A pet fancy rat: black? standard blaze (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
However, more people than commonly thought to own a pet rat, or even several pet rats - often nicknamed fancy rats. If you have arrived here you may own one or some already, or thinking of owning one, or simply want to know more about the fancy rat. Whichever is true, you should know that pet rats are more delicate than some might think, and caring for them requires a lot of attention to detail. Here you will learn some tips about attending to pet rat health, which pet rat cages are best and how they should be prepared for your pet rat, and general tips about pet rat care and pet rat training.
In order to house your pet rat, care must be taken to which cage you choose and how to prepare it. The cage should be large enough so that your fancy rat has room to run around. It should be made to provide an environment of different activities for your pet rat - toys to play with and keep your fancy rat interested are very important, for example, because fancy rats can literally get sick with boredom. The cage should also have places in which your pet rat can snuggle and rest, and preferably something it can climb. The cage floor should be properly bedded with newspaper or some fabric. Keep an eye on the cleanliness of the cage as well - clean it on a weekly basis, at least.
Which toys should you use in the pet rat cage? well, pet rats have personalities, and each pet rat is different. An old tennis ball can be good for one, a wooden ring to chew on can be good for the other. At the end of this article, you will find a pointer to the source of an abundance of ideas for pet rat toys. However, just like with a child, your pet rat can have all the toys in the world - but nothing would match up to some quality time with you. So make time to play with your pet rats. Pet rats are also good companions for each other - if you put more than one of them in the same cage (if the cage is big enough, of course) they'll be able to play with each other, and that will make their lives much better and more interesting.
Pet rat care begins with what you feed them with. Rats can eat pretty much everything, but in order to keep your pet rat healthy, there are certain things you can do with regards to their diet. You can feed them ready-made mouse food that you buy in a shop, but make sure you diversify it with bits of fresh fruit and vegetables (except citrus fruit which is bad, especially to males). Trial and error will tell you which foods your pet rat loves best - like I said, rats have personalities, and each one is different. You can sometimes even spoil your pet rats with a sweet delicacy such as a dog biscuit if you find they like it. You can also hide food in their cages for them to look for. Water should be given in a drip bottle attached to the wiring of the cage - make sure water never runs out.
A healthy diet, without overfeeding, will generally keep your pet rat healthy. But pet rat health requires attention in other aspects too. For example, pet rats are very sensitive to heat or cold. They should be given worm cloth to snuggle in during cold days, and fed cold food (such as frozen veggies) on hot days.
If your pet rat does not act like its usual self (particularly if it's much quieter or more indifferent than usual), if it does not drink or eat normally, or if it sneezes often or shows signs of breathing difficulty - it may be sick. If you notice a lump in your pet rat's body, that may be a sign of serious illness. Rats may also contract skin diseases or worms in their digestive systems. Whatever the symptoms are, the best thing to do is to when you notice something out of the ordinary is to take it to the vet, the sooner the better.
What about pet rat training? Is that even possible? Of course it is! That is the fun part. Rats are very intelligent animals. They catch on fast, they are curious, and they aim to please.
Don't push your pet rat too much in training or teaching trick. Be patient. This is not a race.
Rats can be trained to litter at particular places in their cage, and save you some trouble cleaning it. You can create a corner with some special bedding for that, place older litter in it so your pet rats can smell it. If there are certain places in the cage your pet rats prefer to litter at their own will, don't fight them. Create that litter tray where they prefer it to be.
Pet rats can be taught many things - to come to you when you call their names, stand on their hind legs and clap the forepaws, and so much more. Their reward is mainly food, and praise from you. Be patient, it takes time.
Spotted a white rat at Karni Mata's temple. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Rats have not always been the fun, multi-coloured, patterned little pets that we see or own today. There are many different species and they can be found more or less all over the world. They play a major part in history and religions worldwide, as well as in today's modern society. This article aims to explore the history of rats in various different cultures.
Let's begin with the origins. Rats are rodents of the Muroidea family. As rodents, their teeth grow continuously and they need to gnaw things on a regular basis to prevent their teeth from overgrowing and causing painful damage to their heads. They are not picky in what the gnaw, they can even gnaw through concrete and steel and are reputed to have a biting pressure of up to 7000lbs per square inch.
