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Rat information – everything about care, nutrition, cage & furnishings
Rat information – everything about care, nutrition, cage & enrichment
The pet rat (Rattus norvegicus domesticus) is one of the most sociable and sociable rodents you can keep. Rats are curious, learn quickly, and enjoy bonding with their caregivers—but they do have specific needs: conspecifics, a spacious cage with pathways, dust-free bedding, a good diet, and above all, daily enrichment. This information page provides everything you need in one overview (including common mistakes), with direct links to the relevant product categories.
Quick to:
- Rat checklist (in 1 minute)
- Character & group behavior
- Cage: dimensions, safety & design
- Ground cover, toilet area & hygiene
- Nutrition: basic food, pellets, extras & snacks
- Enrichment, ratscaping & run
- Health: what should you pay attention to?
- Common Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
- All Rats categories (shop)
- FAQ about pet rats
Rat checklist (in 1 minute)
- ✓ Always keep rats with other rats of the same species (at least 2; preferably a suitable group with enough space).
- ✓ Choose a spacious cage with height, levels and safe routes (more rats = more space).
- ✓ Offer multiple sleeping places : hammocks, houses, baskets + safe nesting material.
- ✓ Use low-dust floor coverings and create a fixed toilet corner (reduces odor and is practical).
- ✓ Nutrition: good rat food/pellets as a basis + responsible extras and snacks with care.
- ✓ Daily enrichment : foraging, tunnels, gnawing/demolition material (safe) and interaction.
- Check health: appetite, activity, breathing, and behavior. If in doubt, consult a veterinarian .
✓ Group & trust
Rats are social and sociable. Rest, routine, and positive rewards work best.
✓ Cage with routes
Height is nice, but especially safe routes, multiple levels and plenty of resting places make it “rat-worthy”.
✓ Something to do every day
Foraging, scraping on safe materials, tunnels and runs prevent boredom and support well-being.
Character & group behavior: smart, curious and very sociable
Pet rats are true social animals . They like to sleep together, groom each other, communicate constantly, and feel safest in a stable group. Furthermore, rats are remarkably sociable : many will come to you on their own, learn routines, and can learn simple tricks with rewards.
- At least 2 rats (preferably a suitable group with sufficient space).
- Rest and routine help reduce stress (fixed place, fixed care times).
- Handling : Always calmly and with support; never pick up a rat by the tail .
- Introductions : take your time and work step by step (especially with new group compositions).
Need personal advice? DRD Rodent Shop® has been a specialist since 2011 and is happy to help: Contact & Customer Service .
Cage: dimensions, safety & smart design
A good rat cage is all about space, routes, and variety . Rats love to climb, but safety comes first: make routes stable, provide multiple "waypoints," and design the cage to minimize falls.
Practical guidelines (widely used):
- For 2 rats : guideline minimum approx. 100 × 50 × 70 cm (l×w×h), with multiple levels and routes.
- For more rats: add space and extra running surface and avoid cramped conditions (cramped conditions lead to tension more quickly).
- Make heights safe : use hammocks/platforms as a "safety net" and avoid steep, slippery routes.
- Practical: offer more sleeping places than there are rats (so they can choose and switch).
This way you can immediately shop for the right parts: Rat cages , Cage accessories , Platforms & ladders , Tunnels & tubes , Hammocks , Houses and Nesting material, cushions & baskets .
Floor coverings, toilet corner & hygiene: dust-free is key
Rats have sensitive respiratory systems. Therefore , low-dust bedding is one of the most important choices. Combine this with a fixed toilet area, and you'll often notice an immediate difference in comfort and odor perception.
✓ Choose dust-free
Avoid highly dusty varieties. Dust can cause irritation, especially in sensitive rats.
✓ Toilet corner
Rats often choose fixed locations. A toilet and absorbent substrate will keep their habitat fresher.
✓ Cleaning rhythm
Spot clean daily, partially refresh weekly (not all at once), thoroughly clean occasionally.
Shop directly (hygiene & soil):
Nutrition: basic food, pellets, extras & snacks (with care)
The most frequently asked question is: "What can a rat eat?" Rats are omnivores and can tolerate a lot, but a healthy diet starts with a solid foundation . Use good rat food (and/or pellets) as a foundation, and use extras and treats primarily for enrichment, training, or variety.
Basic structure (practical):
- Rat food as a basis (complete and suitable).
- Pellets as a supplement or (in some schedules) as a stable base component.
- Herbs and seeds in appropriate quantities: ideal for scattering and foraging.
