We have a selection of just about everything you could want for your pet rat!
Whether you are just getting your first rats (remember they are social animals
and need to be kept in groups of two or more!) or you already have a huge family
of ratties we have a huge selection of toys and accessories that your pets will
love. Rats are (contrary to common misconceptions) incredibly clean, intelligent
and sociable animals. They are ideal pets and can be trained to walk on a lead
and perform tricks just like a dog!
Thinking of getting a pair (or more) of rats? Here are some things to consider:
How many rats should I get and should I buy male or female rats?
Rats are social animals and really must be kept in pairs or groups. A lone
rat purchased on their own is not ideal. Nothing beats seeing two rats snuggling
and grooming each other (or a huge pile of rats cuddling up together!).
The key thing to remember is always to keep rats in single sex groups. Never
mix male and female rats together - they can breed from an incredibly young
age and you will end up overrun with huge litters of unwanted rats. Breeding
rats is a big committment which takes considerable time and effort. It is also
not ideal to breed rats without knowing their family history and background
to ensure healthy, disease free kittens - most fancy rat breeders will have
a detailed and extensive family tree available for each of their kittens and
be on hand to offer advice and support where needed.
Male rats tend to be more docile, laid back and larger. Females are smaller
and more active. If you are looking for a 'lap rat' who likes to watch TV with
you in the evening then go for a male. If you want an active lively rat who
you can watch dancing round the cage then go for a female.
We would always advocate buying your rats from a proper breeder or getting
some of the numerous unwanted rats dumped in rescues each year. Buying rats
from pet shops is not ideal as the animals are often not in the best of health
and have come from large scale commercial breeders churning out huge numbers
of animals with profit being the bottom line rather than the welfare of the
animals. Rats bought from smaller scale ratteries are usually much larger, healthier
and friendlier as they are more likely to have received love, nurture and attention
from their earliest days.
Have a look at some of the UK
rat breeders on our link page as a place to get started and find some rats
near you.
What do I need to keep my rat?
Firstly, and most importantly you need a suitable rat
cage. Many cages advertised in pet shops as 'rat cages' are actually hamster
cages and are FAR too small. The best rule of thumb is the bigger the better.
The more room your rats have to run around and play the better it is for them.
Ferret and rabbit cages are often ideal for rats.
Next, you need toys to keep your rat entertained. All rats love toys, and some
of the most popular ones are the things not even really intended for them in
the first place (we have found that rope perches intended for birds and parrot
play stands have been a hit with a lot of our customers!) You can even adapt
things you already have at home for your rats (try planting a tray of grass
for your pet rats to dig in, or providing a saucer of water for your rat to
spash around in!) The simplest of things amuse rats for hours - ramps, boxes,
places to hide... the list goes on and on!
Rats love to cuddle and snuggle up together. One of the most lovely sight is
of a huge bundle of rats all cosied up together inside a rat
hammock or toy really only meant for one or two of them (sort of like rat
'sardines')! Have a look at our rat igloos which are perfect for this and can
be suspended from the roof of the cage. We also have a large selection of rat
hammocks, rat
accessories, rat
cages and other rat related items.
You then need to provide a suitable cage litter (we recommend 100% paper cat
litter or shredded cardboard - there is evidence to suggest that woodshavings
can actually be harmful to rats) and bedding material (shredded newspaper is
ideal).
There are a whole host of rat forums online which provide fantastic support
and advice on everything from choosing your cage to selecting which food to
give to your rat. Before you get your rat, we recommend taking time to read
some of the superb advice given on these forums, much of it from very experienced
rat owners who can advise on everything from rat introductions to litter training!
Once you have your order and you are as delighted as we hope you will be, please
review your purchase (link on any product page) and share your thoughts with
other likeminded animal lovers!
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