Yay! I'getting rats for my birthday! i need a list to give to my mom of what all i need?

Question

Okay, so i talked my mom into letting me get two rats for my birthday, both females, and i'm begging for this cage:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753352
money's kinda an issue with her. she's just getting everything for the first time cost of it all, and i'm paying for everything after that, including vet and food and bedding.
BUT for now, i need a list of what all to get for them, meaning specifs, like what kind of bedding and all. i need the stuff that's the best, so yeah, help please?
i've never had rats before. i had a hamster when i was little, and have grown up with tons of other animals. i'm 15 now btw, i'm getting them for my 16th birthday, which is in August, so i have a lot of time to get everything straightened out about what i'm getting for them and all.
^_^

Answer 1

I'm so excited for you! Rats are my favorite, by far! I have 17 right now, they're wonderful! You must be so happy!



Anyways, that cage is FANTASTIC! I have it for some of my little girls, and they love it. It's really easy to put together, and very safe. My only suggestion is to remove the wheel. The one that comes with the cage is not solid, so there is a chance that your rats may hurt their little feet. Look for one like this instead:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753360



Next, you need a very safe bedding. I personally use Yesterday's News. It is what most vets recommend because it is dust and allergen free. It's also one of the cheaper beddings that is still safe. You can get a 30lb bag for $14, which will last you a long time with only two rats. Other beddings that are safe are Carefresh, Total Comfort, Kay Kob, or even cloth. There are benefits and drawbacks to each, but again, they are all safe for rats. Stay away from any wood shavings. Cedar and Pine are well known for causing healthy problems in rats. Many people also suggest aspen shavings, which I agree are somewhat safer for your rat, but I've read in the past that some studies suggest that they can cause some problems in small animals: http://www.geocities.com/calhamassoc/Aspen.html



Diet is a very important part of your rat's health. Packaged mixed grain diets that can be purchased at your local pet store are generally not recommended since they often contain too high a corn or seed content, and can be nutritionally incomplete. These types of diets all too often have the rat picking out only the pieces that they prefer to eat, leaving food not eaten as well as an under nourished rat. I personally rely on a homemade diet, based on grains, fruits and vegetables, but if you want the best foods, I would try Oxbow. It is a little low in protein for a younger rat, and you can supplement with higher protein foods, but after about 8 months, the food is perfect for them. You can look on this website to either order it, or find a store that carries it:

http://www.oxbowhay.com/index.sp?page=index

If you want to look into a homemade diet, try these websites:

http://www.ratfanclub.org/diet.html

http://www.ratsrule.com/diet.html

http://www.dapper.com.au/articles.htm#diet



Stay away from any food by Nutriphase or Kaytee. Both of them are known to have cancer causing chemicals. This article discusses it, and refers to mice, but the same chemicals affect rat and hamster food:

http://www.smallangelsrescue.org/doc/small_angels_rescue_mouse_mini_care_packet.pdf



Absolutely make sure that you do not feed foods that are high in fats and proteins. Your rats are very prone to getting tumors, and diet is one of the biggest contributors.



They also love to play! You can do so many things to entertain them. Bird toys are my personal favorite. You can get the ones that hang in the cage and your rats will chew them up. You can also give them cardboard, rawhide, tissue, etc. This website has a great list of homemade toys that you can give your rats:

http://www.dapper.com.au/toys.htm



Here are a bunch of other websites that can help you take the best care of your rats:

http://www.ratfanclub.org/firstaid.html

http://ratguide.com/

http://www.ratbehavior.org/Glossary.htm



Good luck, and congrats on getting your rats! Let me know if you need anymore information!

Answer 2

Take her out to dinner or make her a special dinner at home. Spend time with her,talk,catch up. If she's anything like my mom she'd rather something more personal than anything you could buy her at the store. If you have any money left over, buy her a small bouquet of flowers.

Answer 3

Don't pay attention to the people saying "EW RATS" and all that. Until people actually get to know them, they act that way about them before realizing they're one of the best pets you can get. :)



That cage you've linked looks like a good one for two ratties. I'd consider taking the mesh wheel out, though, there have been accidents with wheels like that involving hurt feet and tails. If they seem to like running on a wheel (some do, some don't) you could consider a Wodent Wheel. They're quite safe for rats. :]



Carefresh is a good bedding to use. I'm sure you already know to avoid pine & cedar. Aspen can work, as well, although most people with rats don't seem to use it. Yesterday's News is another than can work well. The price will vary depending on the size of the bag you get. Another option many people seem to be using is fleece/flannel/towels. They clip it to the ledges and such, and just wash it when it gets dirty! :]



Make sure you get them lab blocks as their primary food source, not a seed mix. You can get seed mix too, but only use it sparingly, more like a treat. Petsmart sells Mazuri lab block, so you can get that there for about 6-7 bucks.



