Fat Rat Central

No. Sorry. Chances are, I’m not familiar with your area. The only rat breeder I know of is in Columbus, Ohio…so if you live in Ohio and you want to ask me this question, feel free. Otherwise, sorry, you’re out of luck. Try googling “rat breeder” and your city or state.

Rats love human food. But stay away from things that are too fatty or salty, and junk food is worse for rats than it is for you. Table scraps should only be given to your rat as a treat, not as a regular diet.

You definitely can!! I’ve had mixed results with mine…some rats love to run in it, some love to sleep in it, and others look at it like a wall hanging. If you do decide to put a wheel in your cage, make sure that it isn’t a hamster wheel–they’re too small for rats. Also, it’s important that it’s not made out of mesh because a rat’s feet and tail can get caught. The best wheel for a rat is called the Wodent Wheel, and they come in several sizes. Hit up google and see what you can find.

There are a couple of possible causes. Generally, sneezing is a sign of a respiratory infection, like Mycoplasma. For more information about myco, see the “Problems” section of Fat Rat Central. In some cases, however, your rat may have an allergy to something in his or her cage. Is your bedding or litter dusty? If so, change to a different brand (such as CareFRESH) and see if the sneezing improves.

First off, kudos for doing some research!! Personally, I think you’re best off with any book by Debbie Ducommun, creater of the Rat Fan Club. A lot of rat books on the market are outdated or filled with misinformation, and Debbie’s so obsessed with rats that I trust her more than anyone else. She’s written two books which I think are absolute necessities for anyone who cares about their rats. They’re called “the Rat Health Care Booklet,” and “Rats: Complete Care Guide.” The booklet is only sold through the Rat Fan Club website. If you’re interested in training your rat, I’ve heard great things about “Training Your Pet Rat,” By Barbara Somerville. Both books are pretty inexpensive.

I once saw a television show about why dogs sniff everywhere when they go outside. The host likened it to “getting mail.” When other dogs peed on the ground, they left information about themselves for other dogs to “read.” Your dog catches a whiff of these markings and goes to investigate. It’s much the same in rats. When a rat leaves drops of pee everywhere, s/he is leaving a little piece of information about him or herself for other rats to find later. Mostly this has to do with reproduction. For more information, check out this much more scientific explanation.
Some rats do this much more than others.  Two of my female rats, Betty and Whiskers, and all of my males used to make a huge mess every time I’d take them out.  Most of my other females marked rarely, if at all.  Male rats tend to do this more than females…if it really bothers you, you can have your male rat neutered; this tends to stop the marking.

Like licking, this is a way for rats to show their affection. However, while I appreciate the gesture, I find it annoying. In order to stop a rat from nipping, squeak like a rat to show her you’re not a fan.

Actually, that’s exactly what it is! Hiccuping in rats is just as normal as it is in humans.

Rats that aren’t used to their surroundings often feel frightened. The best way to comfort them is to get them to trust you. See the “Trust Training” section of “Interacting with Rats.”

Most likely, yes! My favorites are the Rat Fan Club and the RMCA. And here’s a list of all the current rat clubs.