We all love our little rattie friends, but how long do they live? The answer to the question can depend on so many factors that don't include just genetics and good breeding. Nowadays, rats have become popular pets for thousands of people and we all want the best for them, so knowing what to expect and how to care for them properly is really important. In this post, we are going to take a look at the lifespan of the average domesticated rat as a species (Rattus norvegicus domestica) and talk about some of the things that can affect their longevity. (the following post contains links in which we are not affiliated with, we simply enjoy their products) History of Rats & Their Life ExpectancyRats where not always kept as pets. It wasn't until the 18th century that rats started to become domesticated. The Norway Rat originated in Northern China and Mongolia, then spread it's way around the world in the Middle Ages via Norwegian ships, Japanese ships, and others. In the 19th century, a rat catcher named Jack Black, would capture any usually colored rats he found, bred them as pets and would sell them to ladies to keep in squirrel cages. Jack also claimed to be the Queen's Official Rat-catcher for Queen Victoria, but it was never made official. /- Potential Trigger Warning in this Paragraph -/ Rats also used to be used for a sport called rat baiting. Rat baiting was when captured rats where placed into a pit, and ratter dogs would kill them by shaking. The rat-catcher, Jack Black, would also supply for these rat baiting events. This particular event eventually helped produce the albino laboratory rat, most likely through Jack and other rat-catchers selecting the white rats he caught to breed and sell. /-- -- -- -- -- --/ Scientists noticed the good disposition of these rats, and that they could have a good relationship with humans. Rats were then and continue to be used for many different biological, psychological and medical experiments in labs. All of this brief history aided in the pet rats we know today! Rats can be seen today in their uses for science, as pets or even working rats who are trained for specific tasks. Nowadays, the lifespan of a pet rat can be from 2 or 3 years. Rarely can they sometimes reach 4! Their lifespan can vary depending on a lot of factors, so keep reading to learn why! Species & GeneticsSpecies and genetics are beyond your control. As a breeder, I do my best to select the best health & genetics to continue the species. By choosing a breeder over a mill bred or back yard bred animal, you are promoting a healthier version of the species you love, which in this case, are our beloved pet rats! What's difference between the pet store rat and the purpose bred rat? Aren't they just the same critter from a different litter? Well yes, and no... With pet store rats, you have no idea what the rat's genetic history is. The store proprietors (or suppliers) most likely saw two pretty rats that looked like they would sell based off their markings and/or color, tossed them together, then put the babies on the shelf. Sometimes they don't even take that step. In addition to that, some Pet stores buy from unethical 'back yard breeders' who could potentially have stock infected with diseases such as Rat Bite Fever & Sendai Virus. They often have weaker immune systems due to poor breeding, and temperament to the point where "hand taming" is necessary because the rat will bite or be too scared to come out of the corner. Well bred domesticated rats should not have to be hand tamed, they should naturally be drawn to humans. They should not bite humans out of fear, aggression or to 'protect their babies'. It's a genetic, temperament, and disease gamble when you purchase from a pet store. Hopefully if you decide to 'rescue' from them you don't have any of those issues. Buying or 'rescuing' rats from a pet store just gives them more of a reason to keep breeding them in the back room. I'll stop myself there as I could go into way more depth about this topic, so I'll save that for another blog post. Let's just say this paragraph here is one of the main reasons why I decided to get into breeding rats. A pet rat from a breeder, a GOOD, ETHICAL breeder, knows the backgrounds of your pet. They know the quirks in the line to include anything from enjoying scritches in a certain spot, to weird habits they would have. The breeder would know the health issues in their lines and ask you to keep in touch so that they can tweak the lines as needed for and issues that might arise. A breeder cares where their stock goes and who they go to regardless if "it's just a rat." It's the breeder's job and passion to make sure the domesticated species is improved. Again, I could go way more in depth about a breeder's responsibility to the animal they are working with, but I'll save that for yet another post. In short, selecting a rat from a breeder is a way you can help promote your rat's lifespan because you are choosing an animal that is being bred for better health overall. Not just being selected for breeding because "it's pretty and the babies will sell well." Healthy Foods & DietFeeding them a healthy diet and providing appropriate fresh foods. Today's rodent diet is specifically manufactured for rats, even for rats in every stage of life! Keeping your rats weight in check helps them live longer! All treats should be given in moderation and should have no to little sugar. Keeping a scale on hand to monitor your rat's weights will help. Aim for the nice sleek body type with muscle tone in your adult rats and a shiny coat! Avg weight range of Moonshadow Rats:
What to feed your Rats: Base Lab Block (Pick one):
Protein:
I feed my rats Mazuri Rodent Breeder 6F lab block because they do well on it. Most of my adopter's usually use Mazuri, Harland Tekland or Oxbow as their lab block base. They can transition easily to those listed blocks. You can get 50lbs for $25 at a feed store that sells purina products, or Harland Tekland (Now Envigo which can be ordered from this feed mill below.)