They also really enjoy plastic hidey-houses, like the super pet igloo.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753266

They're usually a hit.



A ceramic bowl is a good idea, they are able to tip lighter ones if they want to. ;P



They love hammocks, like the one in that cage, so those are always something you can pick up if you have extra cash. Or little cozies for them to curl up in.



They are pretty cheap to entertain! They love shredded computer paper, paper towel rolls, and empty cardboard boxes! :]



Here are some forums you should join, FILLED with people who love rats.



http://www.ratforum.com

http://www.goosemoose.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,118/forum,rat



Good luck with your rats!





EDIT: Rats DO get lonely and ARE better off in pairs. It's a myth that rats won't bond to you if there are more than one together! They're very social and will actually bond BETTER with their human if they have another rat around. I work with rats every day and have SEEN how much happier the ones that have companions are.



Aquariums are also not a good choice for them because of the levels of ammonia in their urine. Aquariums are poorly ventilated and can cause respiratory problems. The only reason places like Petsmart have them in aquariums is because they have air vents going into each aquarium for air circulation. Rats also LOVE to climb, so cages are also much better for that. They have ledges, like the one you chose, for them to explore. They're also better because you can hang toys and hammocks from the top and sides.

Answer 4

100.00 for a cage. You can get a cheep cage for next to nothing off of e-bay or craigs list.





http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/careofrats/a/ratscare.htm



edding

For bedding, avoid cedar and pine wood shavings (see "The Problem with Cedar and Pine Shavings" for more information), but aspen (or other hardwood) shavings are fine. There are many other good pet bedding and litter options available these days that are very absorbent, not dusty and safe for small pets. Some are pelleted so might not be all that comfortable for rats to play and sleep in, so some people use the pelleted products (which are usually very absorbent) under a layer of softer loose bedding. For a sampling of the newer alternative pet bedding products, see "Top Ten Alternatives to Cedar and Pine."



You will also want to provide some nesting material which the rats can shred and use to line their nest box - paper (no ink), tissues, or paper towels work well.



Usually, the rats will chose a bathroom location in one area of the cage. Heavily soiled litter should be scooped out daily, and more litter added if needed. The whole cage should be cleaned and new liter and bedding provided once a week or so.



Nest Box

A nest box should be provided - and can be store-bought or home made. A cardboard box makes a perfectly acceptable nest box, although it may need to be replaced often. Other possibilities include a flowerpot or jar turned on its side, or a section of PVC drain pipe (perhaps cover one end). Store box boxes are good too, but keep in mind that wooden ones can be hard to clean if they get urine on them, and the plastic ones might get chewed up fairly quickly.



Toys and Accessories

Rats love to climb, and will make good use of ladders, ropes, hammocks, tunnels, and platforms. Toys should be provided as well - blocks of wood for chewing, cardboard tubes, and toys designed for ferrets or parrots are good choices. Look for rope and wood toys as many plastic toys can't stand up to chewing by a determined rat. Simple items like large cardboard mailing tubes, crumpled paper, paper bags, and cardboard boxes can also make wonderful toys. Remember that rats are very intelligent and need to be challenged, so rotate the toys on a regular basis so the rats do not become bored. For more ideas, see "Homemade Rat Toys" and "Top Rat Toys Online".



Some rats like to run on exercise wheels (and some will never try!), but the wire type commonly found in pet stores isn't very safe for rats as their feet or tail can get caught in the rungs or the supports on which the wheel is suspended. A solid surface wheel is preferred, for example something like the Wodent Wheel.



Heavy ceramic food dishes are probably easiest to use as they are sturdy, don't tip over too easily, and they are easy to clean. A water bottle with a sipper tube can be used for water. Make sure a supply of fresh clean water is always available.



