PWRC Rattery

I'm not going to say that everything you need to know before owning a rat will be on here, but I'm going to do my best.  Much of this information is what you will need to consider prior to owning or breeding ratties.  I definately recommend seeking out as much information as you can before you venture off into the rat world, but if you already own some then you can never know enough!  It's best to always try to keep up with the latest info on any pet you own & ANY questions you may have I'm more than willing to give/find the answer to!  Feel free to send me an email so we can talk ratties!

* General Care... *

There are some basic needs that rats have.  These include a clean, well ventilated housing unit for them to comfortably live in, good quality food for them to eat, fresh, clean water for them to drink at all times, & an ubundance of toys, hiding places, & attention to keep them socialized, well-exercised, mentally & emotionally stimulated, & happy!  Unbenounced to most people, rats are extremely intellegent creatures & require about the same amount of attention as say a dog.  They form bonds with their humans relative to a puppy & accept you as part of their colony/family.  They can be tought to recognize their own names & learn tricks!  Normally, once the learn something they have it as they're very good at retaining knowledge!  This is why it is vital to ensure that your pet has plenty of mental stimulation or else they will get bored & be unhappy!  All of these things are equally as important, so if you don't plan on giving your wonderful rat any of these things in plentiful amounts then you really should reconsider your decision.  As dedicated rat owners ourselves, we are determined to give our rats The best quality of care & tons of attention to ensure they're happy & healthy at ALL times!  This is extremely important to us & we believe that owning an animal is a very serious undertaking.  Please don't let a sweet ratlet suffer because you're not willing to take the time, money, & effort out of your life to give them EVERYTHING that they need!  I've been raising animals most of my life, many of which are rescues, & it's frustrating to see so many amazing critters with so much to offer their humans in bad situations just because someone thought they wanted one & basically forgot about it or didn't take the time to find out as much as they could before they acquired the critter. 

* Cages...

The general rule of thumb is to have at least 2 feet of space for each rat to reside in, however I do not believe that is is a good idea for all invironments.  If you have a large cage (say ours are 30" x 18" x 30") you can potentially put 10 ratties in it, but I don't recommend more than 6 at the most as your cage will get very dirty very quickly!  It can be done, but if you don't want to be giving your cage a good scrubbing 3 times a week then I don't suggest it!  We spot clean our cages at least twice a week & really get in & scrub them once a week to be sure that they're really good & clean.  Never use harsh chemicals to clean your rats cage...you can use extrememly diluted bleach if the cage you're cleaning is extra urine soaked (the idea is to keep up with it so you daon't have this issue, but you may get a cage that's been used & not kept up with), but you really need to make sure that you get it very well rinsed off because your rat WILL chew on every part of your cage.  Solid shelves in your cage is nice for your rats, but it gets dirty very quickly.  You can use a cage with small spaced wire shelves/levels/ladders, but if you do that you have to make sure the floor of your cage is solid as your critter can get something called bumble foot.  It's not really all that known why bumble foot occures, but it's theorized that it's caused by the rat getting a small cut of sorts on the bottom of it's foot & it gets infected, but that could be a seperate issue all together.  Honestly, I'm not a vet, but it makes sence that their bodiese would form some sort of barrier against the constant pain of bieng forced to stand, walk, jump, & run on metal wires & either forming some sort of calous or calciam deposites on their feet.  Anyway, that's just my opinion, so don't quote me on it.  In any case, they need to have a place to go that they don't have to be on metal wire so they don't have issues with their feet.  Another thing to consider is that rats have a tendancy to chew on anything they can get their teeth on.  Not all rats will do this especially if they have special rat chew toys, but I don't recommend a lot of plastic in their cage if you don't want this to be an issue...especially if the plastic is on any external part of the cage where chewing on it can potentially lead to escape.  Esentially, the less plastic parts on your cage, the better.  It's costly to have to replace cages as they don't really tend to be a cheap investment &, while the rats will have lots of fun chewing their way out, it's just not good for the rodent owner's check book!  =) 

* Bedding...

