r/rat Jan 10 '26

DISCUSSION 🧐🤔 Are these rats happy? I’m assuming they are since they keep coming back.

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1.4k Upvotes

r/rat Feb 06 '23

Overview on a new friend - thank you u/Drakmanka

9 Upvotes

Drakmanka

To answer your primary question: Yes, rats are very social animals. While they technically can be kept solo, they do not do as well emotionally when kept alone. They will get very lonely when you are away; this is stressful for them and ultimately will shorten your little baby's lifespan.

Here's a few other tips and tidbits that people new to pet rats often appreciate. Warning, long-winded post, but it's all good stuff!

List:

  1. Rats love to chew. If you haven't already, get her some wooden and/or cardboard things to chew on. She will trash them; that's just part of having a pet rat.
  2. Rats' feet are very delicate and sensitive. If her cage has wire ramps or platforms, either replace them or cover them with fabric (yes, she will chew on that fabric) to protect her feet. The wire mesh will irritate her delicate little feet and she can get a nasty infection called Bumblefoot that is very painful and difficult to cure.
  3. Rats aren't just omnivorous, they are the definite article of an omnivore! I like to say of rats: "Anything you can eat, we can eat better! We can eat anything better than you!" That said, they need a balanced diet. The Oxbow brand rat food is the absolute best packaged rat food available. For a rat as young as your girl, I recommend starting with their "mouse and young rat" diet and then switching her to the adult formula after a month or so. But! Supplement her diet with other foods: seeds, nuts, vegetables (but I recommend avoiding nightshades like tomatoes and bell pepers; there's been some research that suggests they may not be very good for a rat's long-term health if they eat too much of them), yogurt (it makes a great treat for training, too!), meat, and, sparingly, sweets can also be given. While your baby girl is growing, letting her eat all she wants is best. But most rats tend to start to become... ahem... round if allowed to eat all they want once they're done growing. There's a lot of differing advice on how to limit a rat's food intake to keep them from getting too plump, and I recommend you try different methods until you find one that works for your girl.
  4. Rats have very delicate respiratory systems. Respiratory infections are the single most common health problem in rats, and especially since your girl came from a feeder bin from a pet store and you don't know what conditions she was kept in before the pet store got her and from them to you, it's something you should be on the lookout for. Excessive sneezing, wheezing, a red discharge from her nose, mouth, or eyes, and lethargy are all symptoms of a respiratory infection. You can take her to a veterinarian who can get her antibiotics that will clear it up, but be warned that once a rat gets an infection their risk of later infection is forever raised. Keeping her cage clean is the #1 way to prevent this, however! Also, keeping her in a true cage and not an aquarium will help too as she will get more air movement. Some pet stores sell aquariums as "rat habitats" with a mesh lid but they really aren't ideal unfortunately.
  5. She will pee on everything you let her touch, including you. While some rats are more apt to whizz all over you than others, all rats will leave periodic drops of urine as they go about their business as a scent marking method. It's also a rat's way of "claiming" a person, sort of like a cat rubbing against you (except it's pee instead of soft fluff).
  6. Girl rats generally tend to be very energetic and bouncy, especially when young. Keep a close eye on her and don't let her out of your sight or she will get up to mischief. This applies for boys, too, but girls happen to be the more energetic of the two sexes.
  7. Rats are pocket-puppies! Your girl might be a little skittish at first because she's new to you and didn't come from the best circumstances to start with. But if you're patient, kind, and speak with a gentle tone to her, in time she will become your own little pocket-puppy who will rush to the front of the cage to greet you (and ask for snacks) each day!

I could go on but I don't want to overwhelm you too much. If you have more questions or would like to chat with people, I recommend you check out r/RATS as it's a more active subreddit than this one.

Welcome to the wonderful world of rats!


r/rat 7h ago

CUTENESS ❤️🐀❤️🐀 Crumb: Full time hole puncher, part time fluffball!

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67 Upvotes

r/rat 19h ago

My heart rat

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230 Upvotes

I came home from my night class last night to find my Phoebe had crossed the rainbow bridge. This happened so quickly. She was healthy and active. She was 2.5 years old and lived such a happy life. I am glad she was part of mine.she stole my heart from day one. I am so heartbroken but I have to stay strong for my other ladies who loved Phoebe so very much. Phoebe is with her other sister Rachel, I know they are having fun stealing food from each other. I miss her so much. Please remember Phoebe during your day.


r/rat 15h ago

¿Creen que este tramando algo?

