Complete Guide to Know About How Long Do Domestic Rats Live

The rats that seem to be everywhere aren’t necessarily living forever, whether they are household pets or pests. Just how long can rats live if they are not part of our family? You will also find out how to extend the life of your pet rat should you own one. Let’s begin. If you have continued to wonder about this, you will find some answers here, as well as information on how rat life cycles work. The perfect pet is a rat. They have loads of personality, are well-groomed, and are intelligent. In many places of the world, rats are still seen as pests, yet people are starting to like them more and more. Fancy rats are another name for the pet rats of today. Even though there are more than seven different varieties of domestic rats that we maintain in captivity, the phrase "fancy rats" is used to describe all of them. We have been able to increase their average lives by many years by providing them with the right care. To know How Long Do Domestic Rats Live, let’s dive deep into this.

Average Lifespan of a Pet Rat

The average lifespan of wild rats is less than one year, whereas domestic rats have a lifespan of at least two years and occasionally even up to five years. The key to extending their life is how you treat them. Several different types of rats can be raised as domestic pets. Those who enjoy keeping rats as pets have forums and websites dedicated to them. Rats are not all that different from store-bought hamsters and guinea pigs; they only have a bad reputation.

They are entertaining to keep as pets. Unaffected by species, a pet rat can even live for five years if given the correct care. If the rat is healthy. Certain domesticated rats have a genetic predisposition to tumors due to their lab-rat ancestry, which can drastically reduce their lifetime.

Pet Rat Life Cycle

Let's look at the rat's different stages of life now that we have a general understanding of the usual lifespan of a pet rat.

According to rodent scientists, the rat life cycle can be divided into four stages: newborn, four weeks, one year, and more than one year.

Rat pups are dependent on their moms, are very small, and are blind. At five days old, they start to crawl, and at two weeks old, their eyes open.

A juvenile rat will stop needing its mother after just four weeks. They can eat on their own and are completely awake. But for them to grow socially, they will still need their siblings.

The ideal time to bring home a young rat is between 6 and 8 weeks. Rats mature completely at one year of age. They are fun to train, playful, and active.

Rats older than a year old may become less active and experience health issues that affect senior pets frequently.

Tips to keep pet rats healthy:

Maintain the dental health of your rat

Teeth that develop continuously are present in all rodents. No exception applies to rats. You need to be aware that your rat's teeth will need to be maintained, either by frequent trips to the vet or by using toys and treats. You can keep your rat healthy and happy by providing them with wooden blocks or other chewable that are suitable for pets.

Keep an eye out for hair loss signs

If your rat's hair is different from what it was, that's one of the simplest signs that it's getting older or sick. A deeper issue could be indicated by any balding or hair loss symptoms. Although appetite is another indicator of a more serious issue, you should check to see how your rat has been eating lately. Making an appointment with your veterinarian if you suspect anything is amiss is crucial because numerous infections or illnesses can result in hair loss in rats.

Conclusion:

These are the important things you need to know if you are a pet rat lover, and after reading this informative content, you may come to know How Long Do Domestic Rats Live. Hopefully, the information shared in this post on pet rats will be more helpful for you according to your search. Furthermore, if you want to know about pet rats, you can visit the website of Healthier Pets Today, where you can get lots of articles and blogs on it.