‘Need look no more’

Jose J. Santos

Rat lovers, there’s no need to be mousy about your passion.

“It’s surprising to find how many people have had rats as kids, or

have them now, and don’t tell anybody,” Costa Mesa resident Diane

Carson said. Carson is a member of the Southern California chapter of

the Rat and Mouse Club of America, an organization dedicated to

spreading the good word about the furry critters.

Maybe it’s some of the popular misconceptions about rats that have

people scurrying to hide their love away: Rats are dirty, rats spread

disease, and rats are terrible biters.

“Rats are very misunderstood,” Carson said. Rats are “as clean as

you allow them to be,” she said.

If a rat is well-kept and groomed, there shouldn’t be a problem

with cleanliness.

“A well-socialized rat will not bite,” Carson said.

If a rat’s owner pays attention to the animal, plays with it and

shows it some tender lovin’ care, the rat will not only be friendly,

but downright affectionate.

If you’re ready to start your own rat pack, here’s some things you

should know as you make your way down the road to rat-topia.

PICKING A PET

Finding a rat is easy. First-time rat owners can purchase rats

from a pet store or, as Carson recommends, find a rat breeder that

“takes the time to breed a good animal.”

Most pet rats are domesticated Norwegian rats and are identified

by their coats. The three types of Norwegian rats are:

* standard: flat coat of hair

* rex: curly coat of hair

* hairless: no hair at all.

Rats are inexpensive. Expect to pay between $5 and $25 for a new

pet. Rats at pet stores are on the inexpensive side because most

shops breed them to be feeders, the main course on your boa

constrictor’s nightly menu. Rats from breeders will be pricier. The

RMCA offers rats rescued from animal shelters or other situations for

$10.

The lifespan of a rat is short, only two to three years. Cages are

ideal homes for rats, Carson said, but an aquarium can also be used

if it is kept clean and well-ventilated.

Your rat’s new home should have solid shelves, be indoors and not

have any exposed wire. Rats don’t have any padding on their feet, so

they can injure themselves if there isn’t adequate protection against

wire. A demand-type water bottle should be used to provide a

continuous stream of clean water.

Anything can be used as a rat toy, Carson said. Cardboard boxes,

balls or even PVC pipes will have your new pet occupied for hours.

Carson said toys found at garage sales make ideal rat playthings.

CHOW TIME

Forget the cheese. Rats have their own specialized rat diet,

blocks of feed developed to give the animal all its essential

nutrients.

But rats shouldn’t live by feed alone.

Carson said any low-fat, low-protein food is great for a rat

snack. If your rat deserves a treat, you could put these munchables

in its food bowl:

* avocados

* broccoli (“My rats really love it,” Carson said.)

* apples

* oranges

* bananas

Fruits and vegetables are a safe bet for rat snacks. Even frozen

peas can be a great treat.

“Pea diving” is the rat equivalent to bobbing for apples. Put some

frozen peas in a water dish, let them thaw and place them in front of

the rat. The fun starts as the rats splash around to get their jolly

green prize.

“It’s messy, but the rats really love it,” Carson said.

SOUND PETS

Rats were a happy accident for Carson. She bought her first for

her daughter because the family couldn’t have a cat or dog in their

apartment. She was surprised at how responsive the rat was to its new

home.

“The family fell in love with her,” Carson said. Rats have since

become a mainstay in the Carson household. The animal is a great pet

for a variety of reasons, Carson said.

* Rats are intelligent: They have the ability to learn a name and

can be trained to be responsive. This comes in handy if you happen to

lose your rat. Unlike a mouse, which tends to hide, a rat will come

if called.

* Rats are interactive: They are very social animals, responding

to attention and able to live in colonies with other rats. “Rats want

your attention anytime you are willing to give it,” Carson said.

* Rats are easy to care for: Cage cleanup is not that much of a

chore, and because of the animal’s short life span, caring for a rat

won’t feel like a lifelong commitment.

RAT TRAPS

Rats will provide any owner a lot of joy if properly cared for.

Some things new owners should consider when caring for their rat:

* One is a lonely number: Carson said she encourages rat lovers to

have multiple animals so the rats don’t get too lonely, but does not

think having a single rat is bad thing. She warns that “only rats”

need more attention and owners should make sure the pet’s entertained

and socially satisfied.

* You gotta move: A rat’s natural state is to be active and

investigative. Carson can spot a rat that has not been well-attended

because it will not know what to do when it is left to play or when

it is given a treat to eat. Owners need to stimulate the rat’s

instincts to make sure it is healthy and not just let it sit

lethargically.

* Here, tweety, tweety: Rats have predatory instincts, so it might

not be a good idea to buy a rat if you’ve got a bird. Your cat, on

the other hand, might get its nose scratched if it messes with a rat.

Carson said her other animals respect her rats since they received

some nips from the rodents. The smart thing to do if you have other

animals is to be mindful of their behavior and not create situations

that will endanger any of your pets.

* Different species: Domestic rats are different than wild rats

and don’t have the survival skills their wild counterparts do. If you

buy a rat and aren’t happy with it, the worst thing you could do is

set it free in a wild environment. If you did that, it would be like

dropping your puppy off in a forest. If you don’t want your rat

anymore, contact an animal shelter or the RMCA, Carson said.