All about white rats

Not all people treat rats with love, many feel disgust and disgust for them. But such impressions are often caused by animals that live in their natural environment or outbuildings of people. However, there are white rats, which are quite cute creatures, they are turned on as pets.

The white rat is a domesticated creature that has white fur. She is one of the most common and beloved pets today. The Chinese were the first to tame this animal, a little later the white rat was brought to America and European countries, where it was crossed with an albino rat. The painstaking work of breeders led to the emergence of the domestic white rat with red eyes.

This animal does not have any special differences from the traditional gray rat, except for the special color of the fur coat and eyes. These features of appearance were the result of an insufficient amount of melanin in the blood. In fact, the animal's eye protein is transparent, and the veins of the blood vessels that penetrate the eye are colored red.

Sometimes you can find an inferior albino, which is characterized by a gray tint of fur and dark eyes. It is such an animal that is better able to adapt to living at home. They are not afraid of daytime color, and also have strong immunity and protective reactions of the body. Albinos are not specially produced, since their genes with a set of chromosomes are unique and spontaneous.

The color that the rat offspring will have is impossible to know in advance. So, one offspring may include representatives with white and gray colors. A white rat with red eyes is of medium size and weighs about 0.3-0.4 kg, but there are also such individuals that have a mass of half a kilogram. The male is always larger than the female.

The pet's muzzle has an elongated and even pointed shape. In the front part there are 4 teeth, which are rather long and sharp. Another feature of this animal is its unusual tail.

It may immediately seem that he is bald, but in fact, the organ is covered with white villi, which are almost invisible. The white rat is a very funny rodent that has its own habits and habits. That is why many people have chosen this animal as a pet.

On average, decorative rats live at home for no more than two and a half years. If the conditions of maintenance and care are ideal and meet all the requirements, then a tame pet can live for 3–3.5 years. An animal that is raised in a laboratory can last longer, up to about four years.

According to the reviews of people who have already acquired white rats, one can understand that this is a kind, positive animal, there is little trouble with it. However, when keeping fluffy, unpretentious animals, the following rules should be followed:

• not to keep individuals of different sexes in one cage, since the female will constantly give birth to cubs, and, as you know, there are quite a few of them in one litter; accordingly, the rat will not live long, and the owner will be puzzled by the question of where to attach the kids;
• the minimum dimensions of the rat house are 40x50x60 cm; such dimensions for the cage are minimal, if it is more spacious, then the pet will be even more comfortable in it;
• it is worth abandoning the purchase of a plastic dwelling for a rodent; the best option for an animal will be a cage that has a metal roof and a plastic pallet; the rods must be close to each other, otherwise the pet will run away;
• white rats prefer litter feed; it is worth buying a faience or hinged metal feeder;
• the owner should buy a plastic drinking bowl, which has an inner ball and is easily fixed on the cage;
• when choosing a filler, it is worth giving preference to corn, since it is able to absorb all odors, and is also considered non-allergenic;
• cleaning the rat house should be done every 4 days, that is, change the filler; general cleaning of the cage should be carried out once every 7 days; washing the house should be carried out using powder or soap, after which the structure is poured with boiling water and dried;
• the cage should be equipped with a wooden house for a rodent, it will serve as a sleeping place for it;
• it will be nice if there is a hammock in the rat's dwelling, animals love such devices very much.

You need to care for an albino rat at home in the same way as for other representatives of this species, namely:

• always keep the cage clean, otherwise the animal may get sick; the reaction to unsanitary conditions in a rodent is manifested by hair loss, the appearance of red dots on the skin, tearful eyes;
• a white fluffy pet should be walked, as it is quite active and mobile; when walking around the apartment, it is worth watching a rat, eliminating access to wires, and also temporarily removing other pets;
• a white rat needs constant communication with a person, so you cannot leave the animal unattended, as the pet can get sick and die;
• albino white wool needs combing and bathing; the owner must ensure that yellowness does not appear on the fur coat, which may be a sign of illness.

Keeping a white rat implies providing the rodent with proper and nutritious nutrition. Feeding a rodent does not mean that it needs to be given everything in the refrigerator. Since this pet is characterized by developed intelligence, it is recommended to offer him several different products, from which the rat will choose the right one.

Establishing a clear diet and dividing food into portions will help keep your pet healthy. The white rat mainly feeds on cereals, which are an integral part of store foods. And also it can be fed with pasta, boiled corn, bread crust, porridge. When preparing porridge for a rodent, you should not add vegetable and animal oil to the dish.

