Domestic Rat
Rattus norvegicus
1. Multi-Tier Wire Cage, Hammocks & Airflow Setup
2. Two Great Ways to Set Up Your Habitat
Enclosure: Multi-Tier Wire Cage (1/2" Bar Spacing) vs. Glass Aquariums
Critical Respiratory Rule: Rats carry natural respiratory flora that flares up instantly if ammonia builds up in stagnant air:
Option A: Midwest Critter Nation or Multi-Tier Powder-Coated Cage (Our Top Pick!)
Full-width front doors, 1/2" horizontal bar spacing for climbing (even babies and petite females can't squeeze through 1/2" bars!), and 360° cross-ventilation.
Option B: Solid Platforms & Covered Ramps (Prevent Bumblefoot!)
Never leave bare wire mesh floors or wire-rung ramps exposed—clip washable fleece liners or plastic tray covers over shelves so toes and heels stay safe.
Cluttered Canopy: Hammocks, Sputniks & Corner Litter Pans
Rats love sleeping piled on top of each other high up in the cage canopy:
Option A: Fleece Double-Decker Hammocks, Rope Bridges & Lava Ledges
Pack the upper half of the cage with washable fleece hammocks, hanging cubes, thick cotton climbing ropes, and pumice lava ledges (which trim nails as they climb!).
Option B: Corner Litter Pan + Dig Box Enrichment
Rats easily learn to poop in a corner litter pan filled with paper pellets—just place a smooth river rock ('pee rock') in the middle of the pan!
Same-Sex Pairs: Cuddly Males vs. Energetic Females
A single rat kept alone becomes depressed, fearful, and prone to illness—two rats are no more work than one:
Option A: Pair or Trio of Brothers (The Ultimate Lap Potatoes)
Adult male rats grow larger, mellow out into total couch potatoes, and love snoozing in your hoodie pocket while getting ear scratches.
Option B: Pair or Trio of Sisters (Acrobatic Trick Learners)
Females stay smaller, smell slightly less musky, and love learning agility tricks, pea-fishing in a shallow water dish, and exploring mazes!
3. Complete Lab Block Diet + Healthy Table-Food Treats
Favorite Rat Foraging Games & Foods to Avoid:
Hide cheerios/seeds inside folded toilet paper tubes or puzzle toys
Red crust around nose/eyes isn't blood—it's porphyrin, a sign of stress or URI!
Thick peanut butter can choke a rat (they cannot gag or vomit!)
Raw dry beans, green potato skin, onion, citrus peel & juice, or carbonated drinks
4. Four Keys to a Happy, Thriving Domestic Rat
Listen for Sneezes & Clicks
Hold your rat up to your ear ('rat phone')! Healthy breathing is completely silent. If you hear honking, clicking, or persistent sneezing, see an exotic vet early for antibiotics.
Never Lift by the Tail!
A rat's tail skin can strip off ('deglove') if grabbed! Always scoop rats up with two hands supporting their chest and back feet.
Zero Scented Candles or Pine
Because rats live close to the bedding, skip scented room sprays, incense, cedar, and dusty litters. Wash fleece hammocks every 3–4 days with fragrance-free detergent.
12–16" Wheel If You Use One
Most rats prefer climbing and free-roam play over wheels—if you do offer a wheel, it must be a huge 14–16" solid wheel so their long tail and spine never curve.
Bring-Home Shopping Checklist
Tap items to check them off on your phone while you shop at Gresham Pet Supply.
Multi-Tier Wire Cage & Bedding
Climbing, Chews & Foraging
Nutrition & Hydration
Complete Reference Notes & Oregon Keeping Guide
The Social Rule (Never Keep One Alone)
RAT PACKS: You must keep rats in at least a same-sex pair. They are highly social pack animals that groom each other, sleep in "cuddle puddles," and play constantly. A rat kept alone gets lonely, bored and stressed. Buy them in pairs from the start.
Housing & Enclosure
Cage Size & Setup
- Cage: A large, multi-level wire cage with good airflow; for a pair, bigger is better. They love to climb the bars.
- Solid Bottoms Only: Wire floors will cause painful foot sores called "bumblefoot." The cage floor and ramps must be solid plastic or covered in fleece.
- Bar Spacing: Tight enough to stop escapes. Ask our staff if you're unsure a cage's bar spacing is safe for your rats.
