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