Fancy Rats – the UK's favourite pet rat community Promoting the care and welfare of rats as pets

Who We Are

Our love for Rats gave way to the creation of Fancy Rat Lovers Community. We desire to help them and their owners who are in need of tips to properly care for them. In the beginning, we weren’t always fond of rats. Read the story below in order to find out how we came to love rats.

Rat Rescue

It is our mission to find forever homes for domestic rats, to rescue them, and give them love and support. Any time of the day, we work to help save these little rats.

Rats are such intelligent and social creatures. They deserve to feel what is like to be loved and cared for. Every time we rescue a pet rat, we help it socialize and learn to trust a human. Some of them had tough histories, either raised to become snake food or just abandoned because the owner didn’t want them anymore.

It’s quite sad to welcome our home to rats who were abused, who bite, and who are scared of humans. However, we are happy that they were able to become a part of our temporary family because they’ll have no reason to be afraid anymore.

CARE AND WELFARE OF RATS AS PETS

Keeping Rats as Pets

Despite having negative stereotypes, rats are actually clean, social, and smart animals. They like human company. Rats generally need companionship and require an hour worth of daily exercise. If they are taken care of properly, they pose no threat of carrying diseases or being aggressive.
Domestic rats have an average lifespan of 2-3 years. They breed and produce a litter of babies very quickly. If you prefer having a small number of rats for pets, then it’s best to keep them in single-sex pairs.
Housing for Rats
Rats are quite active and they need enough space to climb and explore. Therefore, the larger or taller cage you …

Rat Health (Common health problems in rats)

Rats, as well as other pets, can get sick and get respiratory infections. However, you can keep them healthy through a few simple steps.
Common Health Problems
Pet rats can get infected airways if their cages are not in a pristine condition. If you think your rats are not in good health, it is best to seek a vet’s advice.

Here are some common health problems in rats:
difficulty breathing as evidenced by wheezing or snuffling
runny nose
dramatic weight loss

Causes of respiratory-acquired infections in rats:
Overcrowded cage – Too many rats in a …

Rat Cage

Commercially available cages are everywhere, whether bought on pet stores or online markets. You can also make your own rat cage. In choosing the right cage for your rat, you must take into consideration how many rats are you going to have.
Size
It is important that each rat gets enough space to explore and climb within a cage. You must have at least 1.5 – 2.5 cubic feet of cage space per rat. There are some cage space calculators online if you don’t like having to calculate it yourself.
Materials
Pre-made rat cages come in various types of materials. These are:
Plastic: Although less expensive and easy…

Blog

Synthetic CBD is Effective in Lessening Epileptic Seizures among Rats

byZoe Hutchinson November 15, 2019 No Comments

Plant-based cannabidiol or CBD is a marijuana compound that is proven to treat induced seizures in laboratory rats. It has been found to contain anti-epileptic properties. It is still under investigation under the field of therapeutic research but people Buying and trying CBD for their own benefits.
CBD Oil Basics
It is the second richest cannabinoid that can be extracted from the hemp plant which is known as Cannabis sativa. It is widely studied for its possible therapeutic effects to counter diseases and disorders. These side effects include epilepsy, inflammation, anxiety, spasticity, anxiety, …

Blog

Water Rats: Rats That Live On Land and in Water

byZoe Hutchinson October 20, 2019 No Comments

Water rats are part of 18 specifies that are classified as rodents that can live on water and land and are carnivorous. If you have ever considered owning one as a pet, or you’re just curious, here are things you need to know.
Features of Water Rats
Water rats have many adaptations that make them able to hunt for food in the water. They are able to burrow along streams, lakes, and rivers.
They have small eyes, nostrils that can be shut voluntarily to prevent water from getting inside, and tiny external ears. Their whiskers are very sensitive and abundant. They have a …

