Home rat: reviews, content, care, feeding, breeding. How long does a rat live at home

Animal lovers have different preferences: someone likes cats, someone is closer to intelligent and faithful dogs, while others can watch the life of underwater inhabitants for hours. And for someone there is no better pet than a decorative (or domestic) rat. Are you surprised? But the history of domestication and domestication of rats originates from the Middle Ages.

The first decorative individuals, the descendants of the now popular pets, appeared at the beginning of the XX century. The domestic rat (reviews of owners allow you to judge this) are distinguished by high intelligence, ingenuity, cunning and memory that many people can envy. It is these characteristics that contribute to the maintenance and growth of their popularity.

Even people who, to put it mildly, are cool to the rodents, watch with interest and interest tricks that are easy to learn and show decorative rats. In this article we will tell you all about these pets. You will find out how much the rat lives at home, what it should be fed, what she likes and what does not accept.

Description

Home decorative rat - the animal is small. The male weighs about 600 grams, the female is twice smaller - 300 grams. The length of the trunk is from 8 to 25 centimeters. The constitution and shape of the muzzle depends on the breed, but most often they have an elongated shape of the nose. The trunk covers the wool, the density of which also depends on the breed, the tail is practically naked, up to 18 centimeters long, the paws are short. Color more often monophonic - red, white, black, gray.

At the same time, among some species there are individuals with a two-tone wool cover. The color of the eyes depends on the color, for example, in white rats the eyes are pink, the gray ones have black eyes.

Species and breeds of ornamental rats

There are many varieties of these animals, but some of them are more suitable for home keeping. They differ in the type of wool, size and longevity.

Standard

An animal with a smooth shiny fur. This is the most common type of domestic rats, which can be purchased in almost every pet store.

Sphinx

To date, this domestic rat is not too common. The owners' testimonies indicate that this is a wonderful pet that is suitable for owners who are allergic to animal hair. The sphinxes have almost no hair (at the ankles, under the eyes and in the groin can be a thin fluff).

Dumbo

Larger animals with low set round and large ears. This species was bred in California (1991). The name of the breed was in honor of the hero of the animated film - the elephant Dumbo.

The head is round in shape wider than that of other breeds, and the muzzle is pointed. The body shape is pear-shaped, but shorter than in tailless individuals.

The tailless

The peculiarity of this rodent is clear from the name of the breed, which is the result of the mutation. The first tailless rat was obtained not in a scientific laboratory, but in an amateur from Britain in 1983. This variety is different, for example, from the breed standard form of the body - it is pear-shaped. Representatives of tailless rats should not have a tail rudiment.

Satin

This domestic rat is a special wool. The owners' feedback indicates that it is more delicate and longer than other breeds. The body of satin rats has the same shape as in the animals of the breed standard, and the wool has a strong luster. It is dense and very pleasant to the touch.

Double rex

The representatives of this breed have a double hairline. The coat is so short that the skin is clearly visible through it, while the fur curls into large spirals. Hard rigid and soft down hair is scattered through the body. It is necessary to know that the rats of this breed are molting.

During this period, in some areas, the hair covering is temporarily completely absent, at times they are covered with a thin layer of down. Color can be different. Whiskers are twisted and short.

Lifespan

On average, domestic rats live about 1.5-2 years, but with proper care this period can increase to 4 years. In addition, you should know that the animal should be purchased from breeders, nurseries or pet stores, but not in the bird market. Only in this case, you will get a guarantee that the animal is healthy and is not a carrier of serious diseases.

We hope that, knowing how much a rat lives at home, you will seriously consider choosing a beast and create the necessary conditions for it.

Maintenance of decorative rats at home

If you are going to have such a pet, then you need to know that these animals need communication. This is not about a three-minute contact through the grate. The rodent should sit on your shoulder or on your hands, sniff your head, try to taunt you as your master and the closest and only friend.

In addition, rats should be allowed more or less free movement around the apartment, because they need to move. First, allow your pet to master a limited area (for example, one room) under the close supervision of the owner, then when the animal responds to its name, resort to the sound of your voice, you can let it go around the apartment.

So, we have determined that a decorative rat, like a pet, needs communication and a real need for free movement. At the same time, she needs her own house. The owner must know how to handle the animal, what to feed it and what character the pet possesses.

Rat character

This phrase sounds comfortable and even a bit unpleasant. In fact, the domestic rat (the owners' reviews indicate this) has an excellent character and a number of advantages that make this rodent a favorite pet in many families.

The rat, like a pet, is not inferior to a cat by cleanliness. She also washed herself often. With proper and timely cleaning of the cell, there will be no unpleasant odor in the house. The content of a domestic rat can be combined with the training of this animal. Do not be surprised, but these animals, like dogs, can perform various commands - "stand", "lie down", "sit" and others. Delicacy will help you achieve the result.

You can say that rats are omnivorous. But in this article we will tell you what to feed these rodents should not. For these animals it is very interesting to observe in a well-equipped cage: with a wheel, all kinds of rings and pipes. Rats deftly use the tail and their tenacious paws.

We equip the house for the rodent

For this animal, aquariums are not suitable because of poor ventilation, and cells for hamsters are due to a small area. A cage for a domestic rat should be special. It's rather a two-or better-three-story house, a kind of cottage with a lot of different simulators.