Where to put the Cage



The cage should ideally be placed in a relatively quiet location but still near the social activity in the home. Rats are nocturnal so should be located where it is fairly quiet during the day. Placing the cage on a table or stand will help the rats feel more secure. The cage should not be placed in direct sunlight or in drafty locations. Limit access to the cage by other household pets, as a rat will understandably feel threatened by a cat or dog hovering outside the cage.

Answer 5

There is a lot to learn about rats!!!! They are the best animal in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had THREE MALE rats and they died a while ago, but still today I'm learning more and more! Here are some web sites that should help you with you baby rats.



http://www.rmca.org/Resources/rmcafaq.htm



http://www.rmca.org/Articles/orphans.htm



http://www.camarattery.com/ratdiets.htm



http://www.ratzrealm.com/id115_htm.htm





Hope that will answer all of your questions



p.s. You should never use ceder as bedding in rats cages!!!!!!



http://www.camarattery.com/ratdiets.htm

Answer 6

Ive had a rat before, 3 yrs it lasted till it got a tumore :( but all you really need is your basic woodchip bedding like you would use for a hamster. Also maybe some kind of wheel for in the cage so it can run on and have something to do, plus food and a water bottle. You can also buy these balls to put the ray in so it can run around the house in it without getting lost...its funny to see them roll around.

Answer 7

That is NOT a good cage for rats. You should get only ONE rat if you want to be 'best friends' with it, since two rats will bond to each other before they bond with you. Get a 20 gallon long aquarium and a 'wire mesh' lid, get a hanging water bottle (that you can hang from the lid) ... get the LARGEST bag of 'rat food' possible and a food bowl ... that is ALL you will need to buy for the next 6 months, then all you will need to buy is another bag of rat food.

In the bottom of the aquarium place AT LEAST 20 sheets of newspaper ... then tear up another 10 sheets into 1/2" strips the LONG way (top to bottom) and put those in the MIDDLE of the cage. Put the food dish and water bottle (both full) at one end of the cage in one corner. Introduce your rat to her new home. She'll be spending the next few hours 'arranging things' to suit her. Next, take the lid off and put your hand into the aquarium, open, plam up, and just sit there ... the rat will smell you, and will then continue to arrange her home, but will have to walk over you. Tomorrow, do the same thing, but have a 'goodie' in your hand ... the rat will smell it, and should walk up and take the treat ... use a piece of apple (NO seeds) or cantaloupe at first. When she gets to know you, you may start to lift her up with your hand still open until she's out and can climb onto your shirt front ... be friends with her, and give her treats each time a bit 'farther' from home, so she'll be looking forward to your 'visit.' As you get to be friends, you can take her EVERYWHERE you go, and she'll learn to 'hide under your collar' or in a pocket and come out ONLY when you tell her it's okay and safe ...

Remember ... only ONE rat is best ... they don't 'get lonely' and they do bond with their people better ... even two female rats can fight, too ...

CLEAN your rat THOROUGHLY (all the paper and old food OUT, and new paper and new food and water) ONCE A WEEK. If you buy a 'bird ladder' and set the cage so she can step out onto a table or shelf, you can teach your rat to help clean her cage (put an open section of newspaper down for her to put the 'old dirty paper' onto, and shred the paper for her bed, but YOU put the 'padding' in the bottom and be sure the bottom is completely covered) ... and have fun with your new friend. I was 20 an married when I got my first rat ... her name was Rachel and she was my 'best friend' when my husband went to work and it was 'just the two of us' at home!

Answer 8

well you can buy hamster food for them at Walmart and you could get a water bootle(put a bowl under it). You could also give them something to chew on like a tree branch or something

Answer 9

DEFINENTLY NO CEDAR!!!! it causes them to wheeze and get sick. get either the bedding that looks lyk pellets or sum recycled newpaper in a bag at the store.



u can get them a wheel to cuz they lyk 2 run. or a ball to put them in to let them run around in the house.



thats what i did!!!



HAVE FUN WITH THEM! :D

Answer 10

at 16?rats?

wat happened to ipods or nintendo DS?

rats?are you sure you wil have time for them.

they are not that adorable once you have them?rats?

unbelivable!

good luck..think hard on it though!

Answer 11

everything you need to know!!!!!

http://www.quite.co.uk/rats/#Housing

Answer 12

A 6ft. snake

Answer 13

#1 on the list should be rat poison.

Answer 14

umm yea idk y your excited and make sure to list food