Care of rats (and rodents in general)

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The most comprehensive sources of information on how to take care of your rats can be found at Pet Rats Canada and Rat and Mouse Club of America. But for basic information, you should know the following:

Companionship

If you have a single rat now, please upgrade your cage to a size large enough for two or more, and adopt a rat from an animal rescue (where they are sometimes abandoned by people who become bored with their lonely, single rat that sleeps too much). Rats need to be in same-sex pairs (unless neutered; sometimes neutering is required if you have a particularly aggressive or territorial male). They sleep, groom, and play together, are much happier, and are more sociable with you as a result.

The same is true for female mice and both sexes of gerbils and guinea pigs. However, male mice must remain single once they have been separated from their litter-mate brothers, they cannot be integrated with other males.

Quarantine and integration

They can't be thrust in a cage together immediately; they need to go through a quarantine period so that you are sure they are in good health (breeder, pet store rats, and shelter rats alike). It is generally recommended to quarantine your new rescue rats for several weeks before starting the introduction process, but the information on the internet is generally alarmist. More information about the SDA or Sendai viruses (a concern in certain areas such as Michigan) is available at Pet Rats Canada and Rat and Mouse Club of America. SDA and Sendai are a potential threat in Canada - beware!

Rats need a slow introduction period on neutral territory. They should have opportunities to get used to each other's smell by trading items from cages and being able to see each other at a safe distance. Please join a forum and ask for guidance and encouragement, don't go it alone your first time, because it can be scary to see your two pet rats fight! However, so long as blood isn't drawn (they can injure each other, obviously), it is a normal part of the integration process, taking longer for boys than for girls (some girls are successfully integrated within a day, "taking" in about a week).

Cage size and accessories

• Check your cage size. Hamster cages are too small for rats, they need dwarf rabbit (1-2 rats), chinchilla (2-3 rats), and rabbit or ferret (2 - 4+ rats) cages. In their cage, they must have a house, igloo, or a hiding box - any old cardboard box will do, it can be thrown out when it's dirty - even 4L ice cream bins with a door cut into the lid or the side.
• They should also have hammocks and toys, particularly chewable wooden beads on a string, PVC plumbing tubes, empty fruit baskets and boxes.
• To ensure their comfort and health, rodents must have the proper bedding - NO CEDAR or PINE, but aspen, hemp, and recycled paper products are good on the bottom of the cage. Almost all rat and small animal owners I know use rags for the sleeping compartments of their pets.
• Remember to give your rats an hour a day out of the cage, interacting with you and exploring a rat-proofed part of your home (holes sealed, cords protected, chewable items out of reach unless they're there as chew toys).

Food

Seed mix is not enough. They need "lab blocks," a cooked mixture of oatmeal and Red River cereal, soymilk, tofu, scrambled eggs (especially while pregnant or nursing, recovering from surgery, old, and sick), chicken bones, fresh fruits, and vegetables - basically, table scraps and shared snacks!

Health and veterinary care

Other health considerations, such as symptoms of illnesses you must be aware of, can be found at the above websites. The Rat Health Care booklet is also very informative; it costs $10. There is also a comprehensive care guide in French and in English for many species at http://poilsetplumes.org.

• If you are in Montreal, there are two clinics specialized in rodents: the Clinique Vétérinaire Villeray-Papineau Veterinary Clinic, and l'Hôpital Vétérinaire pour Oiseaux et Animaux Exotiques - Montreal Bird and Exotic Animal Hospital.
• In Laval: Dr. Woodlock at L'Hôpital Vétérinaire Vimont, (450) 622-3804, which is open 8:30 - 8 pm M-F and 8:30 - 4 on Saturday and Sunday
• There is the L'Hôpital Exotiques Rive Sud in St. Hubert.