my hair.

Some pets are also very good learners. Birds are a perfect example. They can be taught to mimic different sounds or even words. Dogs also learn amazingly well. They can fetch objects, and bring them back to the owner. Some are used in hunting to sniff out an animal. Well, Rats can also be taught to perform small tasks, such as standing, walking, balancing, and much more. I have already begun teaching my rats small things here and there. Using small treats, like corn flakes, raisins, or rice crispies, I have taught them to run through cylinder tubes. When I put them in their cages, they always come running back to the door to give me a kiss. I have also taught them to walk down my arm when I tell them to, and often times they will jump on command from my hands to a softer surface like the couch or bed.

Although my rats are very similar to most conventional pets when it comes to affection and learning, they are very unique. Rats love to explore small crevices. Once, Linus had climbed between the couch cushions. I thought I would never catch him. They also let their nose lead them everywhere. Food is always on their minds. Chewing is one of the downsides of owning a rat, although I have been lucky enough to have 2 well behaved rodents that rarely chew on anything.

Rats also have a very short life-span. Most dogs or cats can live anywhere from seven years to 20 years while rats only live three to five years. It is nearly impossible for a rat not to develop respiratory problems. There are things you can do to prevent/prolong these problems that involve their bedding, diet, and overall health. Tumors are also very common in female rats, which can also lead to a shorter life-span.

So "why Rats?" you may ask. Even though they do not live very long, they're affection within the time they have is amazing. Although their chewing habits can sometimes be annoying or become a problem, rats can easily learn new things from you. Rats are smart, fun, and very sociable, good for all ages. So to you I ask, "Why a dog, or a cat, or a bird? Why not a rat?"

My New Roos

Months had passed since the ice storm and Matt and I had finally gotten settled into our new home here in Lexington. The days seemed to be getting longer and I had more and more time alone while Matt was at work. "I need something to occupy my time," I thought. Rats! I began looking up various things about rats to better educate myself this time around. By the end of the day, I had made up my mind. I was going to have a pet rat.

The weeks leading up to the big day consisted of research. I learned that having two rats is more beneficial than one, because they are very social animals. They need to be loved all the time and with a job and school I wouldn't be able to give them attention every hour. I also watched a lot of videos that showed how to care for rats, such as their eating habits, bathing, and even common health problems they develop. Once I knew more about the rat itself, I felt it was time to purchase a home for my little critters.

For over a week, I was on the hunt for a cage;not too small, not too expensive, and easy to clean. It arrived in the mail a few days later, and immediately I dove into the assembly. Now I could almost see them playing inside.

Finally, the big day came! Matt and I went to a local pet store that he had went to quite frequently a few years back. The lady took us into the rat room and thats when she showed me Charlie. He was so small and furry! She introduced him as a dumbo rat, which means his ears sit more on the side of his head than on top. It kind of makes him look like a really cute possom. His coat was mostly white, with a thick grey/brown stripe down his back. He was an obvious yes! After asking if she had any black rats, out came Linus with his pointy nose sniffing, and in the box they both went. It wasn't until after I had brought them home that I decided on their names. It was practically the first thing that popped into my head. Charlie Brown and Linus Van Pelt;what a pair.

When Harry Met Sally...

It was the summer of 2008 when my boyfriend, Matt, got a pet rat named Sally. She was somewhat lonely at times, and after some thought, he decided we would buy another rat and breed a litter for his 10 year old snake, Malachi. The drive was long, and after our trip to the rat lady, we released the newly named Harry to do his deed. When Harry met Sally, the sparks must have flown because within a few weeks, Sally had made a nest of newspapers and bedding, and one night gave birth to 13 little pinkies.

To watch them grow hair and open their eyes as they stumbled around the cage was so cute. At about 5 weeks old we separated the boys from the girls, but only a few weeks later discovered one of the boys got a hold of Sally and she gave birth to another litter of 12 more baby rats. Now we were in a little bit deeper, but we made sure to separate this litter ahead of time. We ended up with total of 26 at one time.

They became very talented escape artists from early on. There were countless times that they figured out how to squeeze through the tiniest slither or pile on top of each other until one could reach the top of whatever they were in, just enough to grab hold and pull themselves up. One morning we awakened to find some of the girls inside the house with the guinea pig and surprisingly we always managed to catch them all again.

By the time they were all full grown Ratties, we had already named a few of them. Big Ben was the largest of the boys. Stuart had a tan stripe down his back and he always was first to the cage to be pet. In with the girls were Amilia and Camilla(tan and white),Georgetta, and Sally. As time went on, it became more and more difficult to drop them into that death box. Our little rat army was all I talked about for months. It was so new to me and I learned how smart and personable they really are.

In January, we moved to Lexington and they were left in the care of Matt's mother. Soon after we had left, a terrible ice storm passed through western Kentucky and left hundreds of people from our hometown without power for weeks. There were no grocery stores open, no way to communicate to one another and no way to keep poor Malachi warm. His cold blooded body couldn't withstand such extreme temperatures. Just days after his death, Matt's mom knew there would be no way to continue feeding 20 rats in such a rough time, so she gave them to a friend who owned a large hungry Boa. O what I would do to be able to pet Sally's head one more time.