Their are lots of small animal beddings avaliable, but a common misconception is that if the pet store sells it, it can't be bad!  Unfortunately, this is incredibly false.  The pet stores, while not all bad, will usually profit off of whatever anyone (knowledgeable or not) will purchase regardless of the potential for ill effects!  In all small animals...pine & cedar shavings as bedding are extremely toxic, especially if wet with amonia causing urine!  This is VERY hazardous to your animals's resperitory system as they have to be so close to the fumes in order to be in their own home!  Paper bedding is best, but you should choose a paper bedding that is not toxic (& labeled as such) & is as close to dust free as possible as both are hazardous to your animal's health in various ways.  Of course, your animal will want to chew on it's bedding & I've even seen many who will eat it regardless of how well you feed them so toxicity is a huge factor.  Newspaper & things like that can be bad for your rat & it's difficult to tell to what degree by the lables.  Small animals are...well...smaller & what's not at all or hardly harmful to humans may be lethal to your small pet.  Dust from bedding can get into your animal's resperitory system & cause a great deal of damage, so it's vital to make sure that your bedding is dust free!  Most GOOD breeders will make sure that their rats are bred in such a way that they are not prone to resperitory issues & allergies, but you never know so it's best to be safe.  Most of what I've just described is a preventative measure to save you time & money & your rats from misery so please follow these guidlines!

* Water Bottles...

Most water bottles are okay, but many are better than others.  I can't really recommend a particular brand, but I can tell you that if you buy 4, 3 will leak constantly making it difficult to avoid having to buy more.  One thing you can do is get a guard for your waterer because many rats find it a fun game to chew on the metal end of the spout & make the ball not sit perfectly flush against the tube, therefore leakage!  Your little rat friend thinks it's great when you spaz out.  It's so much fun to watch mommy run around like a chicken with her head cut off so they start to devise a plan.  Every time mommy puts a new water bottle in our cage we should chew on the end a little so mommy can do that fun freaking out thing again!  Most rat owners willl swear by their rat's calculated ability to drive them nuts...in a good way, of course.  It's not much fun when this happens because you find yourself spending a small fortune on water bottles & your rat is constantly having to stand on wet bedding or a wet highrise level in order to drink.  Not to mention, you will have to be replacing the water that drips out on a regular, & often a daily, basis.  It's just no fun for anyone, but I recommend a metal guard rather than a plastic one because, again, many rats will chew anything they can just for the fun of it.  Naturally, water should be replaced daily & it's a bit rude to allow your rat to drink stale water for a few days so you don't have to give them more as often!  If you're not sure how much water your rats will need in a day, then you just have to keep track of it.  Some rats drink more in a day than others & they're are certian situations that they may drink more one day than another.  Many people add vitamins to their rats' water on about a weekly basis.  This is a good idea, but not absolutely necessary &, of course, always go by the label for such things.  You may find yourself doing more harm than good if you're not following dosing instructions.

* Diet...

A balanced diet is truly vital to a rat's health & an unbalanced one can even cause death, so listen up!  There are lots of different foods out there that rats CAN eat, but not all are actually good for them.  Here's what we do & I think it's best.  We feed our rats rat lab blocks (which are really more like large pellets) that are nutritionally balanced!  This should be the basis for a rat's diet!  These black are specially formulated to provide your rats with it's daily dose of proper nutrients to keep it healthy.  A rat's heath due to poor diet can dramatically deteriorate so it's extremely important that they get what they need first & what they prefer can come later!  It's just like with children...kids almost exclusively want things like pizza & ice cream (or at least mine does), & while that's a nice treat, we know it's not balanced & we want them to grow big & strong & have a healthy life in order to be happy, right?!  Well, it's the same for animals.  They may want one thing more than others, but it's just not okay to give it to them all of the time.  I give my rats the blocks every day & usually twice a day.  They also get a palm sized amount of seed mix to share every day, but that's more of a treat!  The reason this is an issue is because rats will pick out what they want & stash the rest.  If they get more of what they want they won't ever eat the rest of it & it will go to waist & your rat will not get EVERYTHING that it needs out of it!  We also give our rats fresh or cooked veggies because they love them so, but you should never feed too much of this as it can cause diarreah, & you don't want that as it can lead to dehydration & even death!  The same thing with fresh & dried fruits...rats love them & will over-eat if you let them, so be very careful when giving them such nice treats.  I'm afraid to feed fruits & the only way my rats get them is via baby food.  Yes, I said baby food.  Food for babies is specially formulated to be very healthy for a growing child & very easy t digest for little tummies.  Again, if you feed this it should be in limited amounts, but it's a great treat or the best bet for a sick rat.  I typically only feed the veggie varieties of baby foods, but fruit is a yummy option for your pet as well.  They'll like som more than others so you can experiment to see which of anything your rats like best.  Giving treats is great because your rats will appreciate it & it gives you a neat oppertunity to bond with them, but be sure you're not over-doing it as this can be harmful. 

