| Being a dedicated rat owner can be very rewarding. | | | | the bonding time as well! |
| All it takes is a little research and a lot of preparation. | | | | |
| | | | 6. Deciding to breed for the wrong reasons. Breeding |
| If you're getting ready to adopt a rat as a cherished | | | | responsibly is not a lucrative or easy hobby to get into, |
| pet, there are some pitfalls that you should be aware | | | | especially at the beginning. Don't get stuck with a litter |
| of beforehand. Here are 10 of the most common | | | | of rats that wind up becoming snake-food at a pet |
| mistakes that first-time rat owners make: | | | | store. Instead, try investing some time volunteering for |
| | | | or starting an apprenticeship with a breeder. |
| 1. Getting only one rat. A person might think that | | | | |
| getting two rats is too much extra work...or that a pet | | | | 7. Not giving them enough toys. If you bore your rats, |
| rat will bond with a human owner more readily if there | | | | they will become boring. Rats not only love to play, |
| is no other rat around to become friends with. The | | | | explore and solve problems, but they actually need to |
| truth is that rats are highly social creatures. They need | | | | be constantly stimulated by a challenging learning |
| to have other rat-friends to play with and to "talk" to. | | | | environment. Provide them with a variety of toys and |
| Furthermore, taking care of two rats is not much more | | | | games and switch things around constantly. They'll love |
| work than caring for one. | | | | you for it! |
| | | | |
| 2. Getting the wrong kind of bedding. Sometimes a rat | | | | 8. Entering them into a fancy rat show before |
| owner will want to cut corners and use newspaper or | | | | researching it. You may love your rats and think they |
| cheap bedding. Rats are very sensitive to the | | | | are just the most perfect rats you have ever seen, |
| chemicals in the ink and cheap bedding can often have | | | | but the American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association |
| dusty particles that will irritate their lungs. If you see a | | | | (AFRMA) has very strict standards and those judges |
| red discharge coming from their noses, chances are, | | | | have seen hundreds--if not thousands--of rats in their |
| there is an irritant present in the air. Pine wood chips | | | | day. Before deciding to enter your rats into a show, |
| are not safe! | | | | visit one first. Interview a handful of judges and learn |
| | | | exactly what makes a rat top in its class. Then decide. |
| 3. Feeding the rats an imbalanced diet. No, it's not cute | | | | |
| how your furry friends can eat almost as much pizza | | | | 9. Procrastinating on researching a qualified vet for |
| as you. Look, there's no excuse. Fruits and veggies are | | | | small animals. The moment one of your rats becomes |
| not expensive items to buy; also, be sure they get their | | | | ill, you will want to have the phone number of a good |
| share of lab blocks, seeds, and a daily dab of a vitamin | | | | vet handy. Not all vets will treat small animals or rats. |
| supplement. | | | | Do the searching beforehand and spare yourself the |
| | | | frustration and desperation an emergency situation can |
| 4. Not cleaning the cage often or thoroughly enough. | | | | sometimes bring about. |
| Their urine will decompose and produce ammonia. This, | | | | |
| along with the decomposing bedding can irritate their | | | | 10. Underestimating the importance of belonging to a |
| lungs. Yes, it's a pain to do. But putting up with the | | | | rat club or rat society. Belonging to a rat club or rat |
| unpleasant aspects will only help you to appreciate | | | | society such as AFRMA will go a long way in getting |
| them more. Clean and disinfect with bleach-water | | | | your key rat questions answered. Moreover, doing so |
| once a week, or up to two weeks, maximum. | | | | will connect you with a community of rat lovers who |
| | | | are likely to want to share what they know for the |
| 5. Not taking them out to play often enough. Rats will | | | | sake of advancing the hobby as a whole.Colin |
| eventually get depressed if they remain cooped up | | | | Patterson is author of a guide to pet rat care that will |
| inside their limited cage environment. If you make play | | | | explain all you need to know if you're thinking about |
| time fun and challenging, you will be looking forward to | | | | getting pet rats. |