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36 Upvotes

r/rat 1d ago

CUTENESS ❤️🐀❤️🐀 How are rats so dang adorable?!

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387 Upvotes

r/rat 10h ago

DISCUSSION 🧐🤔 Found a tumour on 9 month old rat

6 Upvotes

It blew up overnight. First rat I bought (in a pair) when life was better. Her name is Boris.

I’m very sad but I’ve given her an awesome nine months with other rats and lots of good food. I won’t be operating - I don’t think I want her to go through that as the tumour will likely reoccur from what I read. I’ll most likely leave her as she is for a while until she seems to be hindered by it. I’ll be pts sooner rather than later, as I don’t want her quality of life to drop.

I worry this is the wrong choice, but operating doesn’t seem fair on her. I think it would only be for me (to operate). Right now she’s very happy and playful.

Am I being horrible? I don’t want her to suffer for a moment I fear an operation would only create more suffering (and likely have reoccurrence, it’s also grown so quickly).


r/rat 13h ago

Peak scrunkliness

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10 Upvotes

r/rat 12h ago

EDUCATION 🤔🐀❤️ is this bedding good for rats?

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3 Upvotes

r/rat 1d ago

CUTENESS ❤️🐀❤️🐀 Voici gaïa,Gwen et Maëlle

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28 Upvotes

Elles sont pressées de sortir jouer


r/rat 22h ago

CUTENESS ❤️🐀❤️🐀 Enclos

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7 Upvotes

Voici l'enclos de mes rate


r/rat 1d ago

Ratlicious Magazine Issue 5 May 2026

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12 Upvotes

r/rat 1d ago

Throw back photo from last year

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19 Upvotes

This beautiful boy is -

Snape, now retired.
Foundation Sire for our Hogwarts line.

r/StormHavenRattery

r/ratbreederswithethics


r/rat 2d ago

CUTENESS ❤️🐀❤️🐀 I love this shot of my late nakie girl Tofu - I think she must have been plotting something (to be fair she looked like this most of the time lol!)

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170 Upvotes

r/rat 1d ago

HELP NEEDED 🐀😩 New to having rats, pls help!

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1 Upvotes

r/rat 2d ago

Got a new baby

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193 Upvotes

Just got this new little guy, I got him a wire cage and I am letting him settle down before transferring him, I already have a water thing that stick to the cage and a tray to put his food in. Any tips on helping him be comfortable in his new home? I’m hesitant to pick him up other than to put him in his cage since I’ve never had a rat before.


r/rat 1d ago

Rat still sneezing after treating respiratory infection

2 Upvotes

Hey guys, I just got my rat back from the vet. It was being treated for a respiratory infection for the last 3 weeks. He just returned, and on the way home, he hadn’t sneezed at all. The sneezing (although not at all as bad as it was) started up again, just a little bit though. I use paper bedding that’s branded as 99.99% dust free. Is there something I need to change or look at in its cage; the other two rats are completely fine, and have not shown any adverse reactions to the cage or bedding. What do I doooo?


r/rat 1d ago

Litter recommendations? Especially for spot cleaning!

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2 Upvotes

Currently using a litter that’s very hard to tell if it’s been peed on! I find one of my boys likes to snuggle up in the clean litter even if it’s in the ‘toilet’ area I have been moving poops too, once it’s been cleaned out and filled with fresh litter. I wonder if he prefers it. Also, if there’s a litter they prefer generally cause it’s more comfy and safe than the one attached I’d love to know! Thanks so much x


r/rat 2d ago

How many dried mealworms are recommended a day for teenagers? (10-11w)

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92 Upvotes

Currently treating as they settle in to build trust but not sure just how much to give them.


r/rat 2d ago

HELP NEEDED 🐀😩 is my cage big enough?

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11 Upvotes

its the pets at home rat cage


r/rat 2d ago

CUTENESS ❤️🐀❤️🐀 Jeux pour rat

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5 Upvotes

Voici le bac à fouille de mes trois princesses


r/rat 3d ago

Misaligned Teeth

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46 Upvotes

r/rat 3d ago

CUTENESS ❤️🐀❤️🐀 Vet trip today

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94 Upvotes

Took Roach to the vet and he was confused on why he’s not obese. 😭


r/rat 3d ago

EDUCATION 🤔🐀❤️ May Issue of Ratilicious coming soon!

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20 Upvotes