* Toys...

Every rats has got to have some toys in it's cage.  You don't necessarily have to go to the pet store or online to find great, safe toys for your rats.  Many fun toys can be made at home & be just as great or better.  Their are many sites online where you can find great toy ideas, so I won't list them, but you can look around & decide what's best for you.  Toys are a vital part of rat ownership so don't skimp.  Your rats will need lots of fun stuff to do to ensure that they're mentally stimulated & get plenty of exercise.  Some rats will like different toys more than others, but you can bet that they'll like just about anything you give them.  It's plenty fun for your ratty to just have a little box to tear up, hide in, & climb all over!  We keep a wheel in every cage at all times for added exercise.  I even have one rat who will grab a lab block, go to his wheel, & run a few rounds before he will stash it.  It's almost like he's trying to make sure he's hiding far away from where he got it!  It's too cute.  Most rats will just get on it to let off a little steam here or there or burn some extra energy & you may not even see them using it, but usually at least one will.  Parrot toys are another great option.  Rats love to climb & play so these are great fun for them.  Again, it's easy to get overwhelmed when searching for rat toys, but just about anything you get will make them very happy.  I don't really suggest buying much that you can't clean though, but it's up to you.  Another thing I keep in every cage is a plush bed.  Some rats will like hammocks & igloos, but I've found that my rats like a soft bed above all else.  So you know, it's impossible to have a comfy bed that can't be torn up so you will have to replace it every now & then & many times these beds will have tell tale signs of chewage the first day you put it in the cage, but I feel it's worth it because they love them so.  I did mention hammocks (also quite chewable) as well as igloos (they will eventually chew on, but willl ast longer as theya re hard plastic & these things we also make sure our rats have for variety & comfort.  Smaller rats do fine in meduim igloos, but I recommend a bigger one for larger rats as they will pile up in them whether they can all fit or not!  =)  Also, try to give your rats plenty to do as thay will easily get bored.  Hide some food in different places in their cage & let them find it or use some non-toxic (can't stress that enough) tape to tape some non-parishable treats into a box for them to tear up & roll around.  It'll be tons of fun to watch them beat the snot out of the poor little box to get to the food.  It's stimulating for them & will give them something fun to figure out.  balls to roll around in are great fun for your rats too, but be sure to keep a good eye on them while their rollong all over the house or desigated area so they don't get stuck somewhere or forgotten about.  You should alos limit their time in a ball as well so they don't get too thristy while roolong ll over God's creation.  Another thing to consider is how often they may need to go potty so like I say limit the time they spend.  Even if it takes a while for the to figure out these things, once they do most will enjoy any little thing you give them.  Don't give up!  You're rarely throwing your money away when it comes to buying toys for your rats! 

* Out-Of-Cage-Playtime...

Rats need tons of individual & group play time.  As I said before, they get very attached to their humans & love spending time with them.  If you're going to allow your rats to run about a room, make sure that room is secure enough that they won't escape.  It's okay to do this, but rat proofing is a necessity.  Any cords or outlets you have must not be accessable to your rat as this can very easily & often will lead to electrocution.  Check every little thing, you can never be too careful when allowing your beloved pets to roam.  There are also play pens avaliable, but just remember that if a rat can fit it's head through it can fit it's whole body through so watch the bar spacing & make sure they can't jump out.  A responsible adult must always supervise rat playtime to ensure that nothing goes wrong.  Your rat is domestocated & cannot survive on it's own so don't even consider that they might.  Even if they find food & don't run itno any traps, rodent killing baits,  or cords to electrocute themselves with & do figure out how to find adequate food & shelter for themselves...they are not immune to common illnesses that wild rats are & will die very easily that way.  Rats need the social stimulation & love playing with their humans, but be sure that you've taken every precaution to ensure your baby is safe during this process & always supervise.

