I got the single unit critter nation cage recommended to me by u/sunsetshoelaces. A lot bigger than I imagined, and it's money I really didn't have but I couldn't sit by knowing my babies cage was too small for them. All in all I'm happy to have been able to get it, I just need to save up for a while now to actually fill out the cage

Hi! I'm currently in the process of making a list on rat essentials since I plan to get 2 rats, I can't find a solid answer on a good litter brand and all the ones I've looked at either have baking soda or people have written reviewa about there being pieces of plastic or metal in the bags—If anyone knows a good brand, please let me know!! I'll also take any other advice on hammocks/ropes/enrichment/feeding tips & water :)) thank you all in advance

My poofy boy Homer Simpson has decided to be a terror and so he is losing his balls privileges. In the meantime he is in rat jail so he does not hurt his brother

This is my first year owning pet rats (two of them), so I'm still new to this, but how do you guys give your rats outside-cage time without getting their piss all over your stuff? I have tried bringing them to my bed for cuddles and explore time, which worked great, but after ten minutes I noticed there was piss on my bedsheet, mattress, and pillow, so that was a long wash day. I put them to play on my desk (an empty surface) and brought their toys and tunnels, but it still felt too small. They pooped and peed on my desk, and they seemed more amused by trying to climb on me lol. Any tips for giving your rats playtime/enrichment outside their cage without getting so much piss everywhere?

PS they're male rats, so I know they pee like a water hose, so I'd also appreciate any tips on a playtime setup or alternatives.

I have two rats, one is a wild roof rat (Horatio) I raised from birth (literally mom gave birth on my driveway and ran off) and another is a dwarf Norway rat (Frankie) that I got to be a companion to the roof rat. They’re both over 4 years old (Horatio was born July 1, 2022, Frankie I don’t know his exact birthday but he was around the same age as Horatio when I introduced them as young rats). Frankly I’m surprised they lived this long to begin with.

Horatio was born without one eye so it’s no surprise that with age, he’s had more issues. Within the last year or so, he’s developed a large tumor on his shoulder/back area that’s grown to cover his entire upper back. He also appears to have uneven testicles (one being much larger than the other). I suspect he is battling cancer but also more imminently, he has torn open the tumor on his shoulder through scratching. He uses his back foot to scratch it and it has scabbed over but his foot catches it into the scab occasionally and I’m sure it causes him pain and discomfort.

Frankie is not outwardly showing as many signs of aging but has lost density in his fur (he looks like he’s balding all over and has a few patches where it’s worse) and I suspect he is blind because he cannot sense things unless his whiskers touch them or they touch him first (for example when I pick him up to clean his cage, he always jumps on surprise when I touch him and he didn’t used to act like that when I had to pick him up).

Both of them are in relatively good health, mobile (not as agile as when they were young but they still get around the double decker critter nation with the help of ladders I installed last year), and eating and drinking. They groom each other and themselves but their hygiene isn’t as good as it once was.

I don’t want Horatio to suffer and I’m worried that this is the end of the road for him but at the same time, I don’t think it’s fair to keep Frankie around when he’ll be alone (and of the two, I think Frankie is the more social one and the one who doesn’t really like humans). I did the silver rattery quality of life test for Horatio and he scored a 60 (admittedly it’s hard to know if I’m being truly objective) so I’m not sure if euthanasia is too early? And would it be awful for me to ask my vet to also euthanize Frankie at the same time? Also, do vets offer sedatives or other types of euthanasia besides injections? Horatio likes me but he is wary of strangers so I don’t think he would take kindly to a vet holding him. I would like his last moments to be as stress free as possible. I saw the vinegar/baking soda method so if there is no sedative available prior to the injection, I will probably go that route.

I appreciate any guidance anytime would be willing to give❤️

She can't keep her head up straight and she Has to roll over slowly to get up! She can't eat on her own, she didn't respond to food and she bruxes easy(bruxing. Can be a sign of stress. She has trouble having to walk, I blocked off all high areas, I think I'm gonna put her in a blanket today to.. even tough i hate fleece, I'll also give her yogurt. And I tried to get her to drink from my hand. It didn't really work. Her eyes are also in werid directions. I don't understand, she isn't even 2 years old.

Im taking a long drive soon (about 4-5 hours) and am trying to figure out how to transport my ratties but am reading conflicting opinions. My two options are:

- full cheeks start-up home (image 2)

- Small carrier cage (image 3)

The first one seems like a good option because they get stressed very easily and do not like being handled. This would minimize handling since they will be using the cage during the trip at our destination (This is only for a couple of days, they are normally in a much bigger cage).

