What you must NOT do to your Rats!!!

Pet rats are easy to care for, but to make sure your rats are getting the most out of their existence, it helps to stick by a few basic guidelines. To make things easier, use this list of crucial dos and don'ts when caring for rats.

1. You should have more than one rat: Don't keep just one rat. Rats are social animals that enjoy getting into trouble with other rats. Rats live in colonies of up to 150 females and males in the wild. Living with a rat friend, rat sibling, rat family member or rat buddies comes naturally to  pet rats. When you initially start out, choose at least two or three rats. It is acceptable to introduce them to each other before let them stay or live with other rats, if you want to grow the existing pet rat group. 

 However, to make sure none of them is left alone, think about adopting a pet rat pair  there's a also a big risk your other rats won't accept them. Rats do not always live alone, though. It makes sense that your rats would stay alone for a while if all but one of them had died and you won't be getting any more. Simply spend more time with them each day to avoid them from feeling lonely. The best course of action might be to have one rat live alone if it doesn't get along with the mischief. The most crucial factor is the safety of every rat. Consult your veterinarian about techniques to make aggressive rats more sociable.

2. Know which pet supplies to get for your rat: Don't purchase something just because it says it's for rats. For instance, phenols found in some wood shavings marketed for small animal pets, such as rats, may have negative health effects. Rats may safely use aspen, a hardwood. However, I personally prefer to line the floors of my rats' cages with washable fleece scraps. 

3. Research the food your rat eats: Don't give your rat any old food. Rats shouldn't be fed certain small animal diets, despite what they say to the contrary. Avoid overfeeding. Read up on appropriate rat diets and portion sizes.Find out how to feed your rats during different phases of their lives. Adult rats, elderly rats, and pregnant female rats have different demands than do newborn rats.

Avoid giving your rats greasy or fried foods, junk food, or carbonated drinks. Obesity and health issues are the only outcomes of these actions. Look at healthy snack options. Sharing table scraps with your rats is entertaining, but you should be aware of which foods to avoid. Certain foods for humans may even be poisonous or dangerous to choke on.

4.) Choose a suitable cage for your rat: Avoid keeping your rats in tiny cages with only one storey or in aquariums. Because of their limited size, inadequate ventilation, and lack of levels, aquariums are inappropriate. Since your rats will spend a significant amount of time in their environment, it must have adequate space, ventilation, and exercise. Maintaining an active lifestyle benefits their mental and physical wellbeing.

Get a multi-levelled cage that is the right size for your rat group or rat buddies by doing the necessary research. I advise purchasing one composed of sturdy, galvanised wire. It is simpler to clean bars that have some kind of powder coating. Although cages are not very inexpensive, if you choose a reputable model or good-quality brand, the cage you get for your rat should be expected to last for many years . At least thirty different rats have lived in my Double Critter Nation during the course of the more than ten years that they have had it. Avoid leaving the cage near a draughty window or in a room with inadequate ventilation.

Extreme temperatures can cause major health problems for rats. Avoid leaving the cage's wire flooring exposed. This may result in harm, bumblefoot, and an unclean or difficult-to-clean environment. As needed, perform spot cleanings in addition to routine cage cleanings.

5) Keep your pet rats away from fragrances, chemicals, and poisonous plants: Avoid using candles, sprays, or plug-ins with strong room deodorisers close to your rats or their cage. Avoid using fabric softeners on their bedding made of cloth.

Strong or poisonous home cleansers should not be sprayed on or near their cage. Exposure to these substances can irritate rats' sensitive respiratory tracts and lead to respiratory difficulties as well as other health complications. If your rats are free-ranging, avoid placing toxic houseplants in places they frequent. The number of common indoor plants that are poisonous to pets may surprise you. For example, philodendrons contain calcium oxalate, which can be harmful if not handled or digested properly. 

 Even fallen leaves, whether they are dead and shrivelled or fresh and green, can be harmful if eaten. Make a list of all the plants in your home and determine whether they are safe to have near your rats (or other pets, for that matter). If not, dispose of them or relocate them to a part of the house where rats won't ever be.

6) Dont leave the lights on the entire day: Don't keep the lights on all the time. Excessive light can disrupt a rat's nocturnal cycle, just as it can in humans. Obesity, health problems, and behavioural changes may result from this. In the room where your rats are housed, make sure to cover any windows and turn off the lights at night. Additionally, give them lots of dark hiding and sleeping spaces, like cardboard boxes, hammocks, igloos, or space pods.

7) Keep them safe from bigger pets and predators: Avoid leaving your rats alone with other animals. Don't be careless about your rats' safety, even if they get along with your dog, cat, reptile, bird, etc. Anything can happen, and all animals are unpredictable. When your rats are not in their cage, keep an eye on them and make sure they have a secure space.

8) Protect your rat's tail: Never grab your rats by the tail or try to catch them with it! In actuality, their vertebrae include the tail. It would be like grasping a human by the spine to pick up a rat by the tail. It may result in discomfort, harm, or more back issues.

Cradle them in your palm and support their entire body. You might require assistance supporting your rat's legs if they are really huge. Additional support can be obtained by holding a rat near your body, particularly if it is squirmy.

Spend time with your adorable rats throughout the day. They still want to spend time with their owners, even when they have rattie companions. Spending quality time with them strengthens relationships, gives them a sense of security, and instills trust. They also require time away from their enclosure.

Make sure to spend a minimum of one or two hours each day with your rats. Make sure their cage is close by and find opportunities to engage with them, even if you're too busy to sit and spend a few hours together.