Special Note: A majority of my rats that go to pet homes do not seem to do well or enjoy Oxbow, some do not seem to hold condition as well as on the other blocks. I also don't promote the use of Doggy Bag and Hog feed as the primary food source for rats. Some breeders do well on those feeds, but my animals don't do well on them, they looked terrible in my opinion, and did not produce well after I tried those cheaper feeds. I rarely will ever feed my rats things like pastas simply because they are already on a good enough diet, I consider things like pasta and sugary fruits to be a treat. Babies are introduced to a variety of fresh foods before they leave my home and often go crazy over the fresh food items. It's different mix of foods that I expose babies to every time, but in the past: sweet potato, kale, spinach, oysters, steak, chicken, cooked couscous, barley, oats, millet, salmon, cucumber, apples, blueberries, etc. I actually like feeding blueberries regularly because they actually help prevent different types of cancer. Part of my evaluations is to see how the baby takes food from me so I know if they are more suitable in an adult home only or home with kids if they are more gentle. You can even make food fun by providing enrichment feeding! I really enjoy Isamu Rats article on Feeding for Enrichment for some interesting ideas : Example of what's in our Enrichment Feed mix:
I also try to add variety to the rat's food by providing safe fresh foods to include veggies from our garden. Chicken bones are a fan favorite here, especially with our nursing moms. Vegetables and fruits not eaten within 24 hours should be discarded. You can store food in this to keep it fresh: Water bottles are recommended over Bowls since Bowls can be easily dumped over or saturated with bedding which makes for an unsanitary environment. Water bottles you can get Choco nose from chewy you can replace the bottles with soda bottles if you need more, this is what I use or Lixit bottles: Exercise for the rats should be encouraged in the form of exercise by accommodating their living space with a wheel and providing adequate play time. You can even trick train your rats to stimulate their active, intelligent brains. Rats LOVE cardboard boxes and tubes! You can get large PVC pipes for them to run around in too! You can do so much with rats! You can also use housing and toys like these items:
Free play items:
Free range pens: Or Giving them a nice, clean environment by cleaning often and providing access to fresh water will ultimately contribute towards your rat's long term health. Rats shouldn't have a strong odor to their cage if it is properly kept clean and sanitized. A rat that is kept in a clean, dry, cage with adequate food, water, and clean cage accessories is going to live longer than their neighbor that is kept in filthy conditions, with less than ideal nutrition while fending for them selves with little to no stimulation. Rats should also be provided with more horizontal space than vertical, the right balance is the key. A tall cage means a long fall that can injure your rat. A long cage provides more things for enrichment like dig boxes, cardboard boxes, hides, pvc pipes, wheels and anything else you can think of! If you're a fleece user, have lots of extra fleece products on hand so you can regularly change out your fleece. The fleece absorbs ammonia and that can irritate your rats respiratory system. Critter nations with the 1/2" bar spacing are popular and I often recommend them, you can also find Pointer Hill Pet Products on Facebook and have a custom cage built. I have a couple custom cages built from them and they have great customer service. Some people build bin cages but I don't particularly care for them for my set-up. If you decide to buy from Pointer Hill, mention that you are getting Rats from Amber Stark! We are working with them on designing a cage for rats and he also builds custom tray inserts for the critter/ferret nation cages! Kiln dried pine is 100% fine, you can get a bale of flaked from Tractor Supply or you can use Aspen if you prefer. The Mill I mentioned above has a nice KD White Pine that I enjoy using, it's soft and low dust. If you are allergic to wood based beddings or would prefer something different:
If you're concerned about ammonia levels in your pet's cage, you can purchase this to monitor it: I would also invest in a good air purifier since rats are often sensitive to respitory distress. I use this: Looking out for signs of illness and treating any problems quickly and effectively; having an exotics vet available for care. Handling daily and looking over your rat for anything out of the ordinary, getting help as soon as possible for your rat when they are sick or injured ensures a faster recovery time for your pet. Check out this Basic Health Check Guide: Parasites such as mites, lice and worms can all adversely affect the health of our mischief. Mites will suck blood causing discomfort and anemia, lice can cause skin irritation and fur damage and worms can, in some rare cases, kill a rat. If you use wood based bedding, check your pet for mites & lice regularly. Treat and sterilize their environment ASAP at the first signs of pests. If you use wood-based beddings I would recommend picking up Ivermectin (Sheep Drench) and giving them a drop between the shoulder blades once every 2 months and sprinkling a small amount food grade damacous earth over the wood bedding. Contact your vet if you suspect your rat has worms. Common Ailments: Respiratory Issues, obesity, and tumors are probably the number one issue with rats in my experience and opinion. Keeping cages clean, dust free, humidity at the right level (not too high or dry), ammonia levels low by cleaning cages and accessories often can help lower the risk. Also do not smoke around your rats, use scented candles/perfumes, pretty much anything that's going to agitate their nasal passageways, even vacuuming. Keeping your rat in shape helps, overweight rats tend to have a more difficult time fighting off Mycoplasma. Just like in humans, overweight rats are prone to additional health issues such as leg and back problems, heart problems, tumors and respiratory issues. Tumors aren't always genetic, they can also occur from environmental factors mainly related to their diet. Preservatives and cheap fillers can increase the chance of abnormal growth, such as tumors. Since rats have the tenancy to be prone to respiratory infections and these other issues, a good, RAT knowledgeable vet is essential. I will not sell any rat to any person who denies their pet vet care when they really need it or if they do not have a rat-knowledgeable vet available you. This is not fair to your pet to not to have proper care readily available should they need it. Have a medical fund ready, because things could always happen with these little guys that you'd least expect. If you are nearby my two vets, I highly recommend either of them. I go to both vets as needed and they are experts in rat care. If you need help finding a veterinarian nearby you, contact me and I'm more than happy to help you find someone. Quality of CareGenerally taking the best care of them you can and keeping them healthy and happy is what you can do to help your pet's longevity. Do your research on the pet your interested in prior to purchase is the #1 thing you can do to help your pet have the best life possible in your care. I would advise going to your breeder over the pet groups because not everyone has rats bred from the same lines, different lines, sometimes means a different reaction to certain treatments. Be picky about the quality of the products you buy. I do my best to provide lifetime support for you and your pets that come from Moonshadow. I provide my cell phone number along with each purchase in case of emergency contact. Buyer’s are also more than welcome to contact me privately at any time for any questions or concerns. I want the best possibly life for your pet(s) and do everything I can to ensure that. How old are your rats, do you have any 'really' old ratties?
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August 2019
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