Any pet rat owners there? Please help!

[BearMama]

I need a sense of perspective. I am pregant and every time I look at my rats I burst into tears. I feel guilty that I didnt socialise them properly - they dont have a set free range time and dont get out every night, although they have a huge cage and always have food and water and treats. One of them seems to be scratching all the time though I have reduced the protein in their diet. I think they are happy, how do I know if they are? I KNOW my hormones are going nuts, could a rat owner just reassure or advise me if I am doing something wrong? They are about seven months old.

call vet my sb had rats his got mites and scratched so much its hair fell out

Thanks meandmy, is it possible one has mites and not the other?

sorry dont know also they prone to skin infections and tumours

thank you - anyone else have any suggestions/comments?

Good grief, your rats will be fine...I have 3 that are so in with each other that me trying to be friendly to them just annoys them...unless I can get near enough to remind them that I give them a wicked scratch behind the ear
Just swop round the cage when you clean them out, add cardboard boxes, hammocks etc for a bit of difference, you can also buy things at the pet shop that you can put treats in and they have to nudge it along to get the treat out...sweetcorn mine love. One of your rats may have mites. Quick trip to vets maybe to check?

Charliecat THANK YOU. That is just what I needed to hear. They love their hammock and I just bought them an edible tunnel. Food wise they are completely spoiled with fresh greens, milk drops baby food and rat nuggets.
I will find a vet to take them to. Also poss his claws are too sharp tho I try to keep them clipped its difficult.

My rats are big rattys, they like mash and peas and carrots and anything really from our plates.
I tell you what I do when im in a roll, and last time was about 3 months ago...I buy a little bag of bird seed and grow it in a little tray(like the plastic tray chops/meat etc comes on) with some soil...it grows up like grass and the rats LOVE it...takes about 7-10 days to sprout.
Cant tell you how much they appreciate it, buts its not something I do often....but they do like it when i do.
Also, grab a handfull of grass/flower heads as you come in from the garden...they like sniffing about them..takes 2 secs..

are you going to do a halloween rat picture again cc?

If my pumpkin goes orange in the next week yes! Ive grown my own but its not at all orange....

ooh well done! what colour is it?

its perfectly green...

ooh, I'll try that sprouting thing. Thanks!

Itchy rats - sounds a lot like an allergic cause, or a mite infection. The mites are easily treated via your vet.
Other than that which can be sorted it sounds like they have quite a good life and are well looked after. Don't beat yourself up. You are doing a good job with them.

Thanks Beautifulgirls - I went a bit mad on the ratty sites when I first got the little critters and thought I should be doing all the things they say - hope I'm a bit more laid-back when the baby comes. BTW how does a vet treat mites and do you know if they can clip claws too???

They can clip claws and you can pick up mite stuff from your supermarket/pet shop if it sells it...similar to flea stuff. I have some here if you want it...email me at [email protected] and I will sent it on

Thanks charliecat that's really good of you but I dont want to take it if they dont have mites and waste it. I'm going to keep an eye on them next few days as no scabs have appeared, also get them out and see how far I get with claw clipping - I usually get a few toes done once they calm down and chill out. If I dont manage it I'll get them to a vet. In the meantime they are now getting fed defrosted broccoli and fresh fruit