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ESSENTIALS                                                                                                   EXTRAS
CAGE                                                                                                               WHEEL
SHAVINGS                                                                                                       TOYS
DISH                                                                                                                 TREATS
WATER BOTTLE                                                                                             BOOK
FOOD         
SALT LICK
VITAMINS
CHEW TOYS

     Rats make one of the best pets.  Their naturally curious, intelligent and sociable nature make them perfect for both young and old.  They love to learn tricks and can learn to come when called. Their average life span is 2-3 years. They can be become pregnant as early as 8-10 weeks of age, a gestation period of approximately 21 days, an average litter size of 10 and can become immediatly pregnant again as soon as they finish giving birth.  We have even seen situations where they have actually stored sperm and had 1-2 subsequent litters without an available male. Two or more can be kept together although if they have not been raised together there could be disagreements at first and should be introduced to each other over a 2-3 week period. 
THE CAGE
    The number of rats you are going to keep will determine the size of the cage.  But there should be enough room that each rat will have room not only to eat and sleep but also to play. We recomend nothing smaller than 12 X 24 inches. POWDER COATED WIRE CAGES are durable and easy to clean with good ventilation, although the plastic bottoms can be chewed, litter can be kicked out and fingers mistaken for food when stuck through the bars. GLASS OR PLASTIC CAGES WITH SCREEN COVERS keep shavings in and fingers out but do not have enough ventilation during warm weather.  It is a matter of choosing what will work best for you. Rats are very susceptible to heat so make sure never to place the cage in sunlight and that during warm weather that they have adequate ventilation.
     NEVER use cedar or pine shavings in the bottom of the cage.  The aromatic oil in them contains phenol which is very irritating to their respiratory system and are considered toxic. Aspen or Carefresh paper shavings are your best bet. The entire cage should be cleaned at least once a week with one animal and more often if there is more than one. Urine build up in thier cage can cause upper respiretory infections, skin lesions, etc.  Bleach diluted with water is very good for sterilization but make sure to rinse thoroughly.  NEVER use household cleaners. Most use phenol products that are very toxic!
THE DIET
     The diet should be well rounded, varied and fresh.  Pelleted and premixed foods should always be supplemented with fresh fruits, vegetables cereals, breads, vitamins, treats, chew sticks and even crickets.  FRESH CLEAN WATER AND FOOD SHOULD BE AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES. Your pet will also enjoy small amounts of other things.  REMEMBER if its not good for you its not good for them.
TOYS
     Toys should be plentiful.  A bored rat is a very destructive unhappy rat. They are so curious and playful that a rat without toys really can become depressed and neurotic. Bird, cat and dog toys all work well. Yes they will get chewed up and also need regular cleaning and checking to make sure they are still safe.
HANDLING
     Rats love attention and should get on average about an hour a day of one on one attention. This does not have to be all at once but spread through out the day, especially at dusk when thet are the most active. When you first bring your rat home remember that it will need to learn to trust you and that you are not going to hurt it so take things slowly and quietly. A whole bunch of kids excited about a new pet can be a very scarey thing to a little rat.