You need to understand that one of your attention and free time will not be enough. You will also need certain investments of finance, because you will need a special (and not any) rat cage, a set of accessories, food, a kit for a "rat" first-aid kit and much more.
First, you have to decide at once whether you will take yourself one pet or get several rats at once, get them breeding or create a same-sex flock. Secondly, think - is there enough time at your disposal to care for the rat, to clean her cage, to "walk" her around the apartment, to communicate with her, because rats are extremely in need of attention and communication. On any of these questions you need to answer, thinking well, because you will completely depend on the life of these smartest and most intrepid creatures.
What should be the cage for the rat
Without the right cell you will not do. The cell must fully comply with the rat requests. It should be spacious - for each rat is allocated by the norms of an area of at least 30 square meters. see Only in this way the rat will have ample room for free movement and activity. It is better, if in a cage there will be several floors not lower than 20 cm each. Rats like to rise in full growth, and in low cells it is impossible. The floor should be plastic - so it will be easier to wash. A wooden or cardboard floor will not do - a rat will gnaw it and run away.
Do not use the aquarium as a house for a rat. This glass vessel is very difficult to ventilate, and on its bottom a lot of carbon dioxide accumulates. A rat in such a dwelling will suffer and will not live long. In addition, the aquarium will be difficult to clean, and it dries very long after cleaning.
It is best to buy a special rat cage from metal rods and a plastic pallet. Do not leave the bottom of the cage uncoated, so the pet will not feel comfortable. For these purposes, use wood shavings or paper, but not newspaper - printing ink adversely affects the condition of the hair of rodents. Not recommended for this purpose and small sawdust, as they tend to get into the eyes and lungs, get tangled in the wool and even be the cause of allergies in your pet.
In the cage there must be a special rat "furniture". The rat is an extremely active and efficient animal, it needs to run through tunnels, climb on shelves, ladder and ropes. A spinning rat wheel will not work - it's too "stupid" entertainment for intellectual rats. It is important that in the cage for the rat there were all kinds of nests and other shelters. You can make them in the form of hanging houses, hammocks, balls and mink. When a rat cage is equipped with all these items, her life is fascinating and interesting.
Feeding decorative rat
Feed an adult animal 1-2 times a day, and the total amount of food should not exceed 40 grams. The rats are fed more often - 3-4 times a day. You can not categorically include in the ration of rats chocolate, alcohol and carbonated drinks, raw potatoes, salt and spices, any fried and fatty foods, and, of course, stale food. With great care, you need to offer a rat juicy vegetables, such as cucumbers and tomatoes. Be sure to pay attention to the animal's condition after such treats.
In general, by nature a rat is an omnivore, but if you want to make its diet useful, then you can not do without observing certain rules. The best balance of useful components for a rat is 20-30% protein, 15% fat 50-60% carbohydrates. A rat must necessarily get meat and fish with food, but only its low-fat varieties, since all the rodents have a weak liver. The rat will also benefit from vegetables and fruits, but it is necessary to introduce them into the diet with extreme caution. Peaches, cherries and apricots should be pitted, because they contain acid, poisonous to rodents. Still rats really like greenery, especially parsley, dill and lettuce leaves. You can also pamper your rat with such delicacies as leaves of dandelions, plantain, daisies or clover. Just remember that apart from these, there is a whole list of plants poisonous for rats: begonia, narcissus, hydrangea, ivy and many others.
The diet of rats must include milk and sour-milk products, which are also very fond of rodents. But do not forget about the rule of low fat, because these animals have a very weak liver. For the same reason, rats do not need to give eggs, unless one boiled quail egg a week.
Do not overfeed your rat! These animals are very often obese, causing serious damage to their health. Well, and, of course, the feeding of a rat can not be imagined without cereals and nuts. It is best to buy ready-made cereal for rats, sold at pet stores. Nuts are an excellent source of vegetable proteins, but not all of them can easily be fed to a rat. Almond, for example, may be dangerous for her. Rats and grains containing carbohydrates, vitamin E.
Another important aspect of feeding rats is the presence of clean water in their houses. If the rodent receives a juicy feed, then it can do without drinking, but water should still be placed freely. There are special drinking bowls for rats in which water does not stagnate and does not get polluted. These devices are easily attached to the ceiling of the house, which makes the process of drinking convenient. Change the fluid in the water bowl every day, using filtered cold water for this.
With the rat you need to communicate!
Do not turn the rat cage into her lifelong prison! The content of the rat involves communicating with it, because the animal gets used to the master, recognizes it, knows how to execute simple commands and strives to communicate with it. The rat must be released for a walk. You need to start gradually, first exposing the cage on the table and opening the door. After a few such exits, the rat will sometimes get used to leaving the cage. Gradually, walks can be made longer and more extensive.
And do not forget that a rat is no less an intellectual pet than a cat or a dog. You should definitely enjoy the content of the decorative rodent, otherwise it will feel your estrangement and will suffer. This animal, with due care, will answer you with amazing devotion and affection.