Rats diet...

About Rats: "
A proper diet is essential for your rats good health. Rats are omnivorous, which means they eat both plant and animal material. Please do not try to convert your rats into vegetarians. They need animal protein, and cannot live on plant protein alone. Rats love food in general and will eat almost anything you put in front of them, savoring every morsel. They seem to eat when bored, even when sick or just for something to do. Rats love junk food just like us. Try to keep their diet as healthy as possible. Stay away from sugar. There are many healthy treats that you can offer your rats. Eating the same thing every day can also become boring just as it does for people.

Rats also receive a grain mix which includes but is not limited to:

· dry vegetable pasta twists (beet, spinach, tomato, carrot and squash)
· ¾ green split peas mixed with ¼ yellow split peas
· large natural oats
· Cheerios, 'Rice Krispies' and Corn Bran
· pumpkin seeds - raw unsalted
· Dried Cranberries or dried blueberries

Fresh fruits may include but are not limited to:
· strawberries
· grapes (seedless)
· banana
· pear
· apple
· oranges (only for does, which helps protect against cancer, NOT FOR MALE RATS)
· watermelon
· cantaloupe
· kiwi fruit
· papaya
· raisins
· avocado
· tomatoes
· nectarines
· peaches
· plums
· honeydew melon
· mango
· blueberries

Please make sure to remove the pits from any fruit. Do not feed the skin on avocados.

Fresh vegetables include but are not limited to:
· squash
· mustard greens
· collard greens
· romaine lettuce
· spinach
· cucumber
· alfalfa sprouts
· zucchini
· pumpkin
· asparagus
· broccoli
· cauliflower
· brussel sprouts
· carrots
· celery
· fennel
· sweet potato, yams (cooked. DO NOT feed raw!)
· and sometimes cooked corn on the cob

Too much fruit or roughage can lead to diarrhea. Some vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli and cauliflower can cause gas so feed in moderation.

Occasional treats:
· rice cakes
· cheese
· baby food
· mixed baby cereal
. chicken bones
. dog biscuits
. soya milk
. fish sticks
. cooked rice and pasta
. active yeast cultured yogurt (contains good bacteria that aids digestion)
. cooked pasta and rice

Whole protein sources:
· chicken
· beef
· tuna
· salmon
· oysters
· shrimp
· liver


What NOT to feed:
Too much cheese (use a tiny bit as a treat)
· Too much peanut butter can cause a rat to choke and they cannot vomit. They lack the necessary muscles that would allow them to do so.
· dried corn (can cause liver cancer)
· Iceberg lettuce (full of water and has no nutritional value)
· orange juice or orange peel, (this causes cancer in male rats, although it protects against mammary tumors in does.)
· blue cheese dressing (toxic!)
· Licorice
· Rhubarb
· red cabbage (causes gas)
· artichokes (causes gas)
· raw banana, potato skins, green or starchy potatoes (not ripe all the way)
· poppy seeds can cause neurological damage and sometimes death
. Junk foods (chips, and fast food products and beware of buffet foods with preservatives in them)
· Excessive candy and/or chocolate. One chocolate chip, for instance, is fine and often acts as a bronchio-dialator which helps rats with respiratory problems.

And todays specials are...

Rats Make Good Pets, Not Just Science Projects

People are always asking me to recommend a good pet for a child, an affectionate animal that can be cared for with a minimum of adult assistance.

"A rabbit?" they ask. I shake my head. Rabbits, especially the bigger varieties, are hard for a child to hold. When they don't feel secure, rabbits will kick -- and in so doing will sometimes break their backs. The result? A dead rabbit and a heartbroken child. So ... no rabbits, at least not for young children.

"Mice?" Too small, too fragile," I reply. Hamster? "Better, but too interested in sleeping during the day, plus they're natural escape artists and somewhat nippy," I say. "Well, what then?" the parent will finally demand.

To them I say: rats.

And after the air clears of expressions of revulsion and disgust, I explain why a rat is a great pet for a child -- and indeed for almost any animal lover.

Forget horror movies and the bubonic plague. We're not talking about wild rats, but domesticated ones. Let go of everything you've ever thought about rats and consider the benefits with an open mind.

Rats are social animals. Many small pets don't like being handled, but rats get used to careful socialization easily, and come to enjoy riding in pockets and on shoulders. They like people!

Rats are smart. Rats respond quickly to food-based training and seem to love to perform. A friend of mine trained a rat for her college-level psychology course, and came to like the little guy so much that he's now a doted-on pet in her home.

Rats are agile and sturdy. Try to get a guinea pig to run a maze or climb a ladder and you'll appreciate the fleet-footedness of a rat. Unlike mice, rats can stand up to the handling -- and occasionally, the unintentional mishandling -- of well-meaning children.
Rats are cute. Think sleek, shiny fur, dark, glossy eyes and cute little ears. You say it's the tail that gets to you? Give a rat a break. If he just had a fluffy tail he'd be a squirrel, and people would give him nuts in the park. Really, is that fair?

Rats are diverse. Did you know that rats come in many more colors and patterns than the gray-brown of a street rat and the white of a lab rat? Think colors like silver mink, platinum, blue and chocolate, and markings like hooded (the head a different color than the body) or masked. Gorgeous!

Rats are easy to keep. Get a cage sized for a slightly larger animal, such as a chinchilla or guinea pig, and your rat will be content. Add bedding, a place for the animal to hide and sleep, a food dish and a water bottle, some toys, and you're set. Your rat will happily eat the food manufactured for them, and will love you if you add fruit, nuts, vegetables and other "people food."

The downside of rats? They don't live all that long -- two to three years -- and they're prone to tumors. And like all rodents, they live and love to chew. Provide all the chew toys imaginable, and they'll still put a hole in a piece of apparel faster than you can say "rats!"

The only thing rats need to become more popular as pets is a good public-relations campaign, and maybe a new name. Short-tailed squirrels, maybe?

No matter. If you're looking for a bright, clean and entertaining pet, you need look no further than the rat. These animals are great for a first pet, or a lifelong interest.

could it get any easier? try one and find out for yourself...

Rat falls 5 stoeys and lives

"A rat can fall from a five story building without injury."

and it always lands on its paws...