| The rat is a type of mammal of the mouse family. The length of the body is 8-30cm, the tail also has the same length and the weight generally does not exceed 500 grams. There are in total about 70 types living in the forests of tropical and sub tropical countries. Gray (R. norvegicus) and black (Rattus rattus) rats after human beings have settled widely. Rats harm the human being by eating and damaging food items. Rats are also carriers of helminthic and other lot of infection diseases.
At present there are so many rat lovers (rat-farmers), which hold domestic cats at their houses.
Domestic rats are generally descendants of domesticated gray (stepsons) or rarely black rats. The average life is 2-4 years; the maximum-recorded life is 7 years 4 months. Male rats generally weigh on average 400 to 800 grams and female rats, 250 to 450 grams. Female rats are generally calm and affectionate, female rats are more active and sportive.
Domestic rats are classified to several types, sections and grades. Part of the names of the wool covering and coloring of rats is borrowed from cats and dogs.
Houses of rats
Special beautiful cages or multi level cages are very much suitable for polecats or chinchillas. Generally, cages for polecats are very small and wheels with small dimensions are very dangerous for rats and may damage their tails. Such may be the cage for rats.
It is necessary to fence the rats from droughts and direct solar rays.
As feeders, it is better to use cellulose, corn or cellulose-mineral fillers. Hay badly absorbs the smell, and saw dust may serve as a tick source. Feeders from coniferous wood have a negative effect on rats, as their resins are extremely harmful for their respiratory system.
Rats are social and it is better to keep them as single gender pairs. In this case, rats generally interact with human beings and go for walk.
The mating of rats: The basic rule during the introduction of old and new rats is that it should take place in neutral territory. Before keeping the animals in a single cage, it is necessary to clean thoroughly to remove the existing smell. The mating of adult male rats takes time and is a difficult process. The adult male rats are generally loyal to the young generation, where they do not anticipate competitors.
The co-existence of rats and other domestic animals
* Dogs and cats may co-exist with rats under the condition of observance due to precautionary conditions, and in the absence of clearly expressed hunting sources of later ones.
* Rats and birds are not compatible. Big birds are harmful for rats and serve as food for them. And also, it is not recommended to allow joint strolls of tortoises and rats.
* Rabbits and sea pigs - there are examples of the successful handling of rats with these animals, but for preventing any unfortunate cases, better to keep them in different cages, and allow joint strolls under supervision.
* Mice, hamsters and other small rodents - the keeping of rats with mice and hamsters is dangerous for the latter ones.
Dangers lie in wait for rats during a walk in living areas.
Many rats like the wires very much, especially in a soft shell. That’s why, it is extremely not recommended to keep them in freely accessible places. Boxes and crimps generally help with this problem. Rats also may bite any objects of furniture and household items. The specific weaknesses entirely depend on the individuality of the rat and may vary from being completely harmless to total destruction.
For a rat, always there is a danger of getting an accidental injury by a human being, that’s why while stepping or sitting, it is necessary to take care to avoid the injury of rats. Some individuals may be very curious and may try to go out of the quarter, into walls or underground.
The behavior of rats in darkness is almost the same as in illuminated conditions as the sight plays a secondary role for rats.
Rats not trained for being in cages may find other housing within the quarter. Trained ones generally come back to their cages on their own any time. You can cheat the rat by offering a delicacy. If the shelter is known, then you can try to spray non-toxic spray or water from a spray gun.
Jumps and climbing:
Rats may jump to enough height and enough length. It is necessary to consider, that rats may climb on curtains, jump to one-meter length and down. Generally rats like to climb on human beings and to avoid scratches, it is better to carry them with full hands while handling them.
Diet
The normal diet of rats may contain cereals, fresh vegetables and fruits, boiled meat and eggs. Though rats may consume less water in a balanced diet, it is necessary to keep water in the cage desirably in nipple bottles.
The following products give side effects to the rats: gaseous drinks, bean stuff, chocolate, raw potato, raw red and Brussels cabbage, raw artichoke, green banana and spinach.
Breeding
On average, one female rat may give birth up to 20 rats every 1.5 months. In connection with this, it is not desirable to hold the rats of different sex in one place. Sterilization is possible, but it may result in different consequences and that’s why it is used predominately as per medical check up results and for controlling the aggressiveness of male rats.
The duration of pregnancy for rats is 20 to 25 days. After giving birth, small rats should be with their mother for 4 to 5 weeks, as during this period, immunity will be formed and training takes place. After this, it is necessary to divide the male rats from their mother and sisters to avoid unplanned descendants. In zoo-shops, very frequently this is not considered, which results in the purchasing of already pregnant rats.
Mating of domestic rats with wild rats:
The mating of domestic rats, with wild gray color rats and getting descendants is possible. Mating with black rats is not possible. In case of artificial fertilization, the pregnancy ends with abortion. The character and habits of descendants of domestic and wild rats are less predictable. There is a requirement of high alertness and aggressiveness in relation to human beings. And also, equally take care to improve the health and heredity.
Diseases and old age"
The average duration of life of a decorative rat is about 2 years. Some rats in rare cases live up to 3.5 years. So many factors effect the life duration, including heredity, care, balanced diet and preventive health care. Among rat-farmers, there is an opinion that a decorative rat may live up to 5-7 years under respective care. But experience accumulated in many years by rat-farmers shows that this is incorrect.
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