Make sure your rats have appropriate company 

 

Facts 

• Rats are very social animals, and will suffer if kept alone. Rats will seek out and demand social contact with other rats, and social isolation can lead to depression.

• A rat can develop abnormal behaviour if they are left without company and with nothing to do for long periods of time.

• Having other rats as cage-mates is particularly important because rats need company during the night when they are most active and when humans are asleep.

• Rats use their amazing sense of smell to recognise other rats and also to find out about each other, where they have been and what they have been doing.

• Introducing new adult rats to each other may result in some fighting whilst the rats decide who is dominant. However, this usually doesn’t last long, and gets less with time.

• A rat may suffer if they cannot get away from other rats that they don’t like.

• Fighting between cage-mates is rare, but you can recognize it when one rat hides from the other a lot, if one rat injures another, or if the attacking rat has their fur raised up.

• Squeaking can occur during both fighting and playing.

• Rats can build close relationships with their owners and be successfully trained.

• Rats like to play, especially when they are young. When playing they take turns as to who wins and loses. As well as playing with other rats, they can also learn to play with humans.

• Rats are quick to breed if males and females are housed together. They become sexually mature from as early as six weeks of age.

• Rats usually have about eight pups at a time, but can have twenty or more. Rats can breed at any time throughout the year.

• Rats are a prey species, so the sight, sound or smell of predators like cats or ferrets can cause stress.

• Rats can find exposure to humans stressful until a positive relationship has been formed. Rats will be stressed by sudden exposure to unfamiliar people, or inappropriate handling.
   

Things you should do

• Never house a rat on their own. Even when they have lots of contact with people, rats need to be kept with other rats. Rats kept with other rats are just as friendly with people. See our factsheet on Housing rats in groups (pdf 260kb).

• When unfamiliar adult rats are housed together there will be a period of high aggression, however if they establish a dominance relationship the levels of aggression should drop. For tips on reducing aggression see our factsheet on Housing rats in groups (pdf 260kb).

• Keep your rats away from the sound, sight and smell of animals which they may be afraid of such as cats, dogs, ferrets and birds of prey.

• Provide regular, calm and gentle contact with your rat(s) to slowly allow a bond to grow between you. Reward your rat with treats to help them to enjoy your company.

• Always handle your rats carefully and considerately, in a confident but gentle manner. Never pick up a rat using their tail as they find this stressful, and it can injure them. See our factsheet on Handling your rats (pdf 180kb).

• Try to handle your rats in the morning or evening. This will avoid disturbing them in the daytime when they are sleeping.