Housing
Rats need a spacious, multi-level metal cage or a glass or plastic tank. Cages should have a deep plastic base rather than a wire base which could damage feet. Tanks need a wire mesh lid with small holes for ventilation. Remember that rats have very strong incisor teeth and can chew their way through wood. Rats need lots of space and the more that you can provide for them the better.
The cage or tank should be placed in a well-ventilated warm room away from draughts and direct sunlight or heat. Keep your rats away from constant noise (e.g. the hum of a fridge freezer) or loud noise (e.g. TVs or music systems).
Use your imagination to make the cage or tank more interesting for your rats. It should look like a cross between a crèche and an assault course! Rats like to climb, so it is a good idea to provide different levels with shelves. Untreated apple wood branches and natural ropes are great for climbing and gnawing. Cardboard tubes and egg boxes can be used for hiding, climbing and gnawing.
Activity wheels should be solid and wide. Wheels with spokes can trap limbs and cause injury. The wheel should be big enough that your rat’s back doesn’t bend.
Bedding
Respiratory disease is common in rats. Selecting the right type of bedding can help to reduce respiratory problems. Wood shavings, sawdust and sand should be avoided. Cedar and pine wood shavings contain phenol whilst sawdust and sand tend to be dusty. Phenol and dust are both respiratory system irritants.
Line cages or tanks with newspaper and use shredded paper or cardboard, commercially available recycled paper bedding or hemp bedding.
The ideal bedding for nesting is shredded clean white paper (e.g. kitchen paper) and soft hay. Avoid fluffy bedding such as cotton wool, as it can wrap around limbs or cause impactions in the stomach if eaten.
Feeding
Fresh water must be provided daily from a drip feed bottle with a metal spout.
Feed a good quality rat mix or an all in one complete pellet food. Rats are omnivores and like to eat a whole range of foods. Provide small pieces of fresh fruit (not citrus fruit) and vegetables, and even cooked meat. Feed small amounts of fresh food frequently and remove uneaten food daily. Rats are prone to obesity, so it is important to avoid too many high fat or sugary human treats.
Gnawing is important to wear down incisor teeth. Dog biscuits (based on egg and oatmeal without meat derivatives), gnawing blocks or untreated apple wood are good for this.
Foraging behaviour can be encouraged by hiding food in cardboard tubes and under pots.
Exercise
Mice like to climb so it is a good idea to provide different levels with shelves or baskets. Natural ropes can also be used for climbing in addition to gnawing. Cardboard tubes and egg boxes can be used for hiding, climbing and gnawing.
Activity wheels should be solid and wide. Wheels with spokes can trap limbs and cause injury. The wheel should be big enough that your mouse’s back doesn’t bend.