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Rats can make wonderful pets
After reading the title of this column, some of you may be thinking, "What?
Rats make wonderful pets? You’ve got to be kidding!"
It’s true that rats aren’t the first animals
that come to mind when most of us think of wonderful pets. Nonetheless, they can be just that. If you don’t believe
me, ask Christy Mesker. She has kept pet rats for 10 years (and written extensively about their care).
"Pet rats are very affectionate," Mesker says. "And each one has a different
personality. Consider three of mine: Minnie Mouse, Beethoven and Tsi Tsi. Minnie Mouse is sweet and laid back. She likes to
take long naps on my lap. Then, there’s great, big Beethoven, a family favorite. He likes to lie on his back or play
in packing peanuts. Tsi Tsi, whose name means rat in Tibetan, is very active. Everyday, she climbs to the top of my curtains
at least once. She also loves my three dogs. In fact, Tsi Tsi loves my Chow/Shepherd mix so much, she tries to climb inside
his mouth!" (Note: Mesker’s dogs are conditioned to peacefully co-exist with pet rats. Otherwise, Tsi Tsi would be lunch!)
Male rats are larger than females. On the average, males weigh 600-700 grams and are about 10 inches in length, excluding
their tail. Females weigh about 400 grams and are about 7 inches in length. Pet rats are bred in different varieties rather
than breeds. Each has a different coat and ear type. In terms of fur, there’s the standard, sleek coat. There’s
the Rex coat, which is curly fur and whiskers. There’s the Double Rex coat, or Patchwork, which is very thin, curly
fur that looks as if it grows in patches. And, last but not least, there’s the hairless variety. All are bred in an
assortment of colors: platinum, dove, champagne, Siamese-like pointed, Russian blue, agouti or wild rat coloring, etc.
In
terms of ears, there are two types: standard ears, which are regular ears set on top of the head; and Dumbo ears, which are
larger ears set down on the sides of the face. While Dumbo ears make pet rats look more docile and cute; there’s no
temperamental difference between rats bred with them and those bred with standard ears.
Mesker keeps her pet rats
in a large, multilevel cage manufactured specially for rodents. Cages should provide two cubic feet of space per rat. Because
rats are social creatures, they should be kept in pairs or groups. (A group of rats is called a mischief.) Cages should be
odor free. If they’re not, they’re not being cleaned often enough. Due to inadequate ventilation, it’s inadvisable
to keep pet rats in an aquarium. Pine and cedar bedding should be avoided as well. Both emit toxic phenols that can cause
rats to have respiratory problems. To further ward off respiratory problems, cages should be located in a draft free area
where the temperature remains between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Water bottles and ceramic food containers should be provided. (Rats chew on
plastic food containers.) Many owners feed lab blocks—the food product traditionally fed to laboratory rats. Mesker
feeds her pet rats a mixture formulated by another rat fancier. It consists of Nutro Natural Light Dog Food, Total Cereal,
puffed wheat and rice, soy nuts, unsalted sun flower seeds, raw pasta noodles and rolled oats. Mesker supplements the mixture
with chopped fruit and vegetables. Pet rats are short-lived creatures. In captivity, they have a 2-3 year life span. In the
wild, they only live about 6 months.
"They’re very cheap pets to buy in pet stores. But they’re expensive
to keep. In addition to respiratory infections, pet rats are prone to tumors and heart disease," Mesker says. On the average,
she spends $80/month on illness-related veterinary care for hers. There’s also the cost of neutering to consider, when
members of both sexes are kept in the same cage. It ranges between $50 and $300, depending upon the location and the veterinarian.
Rats make great pets for kids—when parents are willing to care for them and provide the necessary vet care.
Those, who don’t have time available for pets on a daily basis, shouldn’t own them. Rats should be allowed outside
of their cage for at least 1-hour everyday in a "rat-proofed" room, while being supervised. (Mesker’s rats are litter
box trained.) To prevent wandering, they should be baby gated into the room. To prevent electrical shock, cords should be
covered with plastic flex tubing. Blankets, pillows, etc. should be removed or they’ll be chewed.
Initially,
Mesker bought rats from pet stores. After she learned there were many in need of homes, she mostly kept rescues. For more
information about rats and those available for adoption, visit Mesker’s web site (www.ratpalace.com) and those of the following clubs: Rat and Mouse Fanciers for Excellence (www.rodentfancy.com),
Rat and Mouse Club of America (www.rmca.org) and Rat Fan Club (www.ratfanclub.org).
Is there a particular kind of companion animal that you'd like to know
more about? Ask Sharon at: pawprint44@hotmail.com
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