So You've Decided to Have a Rat as a Pet

Congratulations - you have chosen the sweet, furry rat as your new pet. However, how much do you really know about your new animal companion? Here are some tips and ideas for you.

"What is the best food for my new rat?" Rats are omnivores - like us - and can eat most of what we can. Some exceptions to that: rats cannot eat bleu cheese, raw legumes, raw peanuts, licorice, raw sweet potatoes, raw red cabbage or brussels sprouts, orange rinds (males only), raw artichokes, green bananas, wild insects, green potato skin or eyes, raw bulk tofu or raw onion. The best food for your rat's base diet is lab blocks - food created specifically for rats. Mazuri carries a decent lab block that is reasonably priced. Check in your local pet store to see if they carry Mazuri lab blocks or can special order them for you. However, rats cannot live on lab blocks alone - that is like expecting humans to eat the same food day after day, no matter how nutritious it may be. I like to mix Nutro Lite dog food in with the lab blocks (you must watch levels of fat and protein, so buy that specific dog food), and, if I have some around, some raw pasta. In addition, I like to create a grain, cereal, and nut mix by buying generic cereals like toasted oats, puffed wheat, puffed rice, mueslix, granola (especially with dried fruit), pumpkin seeds, a small amount of sunflower seeds, spelt, oatmeal and so forth. Most of the items, other than cereal, can be found in your local health food store in bulk. This mixture allows your new pet variety while providing a healthy base to his/her diet.

"I have a single rat; is that OK?" No. Rats are highly social animals and as such need constant companionship. Unless you are willing to keep your rat with you at all times - even while sleeping - you must get your rat a companion (of the same gender, of course!).