General Rat Information: P E T Z O N E

LATIN NAME: Rattus Norveqicus W i g a n ORIGINS: Central Asia LIFE SPAN: They live between 2-3 years old SIZE: Their average size is 18 inches long (not including their tail). Their weight for the females is 7-12oz and males is 14-20oz.

There are two types of pet rats which are named after there ap- pearance characteristics which are ‘Fancy Rats’ which look like the more traditional type of rat. And there are ‘ Dumbo Eared’ which have large ears.

Caring For Your Rat

Fancy Rat

For All Your PETZONE Wigan Animal Needs PETZONE Wigan 6 Jaxons Court Wigan WN1 1LR Dumbo Eared Rat Tel: 01942 732563 Phone: 01942 732563 Web: www.petzonewigan.co.uk Email: [email protected] SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR: HOUSING DIET

Rats make great pets. They are Rats are naturally omnivorous scavengers, Provide a large enough cage, with a friendly and rarely bite. Male rats and quite good ones at that. Wild Rats will eat metal base, if possible an exercise are much bigger and more docile almost anything they can find, but this doesn’t wheel, ladders to climb on. Provide than female rats. The females are mean you should feed your pet rat anything a shelter for hiding, a large enough smaller and are more active than you like. Provide complete and well balance water bottle, and a food bowl. Pro- the male rats. They can be trained rat/rodent mix food, which contain either solid vide bedding such as wood chips, to do tricks and after a while they blocks of premixed feed or an assortment of thick Aspen bedding or paper bed- will learn their own names and re- dry grains. Provide specialised bought rat ding. It is very absorbent and good spond to it. Rats also like to have treats occasionally and green vegetables in at controlling odours. You should baths like dogs. Like that of all ro- small amounts like leafy greens, broccoli, not use sawdust or anything dents, a rat’s front teeth grow con- crunchy fruits (not citrus), apples, celery, car- fine as that. As rats have very tinuously. Provide unpainted, un- rots, garden peas, mealworms, cooked pasta, sensitive noses and can get treated pieces of wood, salt lick, cereal, dry bread, pears, cherries, strawber- stuck and block your rats naval safe cardboard or rawhide chew ries, raspberries and redcurrants. AVOID cavity. toys for your rats to gnaw on. This CERTAIN FOODS DUE TO TOXICI- is crucial for keeping their teeth in TY: Chocolate, raw beans, blue cheese, tip-top condition and preventing raw red cabbage, raw sprouts, raw arti- In addition, nesting material dental problems. should be provided, like paper bed- chokes, green bananas, potato skin, rhu- ding or soft paper towel which the barb, grapes, dried corn, cucumber, rad- rats will happily shred. Hammocks ish, collards, turnips, beets, almonds, can also be a great alternative for a swiss chard, liquorice, oranges, raw on- bed for them to relax & sleep in. To ions, pop, orange juices and limes. Prevent boredom and keep their teeth down provide plenty of toys.

As rats are very inquisitive and like to be entertained. Good toys for rats are anything wood which they can chew on. Ropes and ladders on which they can run, climb, and balance on.