Many rodents and small mammals are described as rats although they are not 'True rats', an example of these include the North American Pack Rat and the Kangaroo Rat. 'True Rats' are rats which fall into the Latin genus Rattus, the most common of these being the Black Rat - Rattus Rattus and the Brown Rat - Rattus Norvegicus. These two rats are the best known and most important to humans. The Black Rat is timider and less seen compared to the Brown Rat. This is mainly due to the Brown Rat driving out the Black rat, taking over its habitat and competing for its food. Many other species have also become endangered through competition with both the Black and Brown Rat. Fancy Rats are of the Rattus Norvegicus species, the same as sewer rats!
Rats are distinguished from mice by their size, mice generally being smaller and lighter. This is not an entirely accurate way to determine the class, as some rats can have the characteristics of mice and vice versa. As new species are being discovered the standard classifications can be confusing.
Brown Rats originated in Asia in the grasslands of China. They began to spread across Europe in 1553 and arrived in the US in 1775 after hiding away and travelling on cargo ships. Black Rats arrived in Britain long before the Brown Rat although there is no specific record of an exact time. Reports of bones found in London indicate that the Black Rat lived there as early as the mid-third century A.D and in York in the 5th Century A.D.
Today's rat is opportunistic and lives near to humans, quite often in their houses! This has caused them to become classed as pests. Since one pair of rats can produce up to 300 young per year, many places have become overrun with the mischievous little critters.
Most people don't realize that rats are a lot more complicated and interesting than they are portrayed. They live in colonies which contain complex hierarchies, where they form deep bonds, often risking their own lives to save family and friends. They are highly social, very intelligent and possess psychological traits very similar to humans.
Rattus norvegicus, the Brown Rat. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
A group of rats are known as a pack, or more aptly a 'mischief'. The males are referred to as bucks, females as does and the young as pups or kittens. Domesticated rats differ greatly to their wild counterparts, with smaller hearts, brains, livers, kidneys and adrenal glands. They are also more prone to illness, possibly due to inbreeding.
These animals are usually portrayed as being dirty and diseased, though it is not true. Rats are constantly cleaning and grooming themselves and other pack members. Wild rats are generally robust and healthy, though city dwelling rats have poor diets and can have internal parasites. These cannot be passed on to humans. In fact, rats have very few zoonotic conditions. The most well known of these is Leptospirosis which is also known as Weil's disease and infects the liver, although this is very rare.
Rats have spread all over the world and are worshipped in many cultures. Though in the Western world they are still frowned upon, possibly because of their association with the Black Plague which I will talk about later on.
First, let's look at India, where rats are treated like royalty. In the North West Indian city of Deshnoke, there stands an ornate temple dedicated to Karni Mata, the rat Goddess. Many people in our society would describe the interior of the temple as horrifying, but to a rat lover such as myself, the contents are both wondrous and beautiful.
Thousands of furry brown bodies writhe across the floor and scurry up the intricate gold and silver work that lines the walls. The temple is overrun with rats, there are well over 20,000. It is the duty of the attending to put out bowls of milk and grain for the swarm of rats because they believe that eventually, these furry brown souls will be reincarnated as Sadhus, Hindi holy men. People pilgrimage to this temple, travelling miles just to sit and share food with the rats, or Kabbas, their name for the holy animal. They often eat and drink from the same bowls as the rats, believing that food touched by a Kabbas is a blessing from God.
Many people in our culture would find this temple to be strange or revolting, but it cannot be denied that all religions practise customs that may seem strange to an outsider. The rat loving Hindu temple was constructed in the 1900's by the Maharaja Ganga as a tribute to the rat Goddess Karni Mata. Kings often constructed temples to Goddesses more than Gods, believing the Goddesses to be more sympathetic and likely to help them achieve their goals.
The legend goes that Karni Mata was a mystic matriarch from the 14th century. It was said that she was an incarnation of Durga, the Goddess of power and victory. At some point during her life, the child of one of her clansmen died. She tried in vain to bring the child back to life, only to be told by Yama, the God of death, that the child had already been reincarnated. Karni Mata then cut a deal with Yama: From that point onwards, all of her tribe's people would be reborn as rats until they could be reborn into her clan once more.
The rat is also recognized in India as the vehicle of Lord Ganesh and pictures often depict him riding on the back of a rat. There are always statues of rats in the temple of Ganesh. In Curzon Park, Calcutta, India there is an attraction simply named 'Rat Park', where hundreds of rats scurry around inside a huge wire enclosure.
