Small Animals
Rat
Rat
Easy to care for, Rats bond easily with their owners, so it is very important that you give your pet Rat a lot of attention and handle it as much as possible. Sometimes if you tickle your pet Rat’s belly, it will let out a high-pitched laugh. Rats are very active, running as much as two to three miles in one night. Any exercise you can give them will be appreciated.
Rats enjoy a roomy cage with some bedding of hardwood pulp, such as aspen, or shredded paper without ink printed on it. Rats require a diet specially formulated for their needs and Kaytee offers several choices, such as Forti-Diet Pro Health, Fiesta Max, Forti-Diet Crunch and Supreme. Any of these diets alone offer a perfectly balanced diet, although a pet rat will also benefit from an array of fresh fruits and vegetables. Keep in mind rats are small and will only need a tablespoon or less of fresh produce daily. Rats are prone to many health issues and a good balanced diet is the first step at keeping those problems at bay. One health issue you can eliminate by providing chewable items at all times is overgrown teeth. Rats teeth are constantly growing and chew toys help keep their teeth trimmed.
Most pet Rats are a variant of the species Brown Rat, but some can be Black Rats or Giant Pouched Rats.
Are you ready to be a Rat owner? Click here to see if this energetic buddy will be your next best friend. Don't forget to visit the KAYTEE Kid Zone.
KAYTEE adds exciting products and helpful tips to help you. You can customize your search by animal such as wild bird, pet bird and small animal; by category such as food, treats and feeders); or by brand such as exact®, Fiesta Max and Forti-Diet Pro-Health; or by species such as Guinea Pig, Cockatiel and Finch.
Thank you for your interest in Kaytee. We hope birding, pet bird ownership and small animal ownership continues to be a special part of your life.
Facts
| Order: Rodentia | Family: Muridae |
| Genus: Rattus | Species: norvegicus |
| Sexual Maturity: 1.5-2.5 months | Life Span: 2-4 years |
| Maximum Adult Size: 25-40 cm (10-15 in) | |
| Habitat Size L x W x H: 51 x 24 x 30 cm (20 x 10 x 12 in) | |