In addition to imposing dimensions, the rat house must meet the following requirements:

• The cell must be made of strong metal rods, which are located at a distance of 10 mm;
• A deep pallet is required;
• All simulators should be securely fixed;
• In the house you need to install a drinking bowl with clean water; As a filler, it is better to use paper without printing ink, sawdust, wood shavings (thickness of the layer - not less than 5 cm);
• There must be a shelter - a secluded place where your pet can rest, hiding from the direct rays of the sun, to equip this nest is suitable children's pail of plastic or a clay pot;
• In the cell should be put in order not less often than once a week - to change the filler completely, to clean the pallet without using household chemicals with a strong aroma.

What to feed the rat?

Many owners, knowing that rats are omnivorous, allow a fairly common mistake. Omnivore does not mean that your little pet can eat everything. The diet of this brisk animal, which is constantly exploring the world around, must be formed on the basis of its needs.

What do domestic rats need? Feeding the pet is carried out by products containing a large number of carbohydrates (50-60% of the diet), protein for growth of the animal (25-30%), fats (10-20%). From the ration of the animal must be excluded products prohibited for these animals. They include:

• Fatty, salty and spicy food;
• sweets;
• citrus;
• Raw vegetables: potatoes, beets, beans, cabbage and spinach;
• raw meat.

Daily ration of a domestic rat should include:

• Solid food (carrots, biscuits, etc.), which will help to grind out constantly growing teeth;
• Vitamin and mineral complexes, which can be purchased at pet stores, and / or products that can provide the animal with the necessary substances: eggplant and bananas, tomato juice and plums, yeast and chalk, onion and garlic, fish oil.

The rat needs low-fat boiled meat, berries and fruit without pits, dairy and dairy products. In a day, a healthy rat eats 30-40 grams of fresh food. It should not be chewed constantly, and do not let it gnaw remnants of food a week ago, they should be regularly removed from the cage.

Is it necessary to bathe a rat?

Wondering how to take care of rats home, many owners are wondering whether water treatments are needed for this animal. A domestic rat is not only possible, but one must necessarily bathe. For females, this procedure is carried out approximately once a month, and the males should be wiped between monthly baths with a damp napkin.

How to wash a domestic rat? Simple enough, but following certain rules.

1. During the first bathing, it is advisable to insure the presence of the second person, in case the animal suddenly becomes frightened.
2. Close the room from drafts - rats easily catch cold.
3. Water should not be hot.
4. Bathe the rat in a container with a little water, especially if your pet is afraid of it. The fluid must be so large that the rat can stand in the bath.
5. For washing, you need to use a special shampoo for rodents, which does not cause allergic reactions and makes your pet's shiny shiny and smooth, so that the composition is easily washed off.

Relationship with other animals

Before you start an unusual pet, it's important to know not only how to take care of rats home. If you already have an animal in your house, you must consider their compatibility. By nature, the domestic rat is very timid. For this reason, she gets used to other animals for a long time. But over time, she realizes that there is no danger, and animals find a common language.

In many ways, this depends on your second pet. If you live a war dog or an aggressive cat, then it is better to refuse a rat.

Training

Rats are smart and curious, they are quite easy to teach some skills that are primarily necessary for a successful living with a person.

The rat can be taught:

• Respond to the name and comes to the call of the owner;
• Return after a walk in the cage;
• To rise on hinder legs.

The latter is more of a focus for children or guests, but if you teach your pet to respond to a voice and return home - this is really important in communicating the brutal animal with the owner.

To easily learn the rat, it is necessary to pick up a short and sonorous name and stock up with the favorite delicacy of the animal (pieces of boiled meat or sunflower seeds). Repeating the name of the rat with an affectionate and quiet voice, encourage her if she starts moving the way you want. Repeat this exercise periodically, and you will soon find out that when you hear your call, she will immediately come running to you.

To teach a rat to return to the cage can be exactly the same, repeating the name of the house. Or at the same time tapping on the cage. For example, in the evening, without forgetting sunflower seeds treat your friend.

It is even easier to teach a rat to stand on its hind legs. Raise gradually a treat directly at the spout of the animal. The rodent will reach for the food and stand on its hind legs. After a short workout, he will do it easily and quickly.

Breeding of domestic rats

If you keep animals of different sex, then soon they will multiply naturally. One female can bring about twenty rats every six months. Even when she feeds the babies, there is a possibility of a new pregnancy. Therefore, heterozygous rats in one cage are not recommended.

Sexual maturity in domestic rats occurs at the age of six months. However, a healthy offspring can give a female no younger than 5-8 months and a male older than 1 year. Pregnancy lasts an average of twenty-five days. The female takes care of the offspring for 4-5 weeks, until the cubs form immunity, and they do not get the necessary life experience from the mother.

In five weeks, the young should be removed from the mother and the females separated from the males. But quite often in pet stores do not pay attention to this rule, so there is a danger of purchasing a pregnant female.

Quarantine

Another rule that owners often neglect. And completely in vain. The acquired rat should be isolated from other animals (if they already live in a cage) for four weeks. It is placed in another house and in another room, because some viruses can sometimes be carried through the air.

In order not to infect old pets, after communicating with a new rat, wash your hands with soap, carefully observe the animal, whether it shows signs of disease.

Owner feedback

Decorative rat, according to the owners, is a wonderful pet - cheerful and mobile, which does not require very complicated care. The only drawback is that many owners call the short life of the animal, so it is so important to comply with the conditions of feeding and maintenance. In order not to cut it even more.