- Use snacks wisely: reward, train and vary – but keep it responsible.
Shop directly by topic: Rat food · Rat pellets · Rat herbs & seeds · Rat snacks · Dried fruit & vegetables
Tip for further exploration: What do rats eat – a healthy and varied diet
Water & food bowls: sturdy, stable and practical
Always provide fresh drinking water . Many keepers use a water bottle, others a heavy water bowl (or both). A bowl works well for food, but rats often enjoy it even more if you let them find (some of) the food (scatter/hide/forage).
Go directly to: Drinking bottles & water bowls · Food bowls · Play & foraging
Enrichment, ratscaping & outdoor play: smart rats want a challenge
Enrichment is essential for well-being. Rats are intelligent and thrive on challenges: building routes, searching, sniffing, destroying safe materials, and adding variety to their cage. Change the setup regularly and combine multiple forms of enrichment.
✓ Routes & climbing
Platforms, ladders, bridges, and tunnels make the cage "3D." Make sure everything is stable and securely attached.
✓ Foraging
Make them work for their food: scatter food, food puzzles and herb sniffing mixes keep them mentally active.
✓ Ratscaping & digging fun
With a digging box or ratscaping zone you encourage extra sniffing, digging and discovery behaviour (safe and manageable).
Shop directly: Ratscaping · Rat digging box · Play & forage · Rodent material · Tunnels & tubes · Rat run (outdoor)
Exercise wheel: only if it is safe and large enough
A running wheel can be a good addition, provided it's safe : a solid track (no spokes), stable, and large enough so the back doesn't arch while running. Check regularly for wear and sharp edges.
View: Rat running wheels
Health: what should you pay attention to?
Good housing and low-dust options help prevent many problems. Pay close attention to their behavior and appearance daily. Rats can deteriorate rapidly if something is wrong, so if in doubt, it's wise to consult a veterinarian promptly. This page is for informational purposes and does not replace medical advice.
Signs to take seriously:
- Eating less, drinking less or being noticeably less active
- Shortness of breath, sneezing, wheezing or heavy breathing (especially in combination with dust/irritation)
- Losing weight, sitting hunched over, rough coat, half-closed eyes
- Hard bumps, wounds, limping or sudden changes in behavior
- Problems with teeth/eating (blundering, selecting, difficulty gnawing)
Useful categories: Rat health · Rat care · Transport box
Summer & winter: comfort without stress
In summer, you primarily want to prevent overheating (shade, ventilation, cooling options). In winter, it's all about comfort, a stable place, and cozy resting areas. Choose products that suit both behavior and safety.
Rat summer products · Rat winter products
Common Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
- Keeping one rat → always choose conspecifics (social animal).
- Too small cage → more space and especially more routes/levels for larger groups.
- Not enough sleeping places → offer multiple hammocks/houses/baskets (choice gives peace of mind).
- Dusty ground cover → go for low-dust (respiratory tract) and combine with a toilet corner.
- Insufficient enrichment → daily foraging, tunnels, gnawing/demolition material (safe) and access to the outdoors.
- Unsafe running wheel → only closed running wheel, stable and large enough (no spokes).
- Too many snacks/too fat → snacks as a reward/variety, not as a basis.
All Rat categories (quickly navigate to the right products)
✓ Accommodation & furnishings
✓ Food & foraging
✓ Hygiene, care & health
Also useful (expansion, transport & seasons):
Frequently Asked Questions about Pet Rats
Can I keep one rat?
Preferably not. Rats are social animals and thrive best with their own kind.
What is a good minimum cage for rats?
Guideline (commonly used): at least approximately 100 × 50 × 70 cm (L×W×H) for two rats, with multiple levels and routes. More rats = more space.
Why are hammocks so popular with rats?
Rats like to seek out soft, sheltered resting places and prefer to lie together. Hammocks are therefore often a favorite.
Which ground cover is best?
Preferably choose dust-free bedding. This is better for the respiratory tract and often helps keep the enclosure fresher.
What do rats really like?
Climbing, creating routes, foraging, sniffing, demolishing safe materials, and interacting with their caregiver. Variety works wonders.
Where can I find general pet information?
For general information you can also look at the LICG .
Tip: Want personalized advice? DRD Rodent Shop® has been a specialist since 2011 and is happy to help you make the right choices for your rats.
✓ Carefully selected range for tame rats
✓ Specialist selection assistance since 2011
✓ Fast delivery & practical advice on cage design and nutrition