In Imperial Chinese culture the rat is the first animal of the Chinese zodiac. Rats are revered for their quick wit, ability to hold on to items of value, friendliness, natural charm and loyalty to their friends and family. The year of the rat falls in 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996 and 2008. People who are born in the year of the rat are said to possess the rat-like qualities of creativity, honesty, generosity and ambition, but also a quick temper and wastefulness.
The rat is the first animal of the Chinese zodiac and the story goes that the twelve animals were stood on the bank of a river arguing about who should head the cycle of years. The Gods were asked to decide and they held a contest, whoever reached the opposite side of the river first would win and the rest would receive their years in the order that they finished. They all jumped into the river, but what the ox didn't realize is that the rat was travelling on his back. So the rat jumped off first and won. The pig was very lazy and finished last. That is why the rat appears first, with the ox second and the pig has the last year.
In old Japan, white rats were seen as the messenger of one of the seven Gods of luck, Daikoku. It is because of this reason that rats are not killed. There is an old story about rats in the Japanese culture: An elderly rat coup0le wanted the strongest husband in the world for their daughter. They asked the sun, who declined, saying that the clouds were stronger than him as they could cover him up. They asked a cloud who said, 'The wind is stronger than I because he can blow me away.' The wind could not make the grade either, 'The wall stops me cold,' he said. Even though the wall was honoured by the offer, he wailed 'The rat is stronger than I! He can bore a hole right through me!' So the couple wisely gave their daughter in marriage to another rat, who was indeed the strongest creature of them all. At New year, the Japanese leave rice cakes out to honour the rats.
In Ancient Rome there was no classification between rats and mice, they were simply referred to as 'big mouse' and 'little mouse'. The Romans saw rats as omens, seeing a white rat was considered auspicious, though black ones had unfortunate significance. It was said that if a rat had gnawed your personal possessions, you should postpone any business you may have been considering that day.
It is unclear as to whether or not rats held any significance in Ancient Egypt. There are pictures which show anthropomorphic rats, but there appears to be no rat deity. It is believed that rats were pests in Egypt, destroying crops and belongings, which is probably why the cat is held in high favour.
Perhaps the most memorable event in British history concerning rats is undoubtedly the Black Plague. It is possibly because of this that the Western world has such a negative association with the rat.
It is often said that the rats were the actual cause of the Black Plague. This is not true, the rats themselves were also victims. The plague was caused by the microorganism, Yersinia Pestis, which was carried by the Tropical Rat Flea. The bacteria blocked the flea's stomach causing an insatiable hunger. So the fleas fed on the rats. During the feeding process, the flea would regurgitate some of the bacteria into the open would, infecting its victim. After a while, the victim died and very soon the starving flea had less and less to prey on, so it moved on to another victim, humans.
The disease itself flared up in Mongolia in the Gobi desert around 1320 and rapidly spread along the trade route, infecting much of Asia before moving through Europe. The plague eventually arrived in Britain in 1348, and by 1349 every town and village in Britain had been infected.
The disease became known as the Bubonic Plague, as it caused painful swelling of the lymph nodes - buboes. Throughout the years there were many cases as the plague came and went through areas of Britain. But in 1665 the great plague hit London, killing half of its population. The disease was spread from person to person via airborne water droplets, mainly coughs and sneezes. Due to the lack of medical knowledge at the time, it raged through the city. An epidemic was upon us.
It started as an acute fever with headaches, exhaustion, chills and delirium. The lymph nodes swelled up and became hot and painful to touch. The final stages were septicaemia, coughing up blood and a lung infection. Four or five days later, death arrived.
No one really knows how the plague eventually came to an end. Reasons could have been lack of food sources, the bacterium becoming weaker or simply the fact that the surviving humans were becoming immune. Frighteningly enough, the Bubonic plague is still common in parts of the world today, though it can be treated and does not have the same devastating effects.
During the Victorian ages, London was swarming with rats. Rats being the cheeky, opportunistic creatures that they are, realized that there was plenty of food and places to live instead of having to struggle for survival. The abundance of rats leads to a cruel new blood sport, which although is ghastly and gory, is one of the reasons we have Fancy Rats today.
Rat baiting was seen as an entertaining way to keep the pests under control. Men caught large amounts of live rodents and brought them in sacks to public sporting houses. The rats were then dumped into a pit with a dog, or sometimes even a grown man. The dog (or man) was then timed as it tore through the pack. Whichever dog killed the most rats in the shortest time was declared the winner.