* Veterinary Care...

Most people ask me why I would ever take a rodent to the vet, but my reasoning is that of responsibility on top of love.  When you take an animal out of it's natural environment & cage it so that it can no longer take care of itself or make sure that it has what it needs to be & stay healthy, you are now responsible for that animal's care.  If you're not prepared to do such a thing then don't get a pet!  I'm passionate about my critters & i believe that owning an animal is relative to having a child.  It's your responsibility to ensure that this creature you agreed to care for is happy, healthy, & safe.  Unfortunately, there may come a time where you must take your rat to the vet & you have to be prepared for the pain & cost involved.  Rats have a short lifespan & many are prone to things such as tumors.  Honestly, if you're not going to be breeding your rats you should have them spayed or nutured as this will greatly decrees the odds of related cancers & tumors which plague many animals.  Good breeders will actually discontinue breeding a line that proves to carry such diseases, but if you get a rat from a pet store you are unlikely to know either way.   Many small animals are also prone to resperitory issues which can easily & quickly get out of hand so that's another thing that will more than likely come up in rats you have no multiple geration history on.  I am an advocate for rescuing ratties that are stuck in pet stores, but I have to recommend that you buy from a reputable breeder that is registered with an association.  These breeders that have taken the time to earn a reputation & take good care to ensure that their lines are free from disease & deformity. 

 * Breeding Rats...

There is already so much information on breeding rats avaliable that I'm not going to actually even outline it here, but if you're not prepared for the possible consequesces, then please don't do so.  You are more than welcome to check out & use my breeder's code of ethics to see if you're prepared to do that & more for every rat baby you choose to produce.  Accidents happens & that's why people like us are here, but please be responsible with your ratties.  There are way too many critters in bad situations due to people wanting to breed rats one day & finding it's too much trouble & not sticking with it or just being blatantly irresponsible.  If lot's of rats is what you want & you're prepared to give them great homes then check the pet stores & don't breed.  These animals need loving homes & will make just as good of pets as any other.  It's a huge undertaking & an enormous responsibility so please do your homework & make sure you can give them everything they need & are quality animals to boot. 

* New Breeders...

I can assure you that I am well aware of how difficult it is to get started breeding top quality rats.  Most estbalished breeders have a closed door policy regarding new breeders & won't sell rats as breeding animals to people that are not well established themselves.  I won't say that I don't understand the stigma as there really aren't a lot of people out there who love any type of animal enough to look out for it's best interest 100% of the time, however I do feel that those who show a geniune interest & understand the costs & potential mishapps should at least be given the oppertunity to be heard & not just ignored.  I believe that there are potentially great breeders out there that are not being given any oppertunty due to established breeder's past bad experiences!  I do not share in this issue as of yet.  I am going to have strick guidlines to go on where selling my rats to new breeders in concerned, but if I feel you're ready, willing, & able to do such a thing that you should be given a chance.  I myself have been searching high & low & was willing to do just about anything, but no one would give me much of an oppertunity without huge expenses involved until recently.  I have finally found a great breeder that is willing to work with me here in Texas (PMG Rattery) & I have also found a friend in rats (Phoenix Gate Rattery) that is willing to work with me as well, but I'm going to have to make a trip to Atlanta if I want any of her rats...& I do.  I completely understand the difficulty involoved & I'm here to lend a helping hand to anyone I feel in genuinely interested for all the right reasons.  I feel that the difficulty involoved in the process of starting a great breeding program with proven, healthy lines could very well cause individuals to either give up (not good for PR) or breed lesser quality, not as healthy rats (not good for our beloved pets) so I am willing to try to change this as much as I can within reason!  If you're wanting to start your own rattery & you're looking to breed top quality breeding, show, & pet prospects then hit me up & we'll talk about it.  So you know, if you buy rats from me that are going tobe for breeding & you're not well established I will require that I mentor you!  This is not an option!  I will need you to keep in touch & admit that if you haven't been doing it for a while you aren't an expert yet & listen to the advice I give you!