Rat care guides

Practical guides for pet rat owners — diet, housing, health, weight and introductions — based on RSPCA, PDSA and veterinary sources.

• 🪵 Safe bedding for pet ratsWhich bedding is safe for rats and which to avoid — pine, cedar, sawdust, cotton wool — plus how often to clean the cage and signs of breathing problems.
• ☀️ Keeping pet rats cool in hot weatherWhat temperature rats need, how to cool them down in a heatwave with tiles, frozen bottles and pea fishing, and the signs of heatstroke in rats.
• ⚖️ What to feed pet rats: the daily diet ratioHow to balance a pet rat's daily diet: about 80% rat pellets, 15% fresh vegetables and no more than 5% treats, plus how much to feed, how often, and water.
• ⚖️ How much should a pet rat weigh?Adult female rats usually weigh 350–450 g and males 450–650 g. What's normal, how to weigh your rat, and why the trend matters more than any single number.
• 🎂 How long do pet rats live?Pet rats usually live two to three years. What vet sources say, how rat years compare with human years, and how to keep your rats healthy for as long as possible.
• 🤝 How to introduce new ratsHow to introduce a new rat to your group step by step: quarantine, neutral territory, cage swap, supervised housing — and the signs that mean you should stop.
• 🩺 Signs your rat is sick — and when to see a vetThe signs that a pet rat may be ill or in pain, from weight loss to wheezing, what red staining around the eyes means, and when to call a vet.
• 🏠 How to set up a rat cageHow to set up a pet rat cage: size, bar spacing, floor, levels, hammocks and shelters, bedding, where to put the cage and how often to clean it.
• 🥦 What can rats eat?Safe, limit or toxic: 30 common foods for pet rats, with portions.
• 📐 Cage size calculatorEnter your cage size to see how many rats it fits.