It's common to have multiple pets of differing species in the same home, therefore I'll briefly address the topic of interspecies interactions.  Opinions vary, and sometimes this is a touchy issue. Some pet owners feel they know their pets best, and are confident they can ensure nothing will happen. As a general rule, I do not advise to allow interspecies interactions. I feel it can lead to risky situations for all of the animals involved, and I prefer to simply play it safe.

  Bonding is a major component of owning pet rats and has a direct impact on how well you will enjoy them as pets, as well as their overall quality of life. Pet rats require daily interaction with their human caregivers, and time outside their cage to exercise and play. I recommend no less than 1-2 hours per day, and longer whenever possible. Honestly, the more time you can spend with your rats, the better. Think of them like little puppies, because they are similar to puppies in many ways. They thrive on social interactions, and are affectionate, and can also be trained to do tricks. They also tend to be food driven and enjoy food-based rewards. This is why some people like to refer to pet rats as "pocket puppies". If you're bringing home new rats, you'll want to begin the process of bonding with them as soon as possible. This can be done a few different ways. Once you get them home and into a cage, sit or stand beside the cage and watch them, while talking to them s...

 Knowing when and why to quarantine pet rats is another topic I would like to discuss. Any time you are bringing new rats into your home, you'll want to quarantine for at least 14 days before adding them to your existing mischief (group of rats). This ensures that if the incoming rats are ill or have parasites, you have a chance to observe and treat the newcomers before they pass it to other rats in your home, as well as allowing time to conduct proper introductions before integrating new members into the mischief. Similarly, when you observe signs of illness or injury in individuals in your care, it's wise to place them in quarantine until they can be seen and treated by a veterinarian if needed, or otherwise have their issue resolved. Always deep clean your quarantine cage after completing a quarantine period and throw away all bedding and items that cannot be washed and/or sterilized. This helps reduce transmission of any illnesses, bacteria, and parasites. After a quarantin...

Part of offering your rats proper care is ensuring they have adequate housing. It is advised to keep rats in groups of at least two to three, or more. They’re highly social animals and should never live alone. Generally, you’ll want a cage that provides a minimum of 2.5 cubic feet per rat, with ½” bar spacing. As male rats tend to be larger than females, they will require more space. Floor space is important, as rats are fossorial animals. This means that they need to dig and burrow in their bedding. It is recommended to have a few inches (2-4" minimum) of bedding in the base of the cage. There are varying opinions on bedding. I prefer not to use paper, as it doesn’t soak up moisture, and contributes to ammonia production. You can use paper bedding in a box as a play, nesting, or foraging box, but I don’t recommend it as substrate. Aspen (kiln dried) is a great option, and some stores will sell lab grade Aspen flakes, which have less dust, and are less likely to contain wood lice,...

Pet rats are some of the sweetest, funniest, cuddliest, most endearing creatures I have had the privilege of caring for. They are almost a constant source of entertainment and adoration and make fantastic pets for those committed to taking great care of them. There are many aspects of rat care that we need to be aware of when owning pet rats. I plan to cover some of the basics. This entry will talk a bit about rat behaviour. Paying attention to your pet rat's behaviour is important. The context of the situation a rat is in when displaying behaviour and body language can be important, too. If a rat is grinding its teeth (bruxing), this can mean several things, from happiness, nervousness or fear, to feeling unwell.  A happy, heathy rat is generally eager to interact or spend time with their human companions. Normally, a happy rat will have bright, wide-open eyes, and pink ears facing forward or relaxed in position.They will appear alert to their surroundings and calm, sometimes snif...