Jimmy Shaw managed one of the largest public sporting houses in London. After a while, he began collecting and breeding oddly coloured rats to create more colours and patterns. He then sold these 'new' rats to the public as pets.
But the man who can be credited as the originator of the first true domestic rats, was the Royal rat catcher, Jack Black. The rise of the rat population meant that many men had found new employment as exterminators, or rat-catchers as they were known at the time. It was often these men who supplied to sporting houses. In his line of work, Black came across many rats and after a while, he too began to collect and breed the odd coloured ones he found. After a while he had quite the collection; albinos, fawns, greys and marked rodents, which he then sold as pets. Between them, Jack Black and Jimmy Shaw sold hundreds of pet rats, laying down the foundations from which today's Fancy Rats originate.
In the 1800's, coloured or 'Fancy' mice became popular pets. People began to realize that these furry little critters made delightful and entertaining companions. They were very easy to keep, only needing small housing as well as food and water, and with the different varieties in colour and pattern, they were also pleasing to the eye. Interest in mice continued to rise until in 1895 the National Mouse Club was founded in the UK. The NMC set up the different standards and varieties and also held shows.
Meanwhile, dwelling in the background was a very special lady, Mary Douglas. In 1901, Ms Douglas wrote to the NMC concerning Fancy Rats and asked if their club would consider expanding their interests to include the Fancy Rat. After much debate, the NMC agreed and that same year, the classes for Fancy Rats were staged.
By 1912 the interest in Fancy Rats had exploded and was so high that the NMC decided to change their name to 'The National Mouse and Rat Club'. It was during this time that the scientific community discovered the benefits of rats in research. In 1921 Mary Douglas passed away and the interest in rats began to wane again. The NMC returned to their old name.
Over the following years, the rat lovers longed for an official club of some description, but the interest in rats as pets was still too low and there were not enough rat fanciers to make a decent club or society. The rat fanciers were left wanting until 1976 when interest was high enough again to start up the National Fancy Rat Society, the first ever rat only organization.
Interest in having rats as pets grew rapidly and very soon new varieties were founded and standardized. The National Fancy Rat Society is still active today and remains the UK's number one rat club.
By Stacey Silver Stacey Silver has kept and bred rats for twelve years, caring for around 200 rats in this time. She has also owned an Exotic Pet shop and studied courses in animal husbandry.
You can find out more about The National Fancy Rat Society by visiting their website at http://www.nfrs.org
Just like cats and dogs, rats and mice need regular medication and the occasional visit to the vet. As always, prevention is best, and this article gives you some tips and advice to help your pet mouse or rat live longer and healthier and be the best companion for you.
A female pet mouse standing in hand. It's an adult, but it's smaller than a pet mice usually are, because it's bred to be small.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Rats and mice need worming three to four times a year. They also may need spraying to keep mites away. However, this can be done cheaply if you purchase your products from your local pet store owner and you buy a generic brand. There are vitamin supplements that can be added to their water too. Most of these products can be purchased for approximately $10 each and are well worth keeping just in case your pet becomes ill. By administering vitamin syrup or worming, for example, you may be able to save your pet's life or at least prevent if from getting very ill.
Cages and toys should be sprayed for mites at least once a week when they are cleaned. By keeping cages and toys clean, you will provide a much healthier environment. I always soaked toys and bowls in hot water and disinfectant; they were then rinsed thoroughly. They never went straight back in the cages, however. I always had two or three sets of everything. That way items could dry properly and there was little risk of the mice and rats becoming ill from the disinfectant I used.
Both rats and mice have a fantastic sense of smell and will benefit from the use of essential oils. These oils will aid with healing wounds and regulating behaviour. However, as with dogs and other pets, you will have to dilute it and read the instructions carefully. If the male mice were fighting, I used to apply a tea tree cream. It has great healing qualities and is so pungent that the other mice would live the victim alone. As male mice tend gang up on just one, the use of this cream allowed the poor thing to recover and heal its wounds.
Get professional advice from your health care expert about which oils would be best for your pet. There are also some great websites available that can offer advice about which oils to use, dosage rates and much more.
You can desex rats but not mice; they're just too small. Desexing male rats is much simpler and painless than desexing females. However, the easiest and cheapest option is to keep separate cages for your males and females or just keep one gender.
