Keeping rats as pets first began in the late 1800's with the formation of the National Mouse Club in England in 1895. By 1912, rats were being bred for specific traits and colors, and from this, the fancy rat was born. The interest in fancy rats was up and down until 1976 with the formation of the National Fancy Rat Society. Since then, interest and popularity in fancy rats has grown.http://www.afrma.org/rminfo4a.htm

Today, there are a large variety of fancy rats available to own. Some are categorized by traits such as hairless or Dumbo, while others by color such as sable or blue. The formation of the National Fancy Rat Society started a wave of breeders and keepers, both for pets or to take to shows.

Throughout time, rats have had a bad name as dirty, vermin or disease carriers.http://www.petcareregister.com/pages/rats In some cases, this is true. The first original rats, Black rats were responsible for plagues and carried diseased fleas.http://www.ramshornstudio.com/rat_history.htm In the 18th century, Brown rats began claiming territory once held by their cousins the Black rats and the diseases began to disappear with them.

Rats make great pets for many reasons. They are social creatures, interacting with their keepers in much the same way as dogs or cats. Contrary to belief, they are actually clean and intelligent animals. They make great pets for children, can be tamed and trained, and are great companion pets.http://www.quite.co.uk/rats/ In some cultures, rats are revered or worshiped, and are part of many stories and lore.http://www.ramshornstudio.com/rat_history.htm Once you learn how to care for a pet rat, you can have your own healthy and happy companion.

Rats do best in a large wire enclosure, such as an indoor rabbit hutch or ferret cage. The wire mesh allows good air circulation, gives the rats a place to climb, and allows them to view their surroundings and people in it aiding in socialization. You should make sure the spaces are small enough the rats cannot squeeze through or chew through.http://animal-world.com/encyclo/critters/rats/rat.php#Environment: Rats do not like cold weather, so they should be housed somewhere where the room temperature does not fall below 45 degrees and should not go higher than 75 degrees. The recommended floor space for their cage should be at least 24 feet long and 12 feet wide.http://www.quite.co.uk/rats/

Rats are playful and like to climb. Their cage should contain items to satisfy both needs. Many objects can be used for this, such as ladders sold for birdcages, PVC pipe pieces, and cardboard paper towel rolls. Most toys sold in stores for ferrets or parrots are suitable for rats.http://www.quite.co.uk/rats/

Your rat will also need a nesting box. This is a enclosed area the rat will sleep and feel secure. This can be anything from a small cardboard box, commercial hide or glass jar turned on it's side.

The bottom of the cage should be lined with some bedding. This substance absorbs urine and feces, aids with absorbing odors, and gives the rat something to dig in. Most pet stores carry bags of pine or cedar shavings; these are not a good choice for your rats. They carry phenols, aromatic hydrocarbon, which may jeopardize your rats health, leading to compromised immune systems or liver problems.http://ratguide.com/care/environment/cage_bedding_litter.php A better choice of bedding is aspen shavings, shredded paper, or pellet bedding. If litter box training your rat, litter such as corncob bedding or clay cat litter can be used. If using cat litter, be sure it is not one that contains clumping agents, dust or aromatic agents, as these can lead to respiratory complications.http://www.ratz.co.uk/ratbedding.htmlPlace the litter box in the area where you notice the rats using as a toiletry most often, and they may begin to use it more often, lessening the amount and easiness of cage cleaning.

Rats are omnivores, meaning they eat both vegetable and meat matter. There is a large assortment of commercial rat foods available but you should also offer some fresh foods as well.

Lab blocks are the best choice for the base diet.http://www.hubbardfeeds.com/specialty/ProdInfo/TraditionLabBlocks.aspx?menu=Other%20Animals They are specially formulated blocks that are designed to meet a rats dietary needs when combined with fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables. Often with pellet foods, rats will pick through and choose what they want, leaving the rest behind. This means the rat is not getting a balanced diet, and lab blocks are formed to avoid this behavior.

Offer vegetables and fruits along with lab blocks, and occasionally treats. Rats can eat most anything humans can in moderation. Avoid candy or carbonated drinks as treats, or anything harmful to any animal. Items such as plain popcorn, cereal, or unsalted peanuts can be good treat items.http://fatratcentral.com/the-basics/diet/ Treats are a good way to get your rat socialized and trusting in you.

If using a homemade diet, you need to offer your rats grains, such as cooked brown rice, or whole wheat bread, a variety of fruits and vegetables, and a protein such as lean meat scraps or mealworms.http://animal-world.com/encyclo/critters/rats/rat.php#Care and feeding:

Rats are social animals, so they do best in groups of two or more. As two males may fight, it is best to keep two females or a male and female over two males. To avoid breeding, two females is the best choice. They also need attention from their handlers, so always be sure to play with your rat. Once they learn to trust you, they will be quite friendly and social, and can interact much the same way as a dog or a cat.http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/982532/pet_rat_socialization.html?cat=53

You should always keep your rats cage and litter clean to avoid sicknesses. Litter should be changed when it becomes dirty, litter boxes changed or clean daily, and a wipe down done of the cage and any accessories on a weekly basis. It is best to avoid commercial cleaners and use just hot water and a mild soap.http://www.ratsrule.com/ratcare.html If your rats cage is smelly, it means it is overdue for a cleaning.

Watch for signs of sickness or diseases. Some common signs of a sick rat are sneezing, trouble breathing, general lethargy or listlessness, dull eyes or discharge from the eyes or nose.http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/small-pet-care/rat-care.html In general, if your rat begins acting strangely or different from usual behavior, you need to have it checked out by a veterinarian.

When letting your rat out of its cage, you need to closely supervise it and rat proof your home in much the same way as child proofing for the safety of your pet. Things to look out for are vents the rat can squeeze through, cover all wires as rats love to chew on them, open windows, etc. Once this is done, your rat will love being out of its cage for playtime and is an essential part of rat socialization and happiness.http://www.80stoysale.com/ratproof.html

As rats teeth constantly grow, they need something to chew on to grind them down and keep them from getting long, causing problems with eating. Providing items such as hard wood sticks, or commercial chew toys will give the rat something to chew on for a long time to keep its teeth at the proper length, as well as preventing dental problems.http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/small-pet-care/rat-care.html

With proper care and handling, your pet rat will make a great pet, being friendly, social, and trainable.