So…folks, PLEASE don’t use bedding or shavings for your ratties. Even if it says ‘dust free’, there’s always some dust. Just stick your face in it and breathe in deeply–anything that gets stuck to you gets in your ratties’ lungs. PLUS, if you give them already shredded bedding, you’re taking away the fun they have shredding their own… like assembling the puzzle before you even give it as a gift.

CLEAN CARDBOARD LAID FLAT is your best friend here! We use a couple layers clean cardboard laid flat on all the cage floors and shelves. You can also stack assembled boxes on top of each other, etc, and make multiple levels. The bonus is you’re recycling cardboard, the rats are having fun making their own ‘furniture’, the cleanup is easier, and you’re saving a bit of money! And no, they won’t eat the cardboard (they use their teeth like little tools, remember, so if you see them chewing at the cardboard, I promise they aren’t actually eating it).

LITTER—for litter boxes—we use back2nature Small Animal Bedding (for a litter box, we use a heavy glass casserole pan as long as it’s too heavy for the ratties to shift).

CAGES—we use CRITTER NATION and have multi-level ones…they’re the best you can get in my experience and opinion; the smallest that can accommodate a pair of ratties is called Rat Manor and is usually available at Petco or online; however, we really really do recommend Critter Nation cages.

FOOD:

MAZURI or OXBOW rat food is great. Oxbow comes for ‘young rats and mice’ and also ‘adult’ types. The main difference is the adult has a bit less protein; you can give one or the other. Babies do welcome extra protein, so if you give your babies adult Oxbow food, just give some extra hardboiled egg, or bits of chicken meat, etc, if you wish. Mazuri has a lot of protein already.

Rat blocks have 100 percent nutrition for your rat.

However, they can get bored! Stay away from sugar and also dried fruit (it’s very concentrated sugar for little rats as opposed to humans)... they adore stuff like corn (off the cob, from the can, defrosted…just not dried and uncooked), dried pasta, plain cheerios, peas… you can always try out to see what your rattie likes! There’s much more out there on rat nutrition, but basically, don’t do nuts or seeds or anything too fatty, don’t do sugary stuff, and don’t do citrus for boys (and try to avoid onions).