You shouldn't breed your females too young as this may stunt their growth and cause problems later on. Females will need to be rested for months between litters as over breeding will cause health problems. Proper diet is also essential for lactating females and I have covered it in another article.
Rats are not as territorial as mice and we mix rats from different litters together all the time and we have never had any problems with one rat accepting another, in fact, they welcome the company after a brief investigation. I have seen females grooming small young that are not their own in both mice and rats too. Both species seem to have a very community spirited idea to caring for the welfare of their young.
If you are concerned about introducing a new animal to your existing ones, do it in neutral territory like your bathroom; clean the cage thoroughly and then give them fresh food. Put both animals back in the cage at the same time. They will be so busy running around investigating the new food and new bedding they won't bother with each other.
If these animals do start fighting, there is not much you can do but separate them in different cages.
By Sue Day
Sue Day has worked in the pet industry for many years. Now a full time dog trainer, Sue has put together a website of over 50 pages to share her knowledge and experiences of pet care. Article Source: EzineArticles
It can be very rewarding to train your pet rats to do tricks and learn obstacle courses. Since they tend to be highly intelligent creatures, rats can actually learn a lot (and get bored if they have nothing to do).
A common hooded fancy rat (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Furthermore, because they're people-pleasers, rats enjoy the challenge of striving for your reward and praise.
However, before you begin training, you may be interested to know the main pitfalls of pet rat training. That way, you can get started on the right foot and make the most of training time. Here are the top three mistakes that novice rat-trainers will often make:
1. Neglecting to create a stimulating living environment for their rats.
Sometimes trainers make the mistake of thinking that their ratties' living environment doesn't need to be interesting or fun to be in. They seem to think that an hour of play time or training time is enough to stimulate their little minds.
This is untrue.
Rats are constantly problem-solving, 24/7. Giving them a stimulating and challenging living environment will ensure that their minds stay sharp for learning tricks.
- Buy or build a large caged enclosure complete with shelves, ramps, ladders, cubby holes, bins, hammocks, exercise wheels, tunnels, hidey holes, baskets and ropes strung across.
- Occasionally, treat them to a game of "hide n' seek" with sunflower seeds. Hide them in hard-to-reach places so they really have to think hard about how to get to them.
- Be sure to adjust and rearrange the furniture and food locations. Always keep 'em guessing.
- Make playtime games challenging as well with swimming pools, sand boxes and tunnel-mazes.
2. Being too "results oriented" about training.
One major pitfall a rat owner can fall into is to be too demanding about what is to be accomplished during training. This approach to rat-training will only end in frustration and neglect.
Never forget that training is just an extension of play time and that repetition, along with positive reinforcement, is the key to success.
3. Forgetting to reinforce old tricks.
As the saying goes "If you don't use it, you lose it." The first-time rat trainer will often teach his rats a few basic tricks, move on to other ones for several weeks, only to discover that his rats have forgotten the first tricks!
Just because a rat learns a trick, it does not mean that the little guy will remember it later. Reinforcement is everything. This is why, when teaching a rat to run an obstacle course, the trainer must tack a new obstacle onto the one(s) that were previously learned. Otherwise, the rat will fail to remember the first obstacles learned.
So, remember: keep their lives full of challenges at all times; try to be patient and not to get too attached to results and accomplishments; and don't take it for granted that they will remember those first tricks they learned... because they won't. Repeat and reinforce their learning at all times!
Knowing about these three major pitfalls will go a long way in helping you to make the most of your rats' intelligences and abilities; and as long as you are together, you will look forward to training time every single day.
Contrary to popular belief rats can be an excellent pet for you and your family. They are friendly social and very active creatures. But it can take a little bit of knowledge if you want to take care of it correctly. So, if you are thinking about raising a pet rat, this small guide should get you up and on your way.
Putting together a home for your pet rat
Before buying your pet you will need a place that your he or she can call home. Well, for starters, you will need a large cage. It is recommended that pet rats have cages that are 1.5 square feet or better for each pet rat you plan to bring home. Make sure that the cage has a very solid surface as well. Barring should be no more than a half inch as rats can squeeze through very small areas, and it should be powder coated to avoid being corroded over time by rat urine. For bedding, be careful as woodchips such as cedar and pine shavings have been known to sometimes have adverse affects on small animals such as rats. If you use wood shaving only use Aspen shavings. Another good alternative is Carefresh bedding, which is excellent and non-toxic to small animals.