Blog

A Guide to the Cost of Rat Exterminators

byZoe Hutchinson October 15, 2019 No Comments

Do you happen to have rats in your home? Sure, some plug in mouse repellercan work if they are few in numbers. However, rats in big numbers may mean that there’s an infestation in your home. In this case, you’ll need to avail of pest management services.
But how much do they cost? In this guide, we’ll share with you the expenses so that you’ll know exactly how much you’ll have to shell out should you want to work with a rat exterminator.
Threat Level to Take Note Of
As a general rule, the rat exterminators will charge you based on the gravity …

Blog

12 Facts You Didn’t Know About Your Pet Rat

byZoe Hutchinson October 8, 2019 No Comments

Rat are not common pets to have as dogs or cats due to the many misconceptions about them. Contrary to the general opinion that pet rats are dirty, without any odor control and carry lots of diseases, they make great pets and are clean, affectionate, easily-trained and sensitive creatures.
Twelve Amazing Facts About Your Pet Rat
The Whiskers and Tummies of Rats Are Sensitive
It is not advisable to rub your pet rat’s tummy. Rats are different from dogs, and tummy- rubbing is only advisable when you’ve gained your rat’s trust completely.
When you stroke its …

Blog

Is it Safe to Own Cats and Small Furry Pets at the Same Time?

byZoe Hutchinson August 7, 2019 No Comments

Every pet has its own personality, and having more than one usually leads to a mess one way or another. Now, on the topics of cats. There’s no doubt we love our furry babies even when they get too clingy at times and then ignore us for cat trees for large cats.
Due to that, animal lovers alike should do their best to maintain some sort of order in the household through training and containment. Still, any degree of difficulty can be dealt with because no matter what we do, we can’t resist not having that dose of cuteness every day.
Their independence, however, also…

Blog

How to Choose a Pet Rodent Online

byZoe Hutchinson July 19, 2019 No Comments

Gone are the days where pet owners are left to choose between a dog and a cat as their pet because that’s what seems to be the norm. Nowadays, there are different pets you can choose from like rabbits, snakes, or even rodents similar to like CertaHosting packages. If you are interested to get your first pet rodent or you want to have another one, read on to find out how you can pick your own online.
Why Choose a Rodent as a Pet?
Rodents are generally quiet and sweet pets. They love to hang out and can easily identify their owners by smell and sight. Also, contrary to what other people …

Blog Diet, Health, pets, Rat

Healthy Diet for Rats

byrattie July 9, 2019 No Comments

Rats require:
A healthy and balanced diet that meets any nutritional need they have
Most commercial pellets are packed with nutrients and roughage to keep your rats full and healthy. However, avoid overfeeding them. An obese rat is prone to health problems.
Variety
Rats may get fed up with the same type of food. Offer them with treats and occasional variations such as fruits and vegetables. Rats are omnivores, it’s fine to feed them either plant-based or meat products as long as they’re not toxic to them. Cooked eggs and seeds can also be part of their daily rations.
Clean and fresh drinking water
…

Blog Behavior, Care, Rats

The Behavior of Rats

byZoe Hutchinson May 18, 2019 No Comments

Rats are very social and highly intelligent animals. They are also quite active. To be able to take care of your rats in the most optimum way, you should know what they need. These are the following:
Sleeping without disturbance. Rats can be stressed if they have a noisy sleeping environment. Avoid placing their cage in a location where there is a lot of noises and activity during the daytime. Also, do the usual handling routine at night. Whether it be feeding, cleaning the cage, or interaction.
Places for exploration in their cage. Rats are active animals, and they require an hour worth of daily exercise. Keep their home cage …

Blog Care, companionship, pets, Rats

Companionship for Rats

byZoe Hutchinson March 25, 2019 No Comments

Rats require:
Companionship
Rats are social animals. They can easily get lonely if they live alone. Rats are nocturnal, and they are most active during the night. Even if pet rats have human companionship, they’ll be alone once humans sleep. Rats need the companionship of other rats.
If they have been left alone for a long period of time, abnormal behaviors may arise.
Dominance
If two unfamiliar adult rats are introduced and placed in the same cage, aggression may arise. Once they establish a dominance hierarchy, the levels of aggression may drop. Take note that fighting between rats who live in the same cage…