Quick Rat Guide Checklist!

• Allergies?
  Try Hairless rats or Rex rats!
  Many choices for bedding.
• Buy pet rats in same-sex pairs!
  When you can’t be with him, your social rat is happiest with a rat buddy.
  Sticking with all girls or all boys is easier.
  Breeding is harder to manage than it might seem.
  
• Females.
  Spry, adventurous, inquisitive. 
  Eager to learn tricks.
  Smaller than males.
  Less odor.
  Prone to tumors.
  
• Males.
  Usually calm couch potatoes.
  Can learn tricks too.
  Mark their territory, more odor.
  Less prone to tumors.
• Choose healthy.
  Alert, confident, curious, dry nose, bright eyes.
  Avoid sneezes, hunched over appearance, scruffy coat, lumps.
• Choose good temperament.
  Friendly & curious.
  Avoid shy & nervous or spend extra time to overcome.
• Then look at breed, color and age.
  Health and temperament are more important than physical features.
  5 weeks old is a great age.
• Pet Stores
  May have family-bred well-socialized pet rats. Might not.
  May have correct information. Might not.
  Local and convenient.
• Pet Rat Breeders
  Knowledgeable, responsible.
  Breed for good health, friendliness & show.
• Rat Rescue Facilities
  Good cause, timid animals, require extra care.
• Most of all…
  Enjoy discovering the fun of owning pet rats!

Want even more tips?

Check out our detailed Guide to Buy Pet Rats. It’s jam-packed with important tidbits that can save you hours of heartache and aggravation.

Print a pdf file:
Click here to print a pdf of this handy Rat Guide Checklist.