Rats should be kept in a neutral temperature away from extreme heat, cold or drafts. Also, be sure to keep the area around the rat cage clear. Rats will chew on anything they can get their hands on, so please be sure to keep all items bug or small away from the rat's cage.
Where to get a rat from
Now that you have a place that your rat can truly call home, it is now time to pick a rat for you to take home. But what kind of rat is a good rat? When looking for a good pet rat you should first consider the source. Many people would initially think that a pet shop might be an ideal place for you to buy your pet rat, but this not true. The best place to buy your pet rat is from a rat breeder. Most of these rats have been handled with care by the owner since birth and are tame enough to be made pets. Often the rats that you will get from your local pet store are used for snake food and have been under a lot of stress. They are sometimes unhealthy and can be a waste of money if you invest in it.
Also, it is often good to buy pet rats in pairs, as rats can get very lonely when by themselves. Buy rats in same-sex pairs and NOT different sex pair unless you are planning to breed pet rats. Many times, breeders will not sell you a pet rat unless they know that you own another rat that can be there as a companion.
Bringing your pet rat home
When bringing your pet rat home, be aware that rats are very easily startled. The staple diet for your rat should be lab blocks or homemade grain mix such as "Suebees Diet" or dog food. There are many rat food recipes online. You can also supplement their diet with fresh fruits, veggies, seeds, or cooked beans. Cleaning up after your pet rat
Cleaning should be done at minimum on a weekly basis and daily spot checks need to be made of our rats cage to ensure that the rats conditions remain healthy and sanitary, I recommend buying a second cage for changing purposes to make things easier for you. Handling your pet rat
The most important part of having a rat is being able to enjoy it. Spend as much time with your rat as you can, so that it can get used to you being around. When picking up rats, do not hold them by the tail. Hold it in a cup like positions as rats like to jump.
By Phillip W Wilson
Phillip is an expert on pet care and pet care supplies for small animals. If you are interested in finding out more information about pet care supplies including rat cages and other pet cages [http://www.petcagesuperstore.com/servlet/StoreFront] visit his website.
Article Source: EzineArticles
One thing I have learnt from years in the pet industry - people's opinions of rats and mice is black and white; they either love 'em or they hate 'em! For this reason, double check with your family members if they are OK with you having one before you bring one home.
Each year more and more people choose to keep domestic rats or mice as pets. And why not? They are cheap to purchase, easy to maintain and take little time out of your day. And yet, they offer great companionship and attention and make very good pets for children.
Although we often group them together because they have similar needs there are some differences between rat and mice that I have noted on this website for your interest.
For example, they should never be kept together because rats will kill mice. Rats if handled properly make much better pets than mice. They are as intelligent as a dog and will seek out human companionship.
Both rats and mice smell depending upon how often you choose to clean their cage. Male mice smell awful and it can take some time to get used to. Rats, either male or female, don't really smell as long as their cage is kept clean.
Rats don't run away if let out of their cage but mice do. Both animals need lots of stimulation in an interesting environment so you will need to be prepared to spend time with them outside of their cage and rotate their toys weekly.
Rats don't have very good eye sight and will nip if they are frightened. Be careful with small children who may squeal or grab at the rat and frighten it. However, they have excellent hearing and again a sharp yelp from a child or loud bang maybe enough to make them lash out and bite the closet thing to them. Rats have very sharp teeth and will nearly always break the skin when they bite. Be wary of playing music too loud or running machinery for too long near them.
On the other hand, both mice and rats have a great sense of smell. That's why they will bite sometimes if they can smell food on your hands. They simply think that your fingers are the food they can smell on them. It's always a good idea to wash your hands before putting them in the cage.
Neither rats nor mice carry diseases like their wild cousins so you and your family are safe handling them.
Sadly rats or mice only live for a few years and they usually die from stroke or tumors. They do, however, make great pets. Rats have their own personalities; will learn to come when you call them and will happily sit in your pocket for most of the day and 'hang out' with you where ever you go.
Mice are not as responsive but you can train them to run through mazes and if you are interested in breeding them, the patterns and the colours they show are fantastic.
I believe that the more you put into your pet the more you will get back one hundred fold. This is the same for rats and mice. When you spend time with them, you will appreciate their different personalities and needs. All of which provide great joy and company for their owners.
Sue Day has worked in the pet industry for many years. Now a full time dog trainer, Sue has put together a website of over 50 pages to share her knowledge and experiences of pet care.