Bedding & Substrate
- Safe: Dust-free paper bedding (CareFresh), aspen shavings, or washable fleece liners.
- Dangerous: NEVER use cedar or pine shavings. The aromatic oils in these woods harm their lungs.
Enrichment
- Rats are brilliant and need mental stimulation. Provide plenty of hanging hammocks, ropes, wooden chew toys, and PVC pipes for tunnels. They also love solid-surface exercise wheels (big enough that their back stays straight; size it by the wheel's label).
Diet & Nutrition
The Daily Diet Breakdown
- Lab Blocks (the Base Diet): A high-quality, uniform pelleted block (like Oxbow Essentials Adult Rat or Mazuri), fed as its label says, prevents them from picking out the tasty, fatty seeds and leaving the healthy parts behind. Oxbow Essentials Adult Rat is not for young, pregnant or nursing rats. They need a young-rat formula or an all-life-stage diet.
- Fresh Foods: Offer small amounts of cooked pasta, peas, broccoli, carrots, and small pieces of fruit.
- Treats: Yogurt drops or seeds should be used sparingly as training rewards.
Toxic Foods to Avoid
- Sticky foods (like chunky peanut butter) can cause choking.
- Citrus skin and juice.
- Raw beans, raw sweet potato, and green bananas.
Care & Maintenance
Out-of-Cage Time
- Rats need supervised free-roam time every day. Create a "rat-safe" zone (watch out for electrical cords!) or let them hang out on the couch with you.
Health (The Respiratory Warning)
- Rats have very sensitive respiratory systems. Keep their cage meticulously clean to prevent ammonia buildup from urine. If your rat starts making a "cooing" or "sneezing" sound, or has red discharge around the eyes/nose (porphyrin), see an exotic vet immediately.
What We Stock & Use in Our Stores
These are products we carry and recommend for this species. Ask any associate for help finding them in-store.
| Category | Product | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Diet | Oxbow Essentials Adult Rat | Uniform block for adult rats; not for young, pregnant or nursing rats |
| Housing | MidWest Critter Nation (Single Unit) | The gold standard for pet rat cages |
| Bedding | CareFresh Paper Bedding | Low-dust to protect their lungs |
| Enrichment | Marshall Ferret Hammocks | Rats love sleeping in hanging hammocks |
Last updated: 2026-08-04
How We Keep Them at Critter Cabana & Gresham Pet Supply
- Pacific Northwest Seasonal Drafts & Indoor Air Quality: In Oregon, damp chilly winters and sudden August heatwaves are the two biggest environmental stressors for Domestic Rat. Keep their cage away from drafty windows, exterior doors, direct furnace vents and direct sun, at a steady room temperature, and away from air fresheners, scented sprays and candles.
- What Our Store Crew Uses Daily: In our Newberg and Gresham animal rooms, we use dust-extracted, scent-free bedding (never cedar or raw phenols), a uniform rat lab block as the base diet, small amounts of fresh foods, and daily climbing and chewing enrichment so young animals are already hand-accustomed and eating a balanced diet before they go home with you.
- Local Exotic Vet Planning: Before an emergency ever happens, save the number of an experienced Oregon avian/exotic veterinarian in the Portland Metro or Willamette Valley area (such as Avian & Exotic Veterinary Care or Scales & Tails Exotic Pet Clinic).
Common Questions (FAQ)
What size cage or habitat does a Domestic Rat actually need?
A large, multi-level wire cage with solid floors and good airflow, and bar spacing tight enough to stop escapes. For a pair, bigger is better; ask our staff to help you pick one.
How do I keep Domestic Rat comfortable through Oregon winters and summers?
Keep them at a steady room temperature, away from drafts and direct sun: well away from cold window drafts in winter and direct afternoon sun in summer. If you're unsure about a room, ask our staff.
What do you feed Domestic Rat at Critter Cabana and Gresham Pet Supply?
Our store crew feeds a balanced omnivore regimen built on a uniform rat lab block, with small amounts of fresh foods. We never feed seed-heavy mixes.
Where can I meet Domestic Rat and talk to the animal care crew in Oregon?
Visit our live animal departments at Critter Cabana in Newberg (514 E First St, 503-537-2887) or Gresham Pet Supply (2185 NW Burnside Rd, 503-665-7606) to meet our animals and get hands-on setup advice.
Shop supplies for this animal
Everything for your Domestic Rat setup, ready for pickup in store or shipped to you.