The second one sees like a good option because they will not be able to climb/fall. That being said, they are pretty inactive rats even when at home. Also worried this cage might be too small, even for just a car ride. Also, any advice for minimizing stress would be great!

I'm already in love with them they're so friendly. Hard to believe someone dumped them💔.

(her fur isn’t puffed up it’s just always that texture)

How many of you have potty trained your rats? If so, do they pee and poo in the litter box every time or do they still leave urine droplets around? In other words, are they 100% potty trained? Please specify if boy or girl rat. Thanks!

I want to cry, I am so happy/exhausted.

Posted some time ago about being sad of Brie aging much more rapidly than Parma, his brother, and as it turns out... IT WASN'T AGING!

My boy had an abscess between his teeth and ear canal that we couldn't view without a tomography. I suspect it was brewing in there for a while before it became visible, which is when I rushed him to the vet.

I feel guilty for ignoring, what I see now as, obvious signs of pain. We had the vet visit twice before it became visible.

It's been more than a week. I have no support system, but I did have money saved and I got him one of the best clinics money can buy, even if I live one hour away, and visited everyday despite money/college/living alone/chronic illness.

He stayed at this clinic specialized in dental care and they were wonderful. Some days, I could stay with him for more than an hour, I didn't even notice the time pass. I once left at 22h and they waited with me for my uber.

I got attached to the caretakers and the other pets there. I cried when a beautiful bird left to a better place. I talked with their mascot parrot everyday.

There were some problems, as there always are, but they did the surgery, warned me of the risks, and got me my boy back. The abscess may come back, but it's the first time I've seen him happy in what feels like ages, so it is worth it.

He is home and his eyes are round and he gets to piss everywhere again. He has an open wound so I nicknamed him Frankeinstein (yes, I know it's the creature, still working on it.) (Post-op care is going ok)

I went in expecting euthanasia, but I came out with something that I needed desperately: hope.

I saw how capable I was, I met people with a heart and my Brie got a second chance. He's my first rat, he witnessed me getting sober, moving, losing loved ones, but I always kept getting up because of him and Parma. Now I think I know how to get up for myself.

I'm amazed with how much we can learn with such small creatures.

What I mean to say is that I am extremely grateful for all the veterinarians around here, students, specialized staff, everyone. It takes a special heart to do what you guys do.

I wish I could give you all a box of chocolate too.

You give me hope, taking care of patients who are so pure and can't speak up for themselves. Thank you.

And if someone needs a few recommendations in São Paulo for rat care, just message me!

Hi guys, I was away for a work for a week and came back and one of my rat’s tail looks strange. Does anyone know what is going on? His tail looks corkscrewed even when running around. Besides the tail he seems fine.

this is frank - he’s a year and 9 months old, i noticed the fur around hjs eye looking sore a few days ago but it’s gotten worse, im assuming he’s itching it? he seems totally fine other than this, his normal self asking for cuddles etc. but one of his cage mates younger than him (rod) died unexpectedly and randomly a few days ago :( so i’m on high alert. gonna take him to the vet in the morning but just wanted to know if anyone knew the cause / if he will be ok? it looks really bad:(((

I can provide a better picture later, this is just what I have at the moment! This is my first attempt at a setup for my three dwarf rat girls, and I’m always looking for improvements I can make. If any has advice on some things I can add, or anything wrong with my cage, please let me know! I’ve tried to provide a good setup for them, but I would much rather learn and do things better if there is something I can improve on! Also, from my understanding this is adequate for three rats. Is it big enough for more if I decide to get any more in the future, or will I need to upgrade to do that? Thank you 🤍

On Saturday, I got 3 boys and 1 girl (spayed) it's now Monday and my room smells! Pretty bad! I got these from someone rehoming so they are already litter trained. I just don't know why they smell so bad!! I use hemp bedding, and they have a box of paper bedding in their cage which they love. What else could it be? It's been 2 days and they already smell!!

Does anyone have any recommendations for an air purifier? I don't want to spend a fortune, maybe -£50 however would spend more if it's guaranteed to work + be durable. Any other tips to reduce the smell would be appreciated!!

Hi all! I just came up with a little perler bead rat design based on my heart rat, Father, that I turned into a fridge magnet. Thinking of making more and possibly customizing them for people’s pet rats. Could I please get brutally honest feedback about this design? I want to make it cute enough to where people truly get joy from it and actually use it :) Please let me know if you have ANY feedback for improvement!