If you would like more great tips and you would like to save some money on your pet bills for all your pets including dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice or rats, please go to: [http://www.save-money-on-pet-bills.com]
Rats & mice are extremely active and intelligent animals, and thus require exercise and mental stimulation for optimal health. These animals are often purchased as pets for children and many are housed in smaller than adequate cages with only the bare essentials such as food, water and an exercise wheel. Just imagine how bored you would be living in a bare room with an exercise bike as the only form of mental and physical activity?
There are a number of fun and easy ways you can provide toys and enrich the environment of your pet rat or mouse:
Toys to CHEW -
These are necessary for dental health, as rodents teeth grow continuously throughout their life and need to be constantly worn down. Safe chew toys for rats and mice include rawhide chews, nylabones, untreated wood, cardboard rolls, boxes and egg cartons.
Toys to SHRED -
Softer items such as toilet paper or tissues, sisal rope and straw provide hours of entertainment for your pet rat or mouse. They particularly enjoy shredding these substances to use as bedding material to line their sleeping areas. Ensure you do not give your pets any toys containing soft rubber, soft plastics, leather or string as these materials can cause an intestinal obstruction.
Toys to PUSH & CARRY -
Many rats and mice love to carry or push small toys around. Sturdy, hollow plastic cat toys with bells inside or acrylic toys provide great entertainment for your pet.
CLIMBING Toys -
Ladders, branches, hammocks, ropes, PVC tubes, boxes and bird perches can provide numerous climbing opportunities for your pet rat or mouse. These items can be secured to the sides or top of the cage to increase the amount of play area in your pet's cage.
FORAGING Toys -
Rats and mice in the wild spend much of their day foraging for food. In captivity, we often put out a bowl of food for our pet rat or mouse and that bowl is simply placed in the same area, with the same food in it every day. Our pets quickly become lazy, bored and overweight from the lack of enrichment and foraging opportunities in their lives. Provide your pet rat or mouse with mental stimulation by hiding their food in specially designed foraging toys, treat balls, cardboard rolls or tubes. Bird foraging toys made from bamboo or cholla cactus can also be used for rodents.
TUNNELS -
Rats and mice in the wild use and construct tunnels from items in their environment on a regular basis. Tunnels made of sturdy plastic, acrylic or PVC can be placed in the cage or attached to the side or top of your pet's house. Ensure you select a tunnel with a large enough diameter to prevent your rat or mouse from becoming stuck in the tunnel. Blocks of untreated wood can also be hollowed out to make tunnels which rats and mice may enlarge themselves. You can provide ready-made tunnels for your pet, or allow them to construct their own from various materials provided in their environment.
EXERCISE WHEELS & BALLS -
Activity wheels provide an excellent way for your rat or mouse to exercise within the confines of their cage. Solid wheels made from plastic or acrylic are safer and preferable over wheels with wire bars that can trap your pet's feet or tail.
Exercise balls are also a great fitness tool for your rat or mouse outside of the cage. Always monitor your pet while they are playing in an exercise ball to ensure they do not overheat and are always playing in a safe, flat area.
If you have a pet rat or mouse, use your imagination and enrich their life by providing them with a range of toys that will keep them entertained for hours.
By Alana Drake
Whilst boarding at Noah's Ark Pet Resort, your rat or mouse will be provided with quality care and enrichment.
We encourage you to contact us at Noah's Ark Pet Resort if you require any more information about environmental enrichment for your rat or mouse.
Article Source: EzineArticles
The secret to their success is their high IQ. Unlike more passive pets such as rabbits, pet rats are highly sociable and love interacting with people. Their intelligence also makes them highly trainable as they love the mental challenge of problem solving. So if you already have pet rats that you want to train, or are considering get a new fur-family member, here are five reasons why training pet rats is ridiculously rewarding.
#1: Boredom Busting:
Pet rats are nature's problem solvers and hate being bored. They love nothing better than pitting their wits against a puzzle and working their way round it. Conversely, a bored rat is likely to develop behavioral problems such as overeating that leads to obesity, fighting with housemates, pulling out their fur, or chewing their home.
For intelligent creatures such as pet rats, it isn't fair not to challenge their minds. Not to do so is the human equivalent of sitting in a room staring at the walls all day long - and something to be avoided.
#2: Strengthens Bonds:
Twice daily training sessions and the pet rats use their brain power for good, and they'll look forward to this one-on-one time with their handler. Most social creatures thrive on attention, and this is exactly what you give during training time.
On the human side of the equation, there's a huge buzz about having a small creature attentive to your commands and responding to you. When a rat does a trick on command it almost like you can talk to animals, which is hugely rewarding in its own rite. Then there's the satisfaction of knowing your pet rats respond because they want to please you.
#3: Exercise Mind and Body:
Rather than sitting in a cage all day, training pet rats to roll a ball, complete an agility course, or walk along a rope is a great way of exercising both mind and body.
#4: Teach Tricks:
Want to impress your friends with what an epic animal trainer you are? Win the admiration of friends and family by teaching your pet rats to:
Stand on his back legs: Hold a tasty treat above the rat's head so that he stretches up to get it. Just before releasing the treat, say, "Stand", and let then him have the reward.
Jump: Teach him to jump over a low obstacle on command. To do this place a low object (such as a pencil or glasses case) on the floor between the rat and the treat. Encourage him to jump over the obstacle to get to the reward, and say "Jump" as he lands and give him the reward.
Clicker train: The sky's the limit when you clicker train your pet rats. The theory is exactly the same as for dogs. You teach the rat to associate the click-clack of a clicker with a tasty treat. Then you use to clicker to mark behaviors that you wish the rat to do - such as holding out a paw. By clicking the exact movement the rat understands which action is being rewarded, and will be keen to repeat it to earn that snack.
#5: Builds Confidence
Training pet rats is a win-win situation because it increases their confidence in you, whilst your confidence in your ability to work with animals goes through the roof. Imagine the satisfaction of seeing a small creature come to their name or fetch you a toy. For all creatures, small as a rat or large as a dog, training builds the confidence of everyone involved (including the handler!)
By Deborah Shores
Holly and Hugo is an e-learning company which features courses for animal lovers and those planning to work with animals in the future.
Our courses have been created just for you, and since all study is completed online you can learn anywhere and at your own pace.
Check out the courses in more detail at http://www.hollyandhugo.com, choose which ones suit you best, and begin building an exciting new career today!
Article Source: EzineArticles
A hairless rat (R. norvergicus) named Lhassa. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Are you planning for some pet rats? Well, pet rats are really cute and very adorable. They are quite friendly and active and are good to play with at home. They live for 2-3 years maximum. However, if you are about to get pet rats there are some points you should consider. Below are the few pointers.
Read and browse to know more
Before you go to buy your pet rat, it's smarter if you read the books and browse the net to know more about the tiny pets. There are many websites online which tell you on various characteristics of the pet rats and help you to know them better and act accordingly.
Go for a reputed breeder
You must consult an esteemed breeder for buying pet rats. Yes there are pet stores too but they are not always reliable. The rats in pet shops in many cases might suffer from poor health and also might not be much tamed which could be an issue. Besides, the dangerous thing is that the pet stores have an ill-repute for mixing the rats which lead to a misrepresentation of the rat's sex. Thus there's a chance that you are handed with a female pet while you asked for a male one and later on you might find your one to be pregnant. Besides, there are the rescue centers for getting the pets. But again, it is not that effective since the rats taken from rescue centers need a seasoned owner.
Try to avoid pairs
Rats are very sociable animals and hence it's better not to keep them in pairs. No matter how much you attend them, nothing can be a substitute for their craving for other rats. Thus, always buy 2 rats at least and try to check that they are of same gender. The males would be usually lazier and larger while the female counterparts are more active and smaller. However, both of them would make wonderful pets.
Get them proper diet
The pet rats must be given a rat mix of high quality supplemented with fresh food. Remember rabbit mix or hamster won't be suitable here since the rats have separate nutritional requirements. The pet rats, in fact relish varied diets.
Make for spacious and comfortable habitat
The pet rats relish staying in large cages, the bigger it is, the better it would be for the rats. Don't forget wire cages since the rats love to climb. There must be minimum two cubic feet space per rat. Don't keep sawdust or wood shavings inside the cage as these might cause respiratory trouble for the animal. Make the bedding with cat litters (paper based), old towels, newspapers, cardboard bedding or the hardwood shavings. Fill up the cage with ample toys, tubes, hideaways and hammocks etc. since rats enjoy playing.
Attend to the rats
The pet rats love to be attended to and loved. If you own a rat, make sure to cuddle and play with it. They are very friendly and would relish the bonding.