Vegetables and fruits are considered an obligatory element of the white rat's menu. These products are sources of vitamins and nutrients.

A large amount of protein is considered contraindicated for an albino. It will be enough for a pet to give a piece of boiled meat or hard cheese 1 time in 7 days.

This fluffy animal is a gentle creature with a special digestive system, so feed it only with clean and fresh food. Food from the refrigerator must be warmed up before serving it to the animal.

For healthy offspring, albino mating should be carried out with a brown, black or gray rat. The mating process is short and takes place without difficulty. Having reached the age of 3-4 months, the female can start breeding, the male becomes sexually mature a little later... An adult white rat carries babies for 20–26 days, while in one litter from 4 to 10 babies are born. There are situations when the number of cubs can increase to 20.

A newborn rodent is a defenseless little creature that weighs no more than 6 grams. The cub, which has just been born, is deaf and blind. At the age of 14 days, babies begin to try to eat solid foods on their own. Already at the age of one month, a small decorative rat is ready for an independent life.

The decorative white rat is a smart and clean creature that spends a lot of time cleaning its fur. But sometimes these pets still need additional help from the owners in the implementation of bathing. Many rodents do not like water treatments. Albinos are afraid of water and can experience stress upon contact with it, which is why it is worth teaching an animal to swim from a very young age. If the cleaning in the cage is carried out constantly, then you will often not have to bathe the animal.

There are people who argue that bathing rats at home is prohibited. But there is another opinion, which testifies to the admissibility of infrequent water procedures, if all safety conditions are observed during the process.

Bathing white rats is necessary in the following situations:

• if the animal is stained with a harmful substance;
• when in a dirty cage for a long period;
• if the rat does not clean its fur itself, that is, it is sick or unkempt;
• when removing parasites;
• several days before the exhibition.

When a domestic rodent does not like water, then you do not need to bathe it, if there is no urgent need for it. If the animal is not too dirty, then you can wash it without using shampoo. During the procedure, it is worth talking to the rat in order to relieve it of its fear. It is necessary to refuse bathing if the animal has a cold, as washing can aggravate the disease.

The rat prefers to live clean, she doesn't shit where she eats and sleeps, therefore, installing a toilet in a rodent's cage will not be superfluous. Accordingly, if there are no unnecessary odors and debris in the house, the animal can be bathed less often.

When bathing a white rat, do not forget about such points as:

• decorative rodents are prone to diseases of ENT organs, therefore, finding an animal in a draft after bathing will lead to illness;
• the cold in the room, cool water, undried rat fur can worsen the health of the animal;
• when water gets into the ears of a decorative pet, otitis media and deafness may occur;
• the use of detergents can change the natural odor of the animal, disrupt the barrier function of its skin, cause dryness and scabies.

It is better to buy a special product for bathing rodents, but if one is not available, then you should use a shampoo for cats. According to experts, you can use a baby detergent to bathe the rat, but it should not contain dyes and fragrances. For the rodent washing procedure, it is worth preparing several vessels with warm water, shampoo, a towel and a piece of soft cloth that will replace a loofah. You cannot wash rats under running water; before bathing, you should cover their ear canals.

The immersion of the animal in a container with liquid should be done slowly and carefully, while stroking it and distracting it with conversation. The fur must be carefully moistened with water, and then apply shampoo with massaging movements. The detergent should be washed off in two containers with water, and then dry the coat with a towel or cloth.

The rat's tail should also be washed as it accumulates dirt and dead skin particles. The organ should be moistened with a cotton pad, which has been soaked in soapy water beforehand. After that, the tail is brushed with a toothbrush, but gently and without pressing. Then the organ is washed off with warm water, wiped and lubricated with odorless baby cream.

The white rat with red eyes has an excellent character, it is quite intelligent, in which it surpasses even a dog. The pet is quite sociable, it is easy to tame, and also responds with affection and responsiveness to a kind good attitude.

It is recommended to have rat pups, as they are easier to tame. This rodent loves to sit on the shoulder of a person and kiss. And they are also able to sleep on the owner's lap in a rolled-up form like cats. This decorative pet can be trained in a variety of tricks. He is able to respond to his name, bring toys on demand and leave the house if the owner calls.

The features of caring for domestic